Murder of a Sweet Old Lady by Denise Swanson Read Free Book Online Page B

in low tones. Skye was left to find Chief Boyd on her own.
    Obviously, Tuesdays were slow days for criminal activity in Scumble River. The building seemed deserted and so quiet that Skye could hear the rustle of paper as she approached the chief’s office.
    He looked up as she entered. “Glad you could finally find time in your busy schedule for us.”
    Sighing, Skye sat on one of the visitor chairs. “Sorry. I’m sure you don’t want to hear the litany of excuses any more than I want to go through them.”
    Chief Boyd made a note in a file and stuck it in a drawer. “You’re right. I’m in a bad mood today and didn’t mean to take it out on you. Let’s start over.”
    She wiggled, trying to get comfortable in the cracked leather seat. “Thanks. How come you’re in a bad mood? I hope it’s not because I insisted on an autopsy for my grandmother.”
    “No, personal problems.” His face closed and he lost all expression.
    Skye knew he and his wife, Darleen, had been having difficulties with their marriage for the last year or so, but she thought things had gotten better. “I know how tough that can be. Maybe you both should talk to a counselor.”
    “Are you volunteering your services as a psychologist?” He raised an eyebrow.
    Blushing, Skye shook her head. “No. I’m only qualified to work with children and their parents. But I could give you a name of a very good therapist who specializes in couples.”
    He moved around the desk and sat on the edge. His knees were a fraction of an inch from hers. “I thought maybe you couldn’t take the case because you were too close to the people involved.”
    Turning a deeper shade of red, Skye tried to find the words to answer him. “Well, ah, that too. After all, I’ve known you since I was a teenager and I work with Darleen.”
    She felt herself getting lost in the depth of his brown eyes. It felt as if something were sitting on her chest. Of all the men she knew, why did this one have to be married?
    The sound of a throat being cleared in the doorway stopped her before she could speak.
    Skye’s eyes darted in that direction, and she met her mother’s worried gaze. She stood up and turned to May. “Mom, we were, ah, filling out the report about my tires.”
    May smiled thinly. “Fine. I’ll help.”
    Chief Boyd went back behind his desk and pulled out a partially completed form. “So, Skye, give me a list of all the people you’ve recently infuriated.”

CHAPTER 5
    There Was a Crooked Man
    The phone was ringing as Skye unlocked the door to her cottage later that morning.
    She hesitated, figuring it was either more bad news or one of her relatives calling to yell at her about last night.
    Tugging Skye’s arm, May pulled them both into the kitchen. “You’d better hurry and answer the phone before they hang up.”
    She sighed, and lifted the receiver. After a few minutes of conversation she said good-bye and turned to her mother. “Great. Just what I needed.”
    May held up the dishcloth she had been using to wipe out the sink. “What’s up?”
    “I have to go into school.”
    “Why? Surely you’re entitled to a personal day off.” May looked around and attacked a spot she noticed on the counter.
    “They’re sorry for my loss, but they’ve got an irate parent coming in at one, and Neva Llewellyn wants me there.”
    “Couldn’t you say no?” May unplugged the toaster and shook it over the trash can in the corner.
    “I suppose so, but after what happened at my last job I need to get sterling references from this one or I can kiss my career good-bye.”
    May finished emptying the crumbs from the toaster’s trap and started polishing the chrome. “But what happened in your last school was not your fault. You did the right thing.”
    Shrugging, Skye pulled out a chair and sat down. “You know I was right, and I know I was right, but if anyone calls that school system, all they’re going to be told is that I was fired for