On Pins and Needles by Victoria Pade Read Free Book Online Page A

now, he seems to believe that our leaving Elk Creek was a sign of their guilt, that they were running away.”
    â€œI have to think that the truth will out,” Nissa said, honestly sounding un concerned as she took her cup and headed for the shower.
    But Megan couldn’t be so confident. She didn’t for a minute doubt her parents’ innocence. But she did doubt that Josh Brimley would explore other possibilities since he’d seemed to have his heels dug into suspecting them.
    So what was she going to do about it? she asked herself.
    But she didn’t have an instant answer.
    Especially not when that kitchen chair Nissa had just vacated started taunting her with images of the sheriff sitting in it again.
    And once that happened, she had trouble concentrating on anything else….
    Â 
    When Josh Brimley showed up at her office at about the same time that afternoon that he had the afternoon before, Megan’s first thought was that he must have been passing by, seen her through the waiting room windows putting the final touches on the base board paint and decided that even though it was Sunday he might as well take advantage of her being there and come in to have the acupuncture they hadn’t gotten to the previous day. She even imagined that he’d re considered everything, realized how silly he was being to suspect her parents of murder, opened up his mind to an alternative allergy treatment, and they could start fresh.
    Okay, so maybe she was being naive and overly optimistic. But she certainly didn’t expect what he’d really come for.
    â€œYou have a warrant to search our house and be longings?”
    â€œThat’s what I said. I’ll need you to take us over there and let us in right now.”
    â€œUs?”
    He nodded his handsome head over his shoulder and for the first time Megan noted the forensics van that hadbeen at her house the prior evening and a State Patrol car parked on the opposite side of Center Street near Josh’s squad car.
    â€œYou can’t be serious,” she said in clear disbelief.
    â€œAs serious as I can get,” he assured her. “It’s standard operating procedure. The forensics guys want another look around in daylight and the patrolmen and I need to search the house and premises. I had to go into Cheyenne and interrupt a judge’s Sunday dinner to get the warrant but I didn’t have any problem convincing the judge that it should be issued and executed immediately.”
    â€œRight. On a Sunday. Before Nissa and I might destroy evidence that’s already been around for eighteen years.”
    â€œIt’s just routine.”
    â€œFor you to go through our things?” Megan said as the reality of a home search began to sink in.
    Josh’s silence confirmed that he was. “You’re welcome to just give me the key and stay here so you don’t have to see it.”
    That was even worse.
    â€œYou can’t go into my house without me at least being there.”
    â€œIt’s up to you. But one way or another I’m already slowing things down by coming here first to let you know. I have to get out there.”
    Was that supposed to make her feel better? That he was allowing her some small courtesy he wouldn’t have allowed someone else before he rifled through her under wear drawer?
    Well, it didn’t make her feel better about it. Not in the least.
    But regardless of how she felt, when she glanced at the warrant he handed her as proof of what he was saying, she could see she didn’t have a choice in the matter.
    â€œI guess I’ll have to take you,” she finally said, wishing her sister were there to go along. But Nissa had garnered more than interest from potential clients the previous night and had gone on a date to Cheyenne for the day and evening. Which left Megan alone on the hot seat.
    â€œWe’ll mainly be looking for blood,” Josh told her. “On the