Pretty Witches All in a Row by Lisa Olsen Read Free Book Online Page A

Nick smirked, stepping up to the white board to pick up a dry erase marker.  “So… we know that things were peaceful and calm at eleven…” he made a mark on the timeline.  “And the fire department was called at one forty-two AM.”  He made another mark.  “That gives us a window of opportunity of just under three hours.”
    Captain Quinn’s administrative assistant Tracy came up with a manila envelope tucked under her arm, a large paper bag in her hands and a long suffering sigh on her lips.  “You know… it’s not really my job to play delivery boy for you guys.”  She thrust the bag into Nick’s hands.  “I signed for these for you.”  Tracy handed the envelope to Park. 
    “Thanks Tracy, I appreciate you saving me the trip.”  Park gave her a friendly smile; as the junior member of the team, she normally got stuck with the gopher duties. 
    “It’s no problem.”  Tracy smiled back at the female detective, “but you guys owe me twenty-one fifty for the sandwiches.”
    “Whose turn is it to pay?”  Brady looked to the other two.
    “I’ve got it,” Nick offered distractedly, pulling out his wallet, his attention still mostly focused on the white board.  Pulling out a few bills he handed them over to the pretty blonde secretary. 
    “Where’s my tip?”  Tracy raised a brow, eyes on Gibson.
    “Always floss,” he flashed her a quick smile.  His stomach was empty, but he wasn’t quite ready to move away from the board yet.  Its big, white expanse bothered him; they needed more information.
    Park opened the envelope, withdrawing glossy enlargements of the crime scene.  “Oh great, the pics are here.”
    “Ah, just what we needed.”  Gibson pounced upon them, eager to have something, anything to put up on the board.  He started with a picture of the victim, placing that in the center of the board.  Park and Brady left him to it, digging through the bag to retrieve their sandwiches before they had to get back on the road again. 
    Sorting through the pictures, Nick frowned at the images.  “I wish we knew a little more about what we’re looking at.”  There were things in her house that he was wholly unfamiliar with.  Would it give a clue to the killer’s identity to know what that marking was on the floor?  Or the kind of incense hanging over her bed?
    “Maybe I’ll bring these down to that magic shop, see if the owner can shed a little light onto these, find out if there’s anything we’re missing?” 
    Park and Brady traded a look over their respective sandwiches.  “You’re going back to see that Cross woman again?” Park questioned mildly.  “She must have made quite an impression on you.” 
    “She was very helpful, probably the most helpful person I’ve talked to in connection with this case so far,” Nick defended his decision.  “What did you come up with about her, by the way?”  He stepped away from the board and picked up his own sandwich, starting to unwrap it. 
    Brady held up a finger while he finished chewing, taking a swig of soda to wash it down with.  “Let’s see now…” he flipped to the right page of his notes.  “Annaliese Cross, age twenty-eight.  Sole proprietor of Argent Flame, which boasts a thriving online store.  She owns the property free and clear and also maintains her residence there.”
    “All stuff I already know, skip to the good stuff,” Nick waved him on, taking a bite of his food. 
    “Hmm, not sure what qualifies as the good stuff…  She was married briefly at age nineteen, but filed for divorce later that same year.  No record to speak of, she seems to be squeaky clean except for one incident… of public nudity, but she was never charged.” 
    “Shut the front door… are you serious?”  Nick rolled his chair over to his desk and tapped a few keys on his computer, frowning when he couldn’t come up with anything on the incident.  But it made sense; if she hadn’t been charged, she