Silk Stalkings by Diane Vallere Read Free Book Online Page A

stepped over the gnome and the two of them spoke in hushed tones. The new guy nodded and turned around to the crowd.
    â€œI’m going to need to get the names and contact info for everyone here,” he said. The crowd groaned collectively. “If you could all join me over by the steps to the Waverly House I’ll get started.”
    A few couples started to back away toward the street. Charlie appeared from the curb. She held her arms out on either side of her and blocked their path. “I don’t think you heard the officer correctly. He said to meet
by the steps
,” she said. The grumbling continued but the patrons turned back and followed the officer. Charlie looked past me to Clark and flashed him a smile.
    â€œWhat’s happening?” she said to me.
    â€œHarvey Halliwell. Did you know him?”
    â€œUsed to. Drove a silver Infiniti that had all kinds of problems. Traded it in for a hybrid and now I never see him. Electric cars are going to be the death of my business.”
    I cringed at the use of the word
death
and told Charlie what had happened. “I cut through the shrubs between thealley and the Waverly House and there he was. Who knows how long he’s been there.”
    â€œCould have been there since last night,” she said.
    â€œNo. He was at my store this morning. Only a couple of hours ago.”
    I studied her face for signs that she knew something. She met my stare and held it. If I hadn’t had a chance to learn Charlie’s body language, I might not have noticed how tense she was when I told her about Harvey, and the subtle shift that occurred when I mentioned that I’d seen him alive and well today. Her eyes dilated for a second and she bit at her lip.
    â€œYou said you talked to Harvey Halliwell earlier today?” asked Sheriff Clark, approaching us.
    â€œThat’s my cue to leave,” said Charlie. “Come on over when you’re done here,” she said to me. She finger-waved at Clark, who turned red, and then walked away.
    Clark watched her leave, then turned to me. “What can you tell me?”
    â€œHarvey was at my store earlier today. We were meeting to discuss the pageant. Who was that woman?”
    â€œWhich woman?” Clark asked.
    â€œThe gray-haired woman who broke down.”
    â€œBeth Fields. Works for Halliwell Industries.”
    â€œShe seems pretty shaken up.”
    â€œSometimes that happens when people see a murder victim.” He moved a few steps to his right, blocking my view of the woman. “What time did Mr. Halliwell leave your shop?”
    I thought back over the morning. “I’m not sure. I had customers before he got there and a few after.”
    â€œCan you do better than that?”
    â€œI can check the time stamp on the receipts of the customers before and after him, but that’s still going to be pretty vague.”
    â€œNot necessary.”
    â€œSheriff, last night I saw Harvey collapse at the party.” I looked behind me, in Charlie’s direction. She was half a block away but stood on the sidewalk, watching Sheriff Clark and me talk. I turned back to Clark. “He fainted. Vaughn went to get help. Harvey snapped back to consciousness and got up and left. Do you think that’s relevant? Or coincidence?”
    â€œI don’t believe in coincidence,” he said.
    â€œI found a pill vial on the ground next to where he collapsed.”
    â€œDo you still have it?”
    â€œNo. I gave it back to him when he was at my shop this morning. Was he on any medications? Maybe somebody tampered with his prescription.”
    Clark reached out and turned my arm over. Traces of blood had transferred from Harvey’s torso onto my arm. “That’s from a knife wound, not a prescription.”
    I turned my head and watched as men in white uniforms moved Harvey’s body from the ground to a flat metal cart on wheels. The lone officer had moved the