The Saucy Lucy Murders by Cindy Keen Reynders Read Free Book Online Page A

enemies Whitehead might have had?” Stevenson leaned against Lexie’s truck and crossed his long legs. “Someone who would be capable of murder?”
    “Again, I barely knew the man. He did say his ex-wife, Violet, that’s her over there sitting on the planter, was creepy. And then something weird happened on my way home from his house.”
    “Yes?”
    “This car rear-ended me at the stop light, then took off.”
    “Why didn’t you call me and report that?” Otis wet the tip of his pencil and kept it poised above his note pad. His jowls worked up and down as he chewed on what Lexie knew was most likely tobacco.
    “I didn’t have a license plate or a vehicle description. It was too dark.”
    Stevenson cleared his throat. “Ms. Lightfoot, I understand you’re divorced. You and your ex-husband having any trouble?”
    “Dan lives in California. I haven’t heard from him in six months, and neither has my daughter.”
    “Is he a violent man?” Stevenson’s brows raised. “Does he have a temper?”
    Lexie went cold. “What are you implying?”
    The detective shrugged. “Could be he’s the jealous type. I have to ask.”
    “He’s remarried …” Lexie trailed off, as if that answered Stevenson’s question. There was a dark part of her life with Dan she chose to keep dead and buried. She didn’t want to talk about it, especially not with the inquisitive and handsome detective from Westonville.
    Stevenson wrote more notes and so did Otis.
    “Stay around town, Ms. Lightfoot,” Stevenson warned. “I don’t really consider you a serious suspect. But I may need to question you again.”
    “Oh, I’ll cancel my flight to London right away,” Lexie returned.
    Stevenson gave her a dark gaze. He obviously did not appreciate her attempt at humor.
    “Let me know what the boys in your crime lab have to say, Stevenson.” Otis puffed out his beefy chest, making his sheriff’s badge glint in the sun. “I’ll keep my eyes and ears open for any local leads.”
    “You do that.” Stevenson took long strides over to Violet Whitehead, who was still weeping and blowing her nose in a crumbling tissue, and began talking to her.
    “Whooeeee.” Otis rubbed his fleshy neck. “Leave it to my sister-in-law to find trouble wherever she goes. This is the second man who’s died after dating you. Any man in his right mind would think twice about sporting you around.”
    “Believe me, I never wanted this,” Lexie muttered. “To heck with my purse. I should have stayed home this morning.”
    “We’d still need to question you, Lex,” Otis said. “You were the last person who saw Henry White-head alive.”
    Lexie shook her head. “Lucky me.”
    “You gals can head home now.” Otis pointed a pudgy finger at Lexie. “And you, stay the hell away from those hack reporters. Don’t say a damn thing. Got it?”
    Lexie nodded.
    Once Otis had stomped over to join Stevenson in questioning Violet, Lucy released a giant breath. “Thank goodness. He wasn’t as angry as I thought he would be.”
    “I’m sorry I spoiled his Sunday funnies.”
    Lucy ignored Lexie’s last snide comment, which was just as well.
    “He’s a very nice looking man,” Lucy said.
    Lexie frowned. “Who?”
    “Detective Stevenson. I wonder if he’s married? I didn’t see a wedding ring.”
    “Lucy Parnell, don’t you ever stop meddling?” Lexie folded her arms across her chest. “I am not interested in Detective Stevenson.
Capisce?
Do not try to start your matchmaking again.”
    “Honestly, wouldn’t you like to know?”
    “No, I would not. All I want to do right now is go home. I just want to be with my daughter. And no more of you fixer-upper dates. Got it?”
    “You’re just upset, dear. Who wouldn’t be?” Lucy smiled. “I’m still going to find out if DetectiveStevenson is married.”
    “Knock yourself out.” Lexie climbed into her truck, revved up the engine and rattled home.

    After Lexie told Eva about Whitehead’s murder,