Unraveled by Maggie Sefton Read Free Book Online Page A

suggested, glancing over her shoulder toward the bushes again.
    “Good idea. The farther I get from that cabin the better.”
    Amen to that, Kelly thought.

Four

    Kelly leaned against Jennifer’s car door and watched a county police officer lead the ambulance crew into the cabin. One man pushed a gurney-type stretcher. Kelly recognized it from watching similar scenes before. First, there were questions, while others went to check the body. Then, there were more questions. Meanwhile, several officers wandered around the property and the outside perimeter of the cabin.
    The ambulance crew had arrived right behind Peterson and his officers and had rushed inside as soon as the ambulance rocked to a stop in the bumpy dirt roadway. The siren’s wail still echoed on the canyon’s breeze. Peterson had been inside with the medical crew ever since. Meanwhile, a younger officer interviewed both Kelly and Jennifer. Now, another police officer wrapped bright yellow police tape around the porch railing.
    “Oh, brother, I remember seeing that last year,” Jennifer said, her expression changing. “The sight of that yellow tape brings up some baaaad memories.”
    Kelly glanced over at her friend, who’d dramatically transformed her life since the traumatic events from last year when Kelly, Jennifer, and others were in this canyon for a special retreat. A man died while they were there. Murdered.
    “Let it slide off, Jen. That was last year and another life ago. It’s dust in the wind now.”
    Jennifer nodded. “You’re right. It seems like another life long ago.”
    Lieutenant Peterson came out of the cabin and onto the porch. He glanced over at Kelly and Jennifer briefly, then approached an officer on the porch.
    “Isn’t Peterson going to talk with us?” Jennifer asked. “I’m going to have to get back to the office and talk with my broker before he leaves. I probably should have called him before the cops arrived.”
    “He’ll be over in a minute. I can tell,” Kelly said, watching Peterson talk with the young officer who interviewed them. “See, he’s writing in his notepad. That’s his procedure. I swear, I have it memorized by now.”
    “Well, this is the last time for me,” Jennifer declared. “Even if that means I don’t take any more canyon properties. I swear, I’m not gonna go through this again.” Jennifer gave a finalized motion with her hand.
    Kelly couldn’t help but laugh. “C’mon, Jen, you know that doesn’t make sense. Besides, the statistical probability of something like this happening again is—”
    Jennifer’s hand cut her off. “You know what they say about statistics, don’t you? They’re liars, or some such thing.”
    Kelly didn’t bother to correct Jennifer’s memory about the famous quote. Besides, true to form, Detective Peterson was headed their way, trusty notepad in hand.
    “Hello, Ms. Flynn, Ms. Stroud,” Peterson said, a grin spreading. “Imagine my surprise to find the two of you up here in the canyon at yet another death scene. Perhaps you both should reconsider visiting the canyons for a while, in the interest of public safety, you understand.”
    Kelly spotted the twinkle in Peterson’s eye, but Jennifer jumped right in. “I told Kelly I’m not driving up here again with her. In fact, I’m not sure I want to list any more canyon properties.”
    “Well, it is a recession, Ms. Stroud,” Peterson advised sagely. “You might not want to be hasty. Just leave Ms. Flynn at home.”
    “You got that right.”
    “Hey, I simply came along for the ride,” Kelly joined in the teasing. “Jennifer promised pretty views. Nothing was said about dead bodies.”
    Peterson flipped through his notepad, all business again. “Ms. Stroud, you said you’d met your client Fred Turner about a week ago and had spoken to him several times, both in person and on the phone. And he had never said anything that sounded like he wanted to end his life, correct?”
    Jennifer nodded.