Whisper of Evil by Kay Hooper Read Free Book Online

suggestion, I'd love to hear it."
    "You still don't have a suspect for even one of the murders?"
    He hesitated, then said, "I'm looking at Max Tanner for the Ferrier and Patterson deaths."
    She lifted an eyebrow at him. "Last I heard, you weren't even admitting Luke Ferrier's drowning was anything but suicide or an accident."
    "A few things have come to light that make murder at least as likely as an accident."
    "I see. And what's the connection to Max Tanner?"
    Ethan was not required to explain either himself or his investigations to the mayor—not directly, at any rate—but he'd learned that when Casey Lattimore asked questions she expected answers. And she could be a royal pain in the ass until she got them.
    So, reluctantly, he answered. "It seems Ferrier borrowed money from Max a few weeks before he died."
    "You got that from Max?"
    "No. From someone who overheard Max telling Ferrier he wanted the loan repaid pronto."
    The mayor frowned. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't killing Ferrier be a stupid way to get a loan repaid?"
    "Max has a temper, everybody knows that. He could have struck first and regretted it later."
    "Struck by pushing Ferrier's car into a bayou? Wouldn't that theory make more sense if somebody'd beat the hell out of Ferrier rather than trying to drown him? I mean, if you suspect Max of the killing?"
    Ethan hated logical women. "I said I was looking at Max, not that I considered him a solid suspect."
    Without commenting on his disgruntled tone, she merely said, "And the Patterson death? What makes you suspect Max of being involved in that one?"
    "We know the killer stood outside that bathroom window for a while before he dropped the electrical wire in, and we found a footprint. Style and size match up with the boots Max usually wears."
    "I assume you checked Max's boots?"
    "Yeah."
    "And?"
    "And nothing. We can't prove just from the print that it was him standing outside that window."
    "What else have you got?"
    "Not much," Ethan admitted.
    Rather than question him further on that point, she merely sighed and said, "I gather you're still against caning in outside help?"
    His jaw tightened. "I am. These are grudge killings, and that means all the answers are right here in Silence. Whether there's one killer or more than one, no outsider is going to be better or quicker than we are in putting the pieces together."
    "It's been eight months, Ethan."
    The sheriff drew a breath and said carefully, "And the first forty-eight hours after a murder are critical. Yes, Casey, I know that. I also know that you feel qualified to comment on the investigation because you took that FBI course last year."
    "That isn't—"
    "I'm not saying it wasn't a smart thing for you to do. A mayor should feel qualified to oversee most aspects of town management. But law enforcement is a specialty, and one course in Criminal Investigation Techniques 101 hardly equates to fifteen years of experience on the job."
    Perfectly aware that he was putting her on the defensive deliberately, Casey Lattimore nevertheless heard herself say, "I never claimed to be an expert, Ethan. And I'm certainly not trying to tell you how to do your job."
    "I appreciate that, Casey."
    She got to her feet, adding smoothly, "But judging by the phone calls I've been getting, the citizens of Silence want action, and they want it soon. Even so, we can't afford any mistakes. That means you'd better be damned sure of your evidence before you shine a spotlight of suspicion on anybody."
    Even Max Tanner. She didn't add that last aloud. She didn't have to.
    "Don't worry," the sheriff said. "I know my job."
    Instead of agreeing that he did, she merely said, "Keep me advised, will you? The town council is under as much pressure as we are, Ethan; it won't look good to the voters if we all appear to be sitting on our hands."
    "Meaning they might take action?"
    The mayor kept her tone mild. "Elected officials can't afford to do nothing for long, you know that." She