Window of Guilt by Jennie Spallone Read Free Book Online Page B

not my fault the dead body disappeared by the time you showed up.”
    Gomez’s voice grew taut. “Mrs. Atkins, I don’t have time for this.”
    “I was crazy scared for my son.”
    “Crazy scared enough to track that pedophile to Helga Beckermann’s house and kill him?”
    “You said there was no indication he was a…”
    “Perception is reality.”
    “There’s no love lost between my family and Mrs. Beckermann,” said Laurie.
    “So she said,” said the officer. “Which makes me wonder why you chatted her up yesterday afternoon.”
    Laurie reddened. The old hag must have phoned the department right after she’d left her house. “Just trying to find out if she knew the boy’s identity.”
    “Figured you could do a better job of it than us small town cops?” the officer said sarcastically.
    “Nothing like that,” Laurie protested half-heartedly.
    “Yet you continue to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. I trained with the CPD. This happen back in Chicago, the Department would cart your ass right down to headquarters.”
    “I resent you speaking to me this way, officer, especially after I took time out from my day to voluntarily share my Greyhound Bus theory with you.”
    “You could benefit from professional help, Mrs. Atkins,” said Gomez.
    “An attorney?”
    “A shrink. Neither canteen nor Greyhound Bus ticket receipt was discovered on or near the body.”
    “That’s impossible,” Laurie yelled.
    “You’re just asking to be read your rights, aren’t you?” threatened the officer.
    Laurie jumped to her feet. “I’m out of here. Good luck on your stupid investigation.”
    *
    The pungent aroma of paprika wafted through the dining room as Laurie shoveled mashed potatoes and broccoli onto two dinner plates. “I can’t believe you drove all the way up here to spend Shabbat with me.”
    “When you said Ryan was taking Rory to a baseball game, I figured you’d be lonely,” said Mitzy.
    Laurie tossed Rocky a forkful of chicken breast. Then she filled two goblets with Merlot and handed one to her friend. “He bought tickets months ago. Didn’t realize the game was on a Friday night.”
    “No matter,” said Mitzy. She heaped broiled chicken breasts onto both their plates. “Besides, I was worried about you.”
    “Shouldn’t you be setting up your classroom?”
    “Monday,” Mitzy mumbled, tearing into the white meat.
    Laurie dashed into the kitchen. She returned, digital camera in hand, her fluffy white dog bounding at her heels. “Detective Jeff’s gonna enjoy watching you demolish your food like a dinosaur.”
    Mitzy shielded her face. “Don’t even think about it. Besides, Jeff and I are taking a hiatus.”
    “You guys fighting again?” asked Laurie as she tore off a chunk of challah.
    The special ed teacher gulped down a glass of lemon seltzer water. “He’s helping his sister with her last minute wedding preparations.” Mitzy’s fingers paused over the egg twist bread.
    Laurie glared at her friend. “Don’t!”
    “What?” Mitzy looked at her, wide-eyed.
    In the split-second it took for Laurie to reach for her cloth napkin, Mitzi had done it again, for the umpteenth time: in an instant, she’d clawed out the guts of the bread, leaving a fist-sized shell of hollow golden crust.
    “I hate that!” Laurie spat.
    “The evil spirit made me do it,” Mitzy said, going limp in her chair.
    Laurie moved the challah plate out of reach. “No more for you until you learn your manners.”
    “Yes, mommy,” giggled her friend. “So what’s up with the body you supposedly found in your yard?”
    Laurie gave her friend a dirty look. “Knock it off.”
    “So sorry,” Mitzy said primly.
    “I took your advice and shared my Greyhound Bus theory with Officer Gomez.”
    “And?”
    “She said there was no Greyhound ticket receipt and no canteen, and intimated that if I was back in Chicago, the CPD would hold me for questioning.”
    “Why, pray tell?”
    “Because I’m