A Deadly Deed: A Page-Turning Small Town Cozy Mystery by Joy Patrick

Author:Joy Patrick [Patrick, Joy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mermaid Sisters Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2024-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

When she returned to Magnolia Manor, Chief Crowder, Officer Gasinski, and Officer Velasquez were still working on the crime scene. The entire backyard was roped off in neon yellow tape. Wonderful advertising. Again.

“Any more answers?” Lilly said, approaching the officers.

“We found some odd scraps of metal and other items that we’re sending to be evaluated.” Crowder pointed to Velasquez who held up two evidence bags. “We’ll know more shortly. I have contacted the deceased’s next of kin.”

“Really? Her sister, Edna?” She wondered how she’d taken the news.

“Yes.”

“Did she say anything?”

“She said she had received a postcard from the victim.” Chief Crowder stared directly at Lilly whose eyes were wide with anticipation. “Reportedly, Ms. Grimstone informed her she was quote, having the time of her life, unquote.”

Lilly sat down on the back step, letting these words sink in for a long moment. Wow. Maybe Eli was right after all about her going out on top. “Hey, chief, can I ask you something?”

“I suppose so.” The chief wrote in her notebook without looking up.

“I was just wondering. About who would do this.” She hesitated and thought of the FBI case. “You’ve been in law enforcement a long time.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“You’ve put away a lot of bad guys.”

“Many criminals have received their just due on my watch, yes.”

“Do you ever worry that some may want revenge?”

The chief looked up from her notebook. “Desire for revenge is part of the criminal thinking pattern. Reportedly part of human nature. But no, I do not worry about it, as it is an aspect of the work I have chosen.” She placed the evidence bags into a box and loaded it into the cruiser.

“Right. I guess I just wonder who would want to put a bomb in my car.” She gazed up at the sky. “Not that I’ve solved a lot of cases compared to you, but what if someone was out to get me? Like, get me back. Revenge is a solid motive for crime.”

“Statistically, it is in the top five.” The chief had a serious expression. “But a preoccupation with past cases and their potential residual hazards will hamstring your work. Which you can ill afford.”

“Right.” She headed toward the inn. “Thanks, chief. I’m sure we’ll catch our guy with you and the officers on the job.”

“Thank you, Miss Livingston. You can rest assured we will cross every t and dot every i.”

“I know.” Lilly ambled into the kitchen and thought of the handful of people she’d helped to put behind bars. Then there was Chief Crowder, who had probably put away hundreds, and she was as undaunted as ever.

Lilly walked into the foyer and checked her reservation book. She’d taken several rooms off the market in advance of her renovation plan. Now, since the catastrophic appraisal, then the car bomb, all renovations had been put on the back burner. She’d called two more appraisers and the soonest they could fit her in would be over three weeks from now. She peered at the near-empty reservation book.

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