Anything For A Mystery (A Nosy Neighbor Mystery Book 1) by Cynthia Hickey

Author:Cynthia Hickey [Hickey, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Published: 2014-03-23T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Mom, please go get Matt.” I took Rusty by the arm and led him to my porch steps. “Sit here while we find someone to help you.” I glanced down the road in the direction Torie and gone earlier. Please, God, don’t let Rusty be the killer. He’d never survive prison.

Five minutes later, Matt dashed to our side, quickly pulling on a dark tee shirt, and was followed a few seconds later by my panting mother. She sagged against the porch rail and let Matt kneel beside Rusty.

“What happened?” Matt tilted Rusty’s head so the young man would have to look at him. “Where is Victoria?”

“The alley.”

Matt yanked a cell phone from his pocket and called for backup. “Stay with him.” He dashed away.

“I’m going. Mom, stay with him.”

Her mouth fell open. “What if he’s the killer?”

“Rusty did not kill her.” He opened his mouth and wailed.

I shook my head and raced in the direction Matt went, leaving behind a crying Rusty, a whining mother, and a barking dog. I couldn’t get away fast enough.

Whirling around the corner behind the houses across the street from mine, I skidded to a stop beside a battered green Dumpster. Matt stared at the body of Torie Lanham. Her once beautiful features were pulled into a look of terror. Instead of gardening shears, a kitchen butcher knife protruded from her chest. I wasn’t experienced enough to determine whether it could be the same person who killed Mrs. Lincoln, but I’d bet my laptop it was.

“I told you to stay put.” Matt sounded weary. “Who is watching Rusty?”

“My mom.” I sidled up next to him as tears stung my eyes. “What a waste. Who do you think killed her?”

“Too early to tell.”

“I guess you could go house-to-house and see who has a set of knives that match that one.” I leaned down for a closer look. “I’ve seen that style at Wal-Mart. They’re good knives, surprisingly. Can cut right through a chicken with little problem. I know this, because we have the same set. Most likely, a lot of people do.”

“This is not the time to compare kitchen cutlery, Stormi.” Matt frowned and shook his head. “A young woman is dead.”

Since they weren’t appreciated, I decided to keep my mental notes to myself for a while. While Matt made notations in a small notebook, I studied the area surrounding the victim. Several sets of footprints scuffed the gravel alley. I had no way of knowing whether they were made yesterday, last week, or moments before. Blood sprayed the side of the Dumpster … no question where that came from.

“Rusty is covered with blood.”

Matt whirled at my words. “Say that again.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t notice. Rusty’s shirt is covered with blood. He came running up the street, saying he didn’t kill her.”

“Hard to see what’s on his shirt when he’s sitting in the shadow of your porch. Call your mother and have her try to bring Rusty here. Tell her that Matt wants to talk to him.

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