Circle of Influence (A Zoe Chambers Mystery) by Dashofy Annette

Author:Dashofy, Annette [Dashofy, Annette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, mystery books, british mysteries, detective stories, amateur sleuth, cozy mystery, murder mystery books, english mysteries, traditional mystery, women sleuths, female sleuths, mystery series, womens fiction
Publisher: Henery Press
Published: 2014-03-19T00:00:00+00:00

Zoe longed for the day to be over.

The computer yielded nothing. The new software permitted her to open files listing tax records of all the township residents including Social Security numbers. Had she been interested in stealing anyone’s identity, she’d have been in heaven. She spent over an hour scanning files, and other than being surprised by some of the locals’ stated income, she found nothing of significance.

Nothing worth killing for.

She shut the computer down when Allison came in through the kitchen door. She carried muddy boots, and her cheeks glowed pink from the cold.

“Did you have a good ride?”

“It was okay, I guess. We saw a deer.”

“I’m jealous.” Damn that Jerry McBirney. On top of everything else, he’d mucked up her chance to get in the saddle on a gorgeous winter day. “Next time, I’m coming with you.”

“Whatever.” Allison deposited her boots on the rug next to the back door. “Where’s Logan?”

Good question. The boy’s sudden exit had left a nagging ache in Zoe’s gut. “He had to leave. I’m going to drop you off at home on my way to work. Speaking of which, I need to change into my uniform.”

Allison plopped into a chair and pulled out her cell phone.

When Zoe came back downstairs wearing her light blue shirt and navy blue trousers with pockets up and down both legs, Allison looked up from the phone. “Could you drop me off at my friend Bethany’s house? It’s right on Main Street in Phillipsburg.”

Zoe studied the girl. She appeared more relaxed than she had since this all began. The ride and fresh air had done her good. “I don’t know. Your mom—”

“Call her. It’ll be okay. Mom likes Bethany.”

“All right.” Zoe picked up the phone, harboring a healthy dose of skepticism.

Rose’s mother answered on the first ring. She informed Zoe that Rose was asleep thanks to some pills the doctor had given her.

“Bethany?” Mrs. Bertolotti said. “Oh, yes. She and Allison have been friends since grade school. Of course you can drop her off there. Just tell her to call when she’s ready to come home.”

“Okay. Um…” Zoe hesitated to ask, but couldn’t help it. “Is Logan there, by any chance?”

“Logan? No. He called about an hour ago to say he’d be late. Why?”

“Nothing.” As long as he’d checked in. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks, dear.”

By the time Zoe dropped Allison at her friend’s front door and pulled into a space in the parking lot across the road from the ambulance garage, the sun had settled low on the western horizon, and the temperature had tanked. In the minutes it took to bustle across the street and into the office, her eyelashes had about frozen.

Trish, the Northern Monongahela County EMS dayshift secretary, was gathering her purse and coat. “Hey, Zoe. Looks like you’re in for a busy night. Medic One is en route to Brunswick with a full cardiac arrest and Medic Two just pulled out on their way to a traffic accident on Millers Hollow Road. So you and Earl are up for the next one.

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