Cold Case Killer by Dorothy Francis

Author:Dorothy Francis [Francis, Dorothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Published: 2016-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

“On the day Dyanne died I had worked an eight hour shift at Sloppy’s and I had to sub that night for a barmaid who’d gone up north to celebrate Christmas with her family. I envied her for having a family that cared about her. But if it hadn’t been for that extra duty, Dyanne and I probably would have double-dated as we sometimes did. Me with Slone. Her with Randy.

“At that time, Dyanne was my closest friend. We had no family that cared a hoot about us. Her stepfather lived somewhere in Michigan near the boundary waters. My alcoholic mother lived somewhere in Alaska—Homer, I think. Dyanne and I were on our own. There’s a saying around here: If you’re lucky enough to live in the Florida Keys, you’re lucky enough. Dyanne’s luck ran out. I guess we chose to live in Key West because we couldn’t go any farther. A local poet—Shel somebody—wrote that Key West’s where the sidewalk ends. It was where life would end for Dyanne.”

I’d turned on my mini tape recorder, but I turned off my ears when Nicole repeated highlights of Dyanne Darby’s murder that we already knew. When she finished talking, Punt was generous in his thanks.

“You’ve been kind to admit us to your home and talk to us, Nicole. We appreciate that. We hope you’ll keep us and our quest in mind. Think about the day of Dyanne’s death—about the minute details. It’s hard to remember exact happenings from so long ago, but if any once-forgotten events pop back into your mind, please give me a call at my office. We need to find the person who murdered your friend.”

“I’ll phone you if I recall anything I think might be of value.” We all thanked Nicole as we left the house. Even Randy muttered a thank-you. Once back in Maxine’s car, nobody spoke until we reached Punt’s office and sat again before his desk.

“Guess we wasted our time talking to that bitch,” Randy said. “So she made a mistake—one big mistake that cost me twenty years.” He rose and stormed toward Punt’s desk, shaking his finger in Punt’s face. “You let her off far too easy.”

“I didn’t go there to harass her,” Punt said. “If you’ll remember, that wasn’t the point of our trip. I think we got everything we went for. She promised to help us find Dyanne’s killer if there’s any way she can do so. I think she’ll do that. I think she’s feeling guilt-ridden over her mistake. You never know what she may remember that could help us once she starts some in-depth thinking about that murder again.”

“Some memory she has!” Randy spit the words.

“I told you that talking to her was a starting place—only a start.”

“So now maybe it’s time you listened to me—to ex-con Randy Jackson who’s been there, done that. I know and we know that DNA evidence from Dyanne’s body’s on file in police records. That evidence freed me. What we need now is a DNA specimen that matches that filed specimen.

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