Deadly Choices by Jennie Spallone

Author:Jennie Spallone [Spallone, Jennie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-61187-242-2
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Published: 2012-01-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

RJ sat in the tower during his assigned night watch, half-listening to the fire radio for incoming calls and watching David Letterman on a fourteen-inch TV. Outside the cubicle, the firehouse was silent as the other firefighters and paramedics caught some shut-eye in between calls. Staring out the full-length window facing the firehouse parking lot, he saw a white Chevy pull up.

“Anyone here?” called Maggie.

RJ stepped out of the tiny office. “Can I help you?”

The investigator flashed her badge as she quickly walked up the half-flight of stairs. “Police. We’re looking into the death of a paramedic by the name of Angie Ropello. She work your shift?”

“You’ll have to talk to our commanding officer. He’s not available at the moment.”

“You guys must be pretty upset, what with your firehouse captain dying.”

“It was a shock, but listen, Miss, you should really be talking to someone at headquarters.”

“Do you work with a paramedic named Beth Reilly?”

“Occasionally.”

“How long has she been on the job?”

“I don’t know. She’s a candidate—not that long.”

“Did you know a paramedic by the name of Angie Ropello?”

“Of course. She was working this house when I was assigned seven years ago.”

“Do you have any knowledge of either paramedic doing drugs or drinking on the job?”

“Listen, I really can’t answer any more questions.”

“Just one more. How did Beth and the captain get along?”

“The captain hated her guts. Hey, you got to leave now. A call’s coming in.” Without a backward glance, RJ disappeared back into the tower, grabbing a scrap of paper and scribbling the address coming over the speaker while pressing the firehouse bell to alert the crew.

Within thirty seconds of the alarm, a handful of firefighters in stockinged feet plunged into heavy black boots neatly aligned along the fire truck, the motor already running, the garage door letting in the cool night air. Sirens flashed as the truck pulled out of the firehouse. No one noticed Maggie as she hurried out the side door.

* * *

Deputy Sam Aarons stood in the darkened living-room, absent-mindedly pushing the baby’s wind-up swing while he attempted to watch the 5:00 news and wolf down a Sloppy Joe and Coke.

Addie went to a quilting club social and left Sam to baby-sit for six-month-old Rebecca. On the way home from the sheriff’s office, he’d stopped for burgers. Mary Jean Williams was wiping down the snack counter when his entrance jangled the bell hanging from the door. Her husband must have frightened her against any further conversation with him regarding their daughter’s death because she quickly disappeared into the kitchen. A teenage girl in streaked blond ponytail had hastily packed his order.

Sam knew John Paul beat his wife and kids. But in a small town like Chillicothe, secrets were hard to unknot. The deputy was just about to toss his used paper plate in the trash when he noticed a young woman’s picture to the upper right of the newscaster’s face.

Adjusting for static, Sam grimaced at the face of Violet Williams.

“Police have been trying to identify a hit-and-run victim in an accident that occurred last November.

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