Death on the Pedernales by George Wier

Author:George Wier [Wier, George]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1484029623
Google: R_HgDwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B0070PI4MO
Goodreads: 18991703
Publisher: Flagstone Books
Published: 2012-01-21T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“First of all,” Burt said, “you have to look at the facts.”

We sat in the upstairs living room area of the ambulance station. Outside the clouds were steely gray, hopefully bearing much-needed rain.

“The facts,” I said.

“Right. One,” Burt held up a finger. I noticed the white patch on his ring finger. He had been married once upon a time. Surprise abounds. “The fingerprints on the tire iron match Buster LeRoy. But we knew that was going to happen. He was cleared by the FBI. He really, really didn’t kill Mr. Bristow. Motive? Possibly. Opportunity? I don’t know. Culpability? Not on your life.”

“Okay.”

“Two,” up popped a second finger, and for just a moment he could have been about to recite the Cub Scout Oath, “Whoever did it had access to Buster LeRoy’s life, either his house or his car.”

“Reg,” I said.

“Reg.”

“How long has Reg lived in Trantor’s Crossing?” I asked casually.

“Long enough ago to have killed Molly Bristow.”

“‘Dismissed’,” I said.

“Yeah. At first I thought it was police academy talk. Now I’m not so sure.”

“Is Reg former military?” I asked. “A lot of policemen are.”

“He used to be a weekend warrior. National Guard.”

“You know where he lives?”

“Of course.”

“Why don’t you call him up and ask to talk to him in person. While you’re doing that, I’ll go take a look at his house.”

“I got a better idea.” Burt yawned widely and stretched his arms. “Why don’t I call him up, set up a meeting time in his office, then both of us go to his house.” And the he grinned like the ghoul I had pegged him for from the beginning.

*****

I called my wife from the EMS station phone. Everyone was getting along fine. Julie had taken Jessica shopping for school clothes. Her first day of her sophomore year was Monday. My Amex was going to take a beating. I desperately needed to get back to my office and get some files rolling where I could make some more dough. Julie wanted to know if I was somehow involved with Sheriff LeRoy’s shooting, which was all over the news. I told her I was a long way away at the time. She didn’t buy it, and asked me how far. I admitted to about twenty feet. She wasn’t amused. I promised her I would come back in one piece. We exchanged I love you’s and I made my solemn vow to be home for the weekend.

“What are you looking at?” I asked Burt when I hung up. “You used to be married.”

“Maybe that’s why I no longer am,” he said.

I waited while Burt made the call to Reg, listened as he set Reg up, then followed him downstairs to the ambulance and the garage.

“You know,” he said. “I didn’t mind so much driving that police cruiser.”

“Same here.”

“We’re going to stick out like sore thumbs in this yellow ambulance.”

“Yeah, but it’s what we’ve got,” I said. “Unless you have a different ride.”

“Nope,” he said. “My motorcyle is in the shop. And you don’t look like a bike guy to me.

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