Double Grudge Donuts by Ginger Bolton

Author:Ginger Bolton [Bolton, Ginger]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2023-12-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

My parents and I rounded the corner onto Wisconsin Street. I muttered, “Blood type isn’t necessarily conclusive.”

My father said, “Neither are fingerprints.”

My mother added, “Lots of the stuff you see on TV about crime-solving is simplified. But let’s forget all that. I’m sure that our watermelon is nicely chilled and will be sweet and delicious.”

We’d barely arrived home and given Dep the greetings she demanded—and deserved—when Brent called me. “Are your folks still up? Vic and I would like to talk to them, but if it’s too late, we can see them tomorrow. I thought they might prefer to get this over now instead of coming to the station tomorrow.”

I was still wearing my jacket, but I broke out in goosebumps. “Get what over, Brent?”

“We’d like their fingerprints.”

I tried not to sound as uneasy as I felt. “I’ll tell them. We were just about to dig into some watermelon. Should we cut you some, too?” He hesitated, so I answered for him, making it into a question. “You’re not coming alone, so you don’t know?”

He exhaled audibly. “You got it. But don’t let us delay you.”

We disconnected, and I relayed the conversation to my folks.

My mother decided, “Let’s wait until they’re done with us, or all they’ll get is sticky fingerprints.”

We went into the kitchen and set out a businesslike knife and five plates and spoons.

While I gave Dep fresh kibble and water, my father wandered off toward the living room. The doorbell didn’t ring, but I heard the front door open and my father say, “Come in.”

“Thanks for seeing us, Walt.”

Dep’s ears perked up at the sound of Brent’s voice. She galumphed toward the living room. My mother and I followed at a more dignified pace.

Brent held up a small black case. “Sorry, Walt, and Annie, but we’ll need your fingerprints.” Beside him, Vic nodded.

My father offered his hand. “No problem.”

Brent showed him where to place his fingers on the inkless scanner. Within seconds, it seemed, both of my parents had given Wisconsin their fingerprints.

Dep rubbed against my ankles and meowed loudly. I picked her up. “Have a seat, everyone.” I thought that Vic and Brent might take it as their cue to leave, but Vic sat in the armchair, Brent sprawled in the wing chair, and my parents and I, with my mother between my father and me, perched on the sofa facing the police officers. I hugged Dep. “Does your wanting my parents’ fingerprints mean that the mug my father found in my driveway was the murder weapon?”

Brent sent me an apologetic glance and repeated what he’d said to me earlier. “It was involved.”

Dep had become almost boneless. I lowered her to my lap and stroked her. “That means that the murderer might have placed the mug in my driveway.” I couldn’t help shuddering. “I’m glad we keep the doors locked.”

Vic’s glower was ferocious. “As if that would stop anyone who was determined to get in.” He paged back through his notebook. “Now, what can you

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.