Justice On a Midnight Clear by Bruce Hammack

Author:Bruce Hammack
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781737344346
Publisher: Bruce Hammack

Bea Stargate came through the back door humming The Twelve Days of Christmas. She wore a red sweater with a neck-to-waist felt Christmas tree appliqued on the front, complete with dangling ornaments and blinking lights. The only thing brighter was her smile.

"Reporting for duty," said Bea with a firm salute. "Where's that young 'un?"

"Not up yet," said CJ.

The words had no more left her mouth when little Davey rounded the corner. Like a homing pigeon, he headed straight for Bea and gave her left leg a monster hug, with grunts and growls included.

Instead of kneeling, Bea sat on the floor and filled her arms with the toddler. After the hug, Bea looked up at Nancy. "Has he eaten yet?"

CJ answered. "David made extra oatmeal. It should still be warm."

Nancy made quick work of scooping the oatmeal into a bowl, adding pureed peaches, and putting little Davey in his high chair.

"You have things to do." said Bea. "Get to work and let me shovel in his breakfast."

"Thanks, Bea. There'll be a line of dogs and cats waiting at the clinic. Doc Steele says business picks up around Christmas because there are so many new things for them to chew."

"That reminds me," said Bea. "I'm gettin' Billy Paul a puppy for Christmas."

Nancy's eyes lit up. "What kind?

"Something small and yappy."

"I thought Billy Paul would want a lab, or Irish setter."

Bea shook her head, but not a single hair moved. "He's been talking about an indoor dog for the last six months. He wants one that will warn him when someone's driving up to the house."

Nancy gathered her purse and kissed her son on the top of his head. “Gotta go. Thanks for all the help.”

Bea spooned in oatmeal and peaches until the bowl emptied. While Davey was busy eating, CJ fixed a sippy cup of milk. Bea gave it to Davey and turned her attention to her hostess. "Anything new on the murder of Judge Kraft that you can talk about?"

"Some. Noah Epstein is out of jail with all charges dropped."

Bea's reaction told CJ this was old news. As usual, Bea knew more about things going on in town than she did. “The city council met last night. There was a motion to fire the chief, but they tabled the final decision until after the new year."

"Why put it off?"

The cup slipped from Davey's grip, but he made a fast recovery.

"Hold on to that cow-juice, little man," said Bea. She then answered the question. "I hear they want to give him a chance to resign. That, and it's bad luck to fire someone before Christmas."

Davey lost interest in the milk and banged the cup on the plastic table that pinned him in. Bea unclipped the top and took Davey down. His legs churned before his feet hit the ground. He made for the living room and a basket of toys.

"Any other progress?"

"Only one more thing," said CJ. "The rifling on the bullet that David dug out of a tree matched others that killed several head of cattle on a ranch near Hico.

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