Lethal Paws by Corrine Winters

Author:Corrine Winters [Winters, Corrine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-12-07T22:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

Ember approached the Fairy Tale Inn, frowning in sympathy at the covered body the paramedics rolled out the front door.

Poor James. I hope he’s found some peace at last.

Ember entered the lobby to find Luka sitting on her counter, covered in a blanket from Cedric’s squad car yet glaring daggers at her husband.

“That’s great, Cedric. Just come out and accuse me of being a serial killer already.”

Cedric sighed. “I’m just trying to be thorough, Luka. I can’t be seen playing favorites, and the law is the law. Even you have to admit it’s kind of strange you’ve found both bodies so far.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I killed them!” Luka shook her head. Her gaze fell on Ember and hope lit up her eyes. “Ember, please tell your hubby I’m not a murderer.”

Ember sighed. “He’s just trying to do his job, Luka. He’ll clear your name that much faster if you don’t take it personal.”

“Oh, that’s rich. Don’t take a murder accusation personal.”

“I’m not accusing you of anything, Luka, please.” Cedric pursed his lips. “I just wanted to know the chain of events that happened from the moment James checked in, to when you found his body. That’s all.”

Luka sighed, crossing her arms over her chest and looking away. Ember cleared her throat.

“He’s only trying to help, Luka.”

Luka rolled her eyes. “Oh, fine. James checked in last night around eight o’clock or so.”

“Are you sure about that time?” Cedric scribbled in is notepad, the scratching sound jarring on Ember’s nerves for some reason.

“Yeah, let me check my ledger…” Luka punched up a table on her computer and tapped the screen. “Yup. See, he checked in at eight oh five.”

“Did he say why he was checking in that late?”

Luka sighed. “No.”

“But you think you know, right?” Ember frowned. It seemed that Cedric was grilling Luka.

“I—yes, I think he was probably there to meet a girlfriend. James may have been a philanderer, but he never trashed my rooms and I never got any complaints. It’s peak season, and I figured it was his business not mine.”

Cedric tapped his notepad. “All right. Let’s move on. You checked him in at eight oh five. Did you see him at any time after that up until you found his body?”

Luka shook her head. “Like I said before, I checked him in and never saw him again until this morning.”

Cedric chewed on the end of his pencil, his eyes distant.

“Why did you check on him this morning?” Cedric asked.

“Because it was check out time. Eleven AM. He hadn’t come by the front desk to rent another night, or to check out. I called, both the room and his cell phone, then knocked three times before using my master key to open the door. All per state law, sir.”

Cedric nodded. “And you didn’t touch the body? After discovery?”

Luka sighed. “I did. I checked his pulse to see if he was still alive.”

“Did you move the body in any way?”

“No. I already said, I just checked his pulse.”

Cedric nodded, grunting noncommittally.

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