Roadside Homicide: A Modern Country Cozy Mystery in a Small Town by Nancy Basile

Author:Nancy Basile [Basile, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-25T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Chris led her through the cramped police station that occupied the first floor of the courthouse. Robin waved to Warsinsky as she passed his desk, but he just looked confused.

Chris caught the exchange. “The officers aren’t used to anyone but perps coming through here.” That explains why they eyed her like a calf who jumped its fence and wandered into the bull’s pen.

The sheriff’s office sat at the rear of the building. The windows faced the employee parking lot, with crumbling concrete barriers, faded white lines, and flattened pop cans. Inside, however, his office was tidy and squeaky clean. Framed certificates hung on the bright-white walls, along with a plaque that read, “For distinguished service in the line of duty,” and was dated last year. The only personal item Chris kept on his desk was a framed photo of himself in camouflage, kneeling over a buck with a large and many-pronged rack.

He gestured to the chair in front of his desk. “Thanks for coming in. I know you’re busy with Jenn’s wedding.”

“Not a problem.” She set her bag on the floor, tried to cross her legs, failed, and crossed her ankles instead. “What can I do for you?”

“After we spoke yesterday, I visited Bruce and Jodi.” He rested his forearms on his desk and entwined his fingers. It was hard to focus on his eyes and not on his muscular, tanned arms. “I didn’t think I’d get very far with the two of them at home, but I also didn’t want to fluster them by bringing them into the station.”

“How did it go?”

“Not well.” One side of his mouth lifted, revealing an adorable dimple. “Jodi completely denied having anything to do with Roy, and Bruce said as little as possible. I noticed, though, that Bruce wasn’t surprised when I asked Jodi what her relationship with Roy was.”

“So he either knew about the rumors or knew that she was seeing Roy, if she was.”

“Exactly.” He rubbed the back of his neck, then clasped his hands together again. “Suspects are few and far between right now, so I’d like to have actual evidence if I’m going to bring one of them in for questioning.”

“There’s no one else you’re looking at? What about whoever he knew down south? Or that man who used to buy wood from Roy and his mom? Or a random theft?” She clamped her mouth shut, knowing she was rambling. Although she loved solving problems, and was desperate to get justice for Roy, she just couldn’t believe Jodi was the killer. Jodi, who used to splice plants to make hybrids when they were kids. It seemed impossible.

Chris leaned back in his chair and sighed. “As for known associates or friends in the south, Roy didn’t leave much of a trail for me to follow.”

“I believe it.” Robin gestured toward Chris’s desktop computer. “I tried to get a previous address or find out where he worked in North Carolina and came up with squat.”

“That makes me feel better.” His grin was sheepish and adorable.

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