Strawberry Scandal by Molly Maple

Author:Molly Maple [Maple, Molly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mary E. Twomey, LLC
Published: 2025-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

15

SNEAKY ROMEO

Sergeant Williams has already left for the day by the time we get back, which is more than just a little bit of a bummer. Jen is packing up for the day at the front desk. She waves us through to drop our bagged evidence to Officer Barton. Marianne fiddles with the grocery bag, knocking it against her purse a few times as she leads the way.

Neither Marianne nor I are particularly thrilled about handing anything over to him, but we grudgingly make our way to his desk.

Officer Barton is just as happy to see us as we are to encounter him twice in one day. “You two again?” he asks by way of a greeting. He only glances up for a second before turning back to his desk. “I’m clocking out for the day.”

Marianne holds the grocery bag aloft. “We have evidence to turn in for Gary’s murder case.”

He sighs and turns in his chair, giving us a larger chunk of his attention. “I’m listening.”

Marianne takes out a shoe and crumples the bag in her fist.

Did we only bring one shoe? I thought both had blood on them, and were both put in the bag. I really don’t want to have to go all the way home and come back again today.

Marianne takes the lead. “This is Charlotte’s shoe she was wearing when we found the body.”

Gary blinks at the important lead, nonplussed. “And?”

My jaw tightens as I point to the toe. “And right there is a smear of blood, not rust. It’s got to be Gary’s blood. Which means the crowbar we gave you was the murder weapon because it was dripping with blood, not rust.” I try not to let my gaze travel down to his garbage bin, where I can spot in my periphery the box of my cupcakes he threw away an hour ago without thanks or apology.

An unfathomable emotion tweaks Barton’s features, but only for a moment. Then his face returns to its normal displeasure. It happens so fast; I’m not sure I really saw the shift, or what it might mean. “Okay. Let me get a bag. I’ll send it to the lab and see what’s what.”

It’s a relief that he doesn’t have a reason to be difficult or not believe us that this is a helpful thing to show him. It’s outside his normal character, and I’m not sure I trust his compliance.

It’s got to be a bad sign that I don’t believe the officer when he doesn’t give us a hard time. Perhaps it means I’m growing cynical. That’s the last thing I want to welcome into my life.

I cling to Aunt Winnie’s wisdom and bolster my insides with the promise to myself that I won’t let Officer Barton’s good or bad mood affect mine. I am in charge of my own mindset, so I’m going to choose to feel grateful I can be helpful in solving a stranger’s murder. I choose to ignore my discarded offering of cupcakes.

Well, I try to ignore it, but it still stings.

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