The Bookstore Lady by Diane Bator

Author:Diane Bator
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: murder, mystery, kidnapping, private detective, escape, bookstore, fugitive, writing groups, books we love, small town crime, diane bator
Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.

Chapter 23

Danny

The way Danny saw it, Katie should give the store back to Ray and move to Eastern Europe. Hell, he was wise to follow before Maddox found either of them. She was too stubborn to do any of those things. He was afraid she’d think falling into a bottle was easier. At this rate, he’d probably fall in with her.

On the upside, the fingerprints on the receipt for Danny’s magazine confirmed her identity and his superiors had made hasty arrangements to send Bobby to Packham to help keep tabs on Paulina Chourney. Bobby started his first shift with the Packham detachment that afternoon after a little sleep.

Danny was grateful for the help. At least he could count on Bobby. Before he got to his motorcycle, his cell phone rang.

“You find my girl yet?” Maddox asked.

He didn’t have to fake desperation. Time was running out for both of them. Now he knew for certain she was Paulina, he had to suck it up and talk to Katie without anyone else around. “No. I’m running out of leads.”

“Where were you yesterday?”

“Visiting a sick friend.” It wasn’t far from the truth.

“I tried to call you several times.”

“My phone died.”

“I see. I think I have an idea of what’s going on.”

“What do you mean?” Danny’s breath stuck in his throat.

Maddox gave a laugh. “I think Paulina has played us all for fools. I think she took the money I…Dunnsforth left her and she’s still in Newville. After all, you said she didn’t leave a trail, right?”

“True.” Danny shut his eyes and rubbed his face. Had he just heard right? Maddox had given her the means to skip town?

“You also said she ditched the Jag. That tells me she left the car and hopped a taxi. So why aren’t you searching the city for her?”

Maddox had means and motive to want Paulina gone. Had he actually planned to kill her the night of the party or smuggle her out of the country away from the police and his wife? “I’m on it.”

“Meet me at Persimmon at ten tonight. Don’t let me down, Mr. Wild. I don’t like it when people let me down. They usually don’t like what happens to them when they do.”

Danny hung up. He reached for his helmet, but the phone rang again.

“I should change my number.” He glanced at the screen. “Yeah?”

Bobby replied before he could draft his resignation from the force. “Leo stirred up a hornet’s nest at the station. You need to get in there now. On top of that, the DMR lawyers are demanding to talk to you. From what I hear, they’re not alone. I have a feeling the chief’s going to make an example of you.”

“What else is new? I’ve put my life on the line for this case.”

“We both have. I’ll talk to you later. I have to get in uniform. I haven’t worn one since this whole DMR case began, so this ought to be interesting.”

Another idea occurred to Danny and he got off his motorcycle.

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.