The Gingerbread Bump-Off by Washburn Livia J

Author:Washburn, Livia J. [Washburn, Livia J.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: 2011-10-03T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

No one was home at the next two houses on the list, and by that time Phyllis thought they ought to head back to the house so she could get lunch ready.

As soon as Sam pulled onto the block, Phyllis spotted the car parked at the curb in front of the house and recognized it as an unmarked police car. She and Sam went in through the garage, and as they walked up the hall toward the living room, she heard a man’s voice she recognized as belonging to Detective Warren Latimer.

Carolyn was sitting in the living room with Latimer. Phyllis sensed a definite tension in the air. Carolyn wasn’t that fond of the police, which was understandable since both she and her daughter had been accused of murder at one time or another. Things like that tended to put a strain on a relationship.

Detective Latimer got to his feet and nodded to Phyllis. “Good morning, Mrs. Newsom,” he said. “I wish I was here on a more pleasant errand.”

“You came to tell me that Georgia Hallerbee is dead,” Phyllis said.

Latimer nodded. “I figured you might have heard the news by now, but I wanted to notify you officially.”

Phyllis didn’t say anything about Mike telling her before the police even released the information. She didn’t want to get her son in any trouble. Georgia’s death was public knowledge now, so Phyllis just nodded and didn’t make any comment concerning how she had heard about it.

“She never regained consciousness,” Latimer went on. “We were hoping she would.”

“So she could tell you who attacked her.”

Latimer’s burly shoulders rose and fell. “Yeah, sure, that and just hoping she would recover. But it would’ve been all right with me if she could have told us who to look for, that’s for sure.”

“Maybe she did anyway, in her conversations with people before she was attacked, or in the records from her home and business.”

If Latimer realized she was fishing for information, he didn’t give any sign of it. Instead, he just said, “Yeah, we’re looking into that. I don’t suppose there’s anything else you’ve thought of that you can tell us?”

“I’m afraid I told you everything I heard and saw that night, Detective, and everything Georgia said to me in the days before she was attacked.”

That was true as far as it went. Of course, she had uncovered some more information since then, Phyllis thought, but Latimer hadn’t asked her about that . . . exactly. She knew it was a bit childish fencing with him like this, but she did it anyway.

“Well, if you do remember anything else, I’d appreciate it if you’d give me a call. You’ve got my number.”

Phyllis nodded to confirm that she did indeed have his number.

“I’ll be going, then.” Latimer nodded to Carolyn. “Mrs. Wilbarger.”

“Detective,” Carolyn said coolly.

Latimer nodded to Phyllis and Sam as well and went to the front door. Sam followed him, said, “So long, Detective,” and closed the door after him.

“I can’t stand that man,” Carolyn said in the living room.

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