Towhee Get Your Gun by J. R. Ripley

Author:J. R. Ripley [Ripley, J. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2016-11-03T04:00:00+00:00

18

“What are you doing here, Simms?”

“I thought I’d see if I could tape a flyer in your window.”

Chief Kennedy had his hands in the file cabinet near the door to the police station. “This is a police station not a mini-mart.” He slammed the drawer shut.

Officer Sutton looked up from the paperwork spread out on his desk.

Jerry waved his fingers at me. “Take your paper and go. You ought to know better.”

I did know better. But sticking a flyer up in his window wasn’t the real reason I’d come. “Okay, okay. Don’t get your shorts in a bunch.” I pressed my palm against the door. “Say, while I’m here . . .” I turned and followed Jerry to his desk near the back.

The police station still gave me the shivers. I’d spent more time in this place than I liked recently, and not of my own volition. “What’s the word on the knife?” Chief Kennedy’s mouth hung open. “Lift any prints? Test for blood yet?”

Jerry fell into his chair and crossed his legs and arms. “Do you have any idea how long these things take?”

“Long?” I said, with a half smile. A glare was his only response. “Whose knife was it anyway? It doesn’t take long to lift a fingerprint.”

“There were no prints on the knife, Simms.” He pointed to the door. “Now go.”

“Yeah, just like the gun,” Officer Sutton put in.

Jerry sent his underling a look that clammed him up and got him moving paperwork again.

“No prints, huh? I’m not surprised,” I replied. “Somebody planted that knife.”

“In an empty locker,” said Chief Kennedy. “Have you got an explanation for that?”

I admitted I didn’t. “Don’t you think you should be providing Miss Turner with security?”

“She told me she didn’t want any. Not that I have the manpower to provide it if she did.”

“I have a theory that our killer isn’t going to stop until Miss Turner is dead.” I loomed over Jerry like a bad shadow. “I also have a few theories on who might want to see Ava Turner cross to the other side.” I arched my brow. “If you get my drift.”

“I’ve got my own theories, Simms.”

“Like who?” I scoffed. “My cousin Rhonda? The killer hairdresser? Why would she want Ava Turner dead? Both she and Riley adore her.”

“No, smarty-pants. Though she is on my list. And you can tell her I said so.” He leaned forward in his chair and his gut spilled over his belt. “I do believe I’ve narrowed down the suspects to a precious few.”

Now he had me interested. “Such as?”

“Such as you can read about it in the Weekender once I get them in custody.” Quick as a cat, Jerry sprang from his desk and marched me out of the police station by the elbow.

* * *

I’d finally reconnected with Derek yesterday, and he’d agreed to take the two children to see Sammy the towhee. That was fine by me. There was no sense causing a deeper rift between me and his ex, Amy.

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