Two Down in Tahoe: A Crossword Puzzle Cozy Mystery by Louise Foster

Author:Louise Foster [Foster, Louise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Owl Cafe Press LLC
Published: 2021-07-20T16:00:00+00:00

13

12 Across; 6 Letters;

Clue: To gain entry to

Answer: Access

“Another day. Another police station.” Kevin eased the Caddy to a stop in front of the Lake Tahoe Police Department. His carefree tone bordered on annoying.

A moment later, I held the door open for Mrs. C. “He makes it sound like all we do is visit police stations.”

Marcus, having bolted ahead, now raced back. “This is fancier than any of the stations in Langsdale.”

“Okay, maybe we have visited our share,” I admitted, following my son through the entrance.

“Ma’am, is he with you?” A beleaguered looking cop eyed me from the other side of a glassed-in desk as soon as I walked inside.

Marcus’s toes teetered on the molding six inches off the floor. His face was all but glued to the safety-glass. He jabbed a finger at the uniformed officer. “Where’s homicide? We’re here about a murder.”

Putting on my professional manner, I walked up to corral my boy. Moments later, we exited the elevator and headed toward Vandercoy’s office.

Sunday morning or not, the man was prepared. In no time at all, our statements were printed and signed. We also reviewed pictures of security guards at the estate.

None scored hits as the bombers.

After Marcus, Rabi, and Mrs. C were whisked off to work with sketch artists, Kevin and I faced Vandercoy in his not-so-spacious office.

I sat in one of two chairs. It was late morning and my stomach had already forgotten the breakfast sandwich. “Let’s get the important things out of the way first. Where’s our luggage? I’m tired of wearing clothes I slept in.”

The detective waved a hand in the direction of the elevator. “Front desk. Ask on your way out.”

Kevin sat back with a casual air, yet his gaze never left the homicide detective. “Any record of the Prushark estate calling 9-1-1 yesterday about shots fired?”

That would have been Rickson’s Saturday afternoon run-in with Ferguson and the Prushark security guards. Hard to believe the big guy had been wolfing down pancakes in my kitchen a little over twenty-four hours ago.

“No call came in from the Prushark estate.” Lips pursed around an unlit cigar, Vandercoy lowered his head until his double chins rested on his tailored vest. “When questioned, the guards did admit shooting at an intruder they identified as David Ferguson. They claim he fired first. Ben, the Prushark’s grandson, was in the area. Rickson pursued Ferguson. Neither man returned.”

“Why would Ferguson risk sneaking onto the estate?” Only one of the many questions on my list. “He knew Rickson took the box to Langsdale on Friday.”

The detective plucked the unlit cigar from his mouth. “I’ll ask him when I find him.”

“The box.” I smacked my forehead. “Did the Langsdale PD open it? Do you know what’s inside it?”

As soon as the words were out, my brain smacked me upside the head, reminding me that Marcus had left the panel off. I leaned forward, barely maintaining a perch on the edge of the padded chair. Hoping against hope the intruders had been blind.

Vandercoy arched a brow and gave me a fish stare.

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.