A Donated Death: A Thrift Shop Cozy Mystery (Secondhand Sleuth Mysteries Book 4) by Mel Morgan

Author:Mel Morgan [Morgan, Mel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stonefire Press
Published: 2022-08-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“HOLY CHEESE AND crackers,” I said, opening the car door and hopping out before we’d reached a complete stop. The deputy was close behind me, with Freddie on his heels. We all ran up to see what—or who—was sprawled out in the middle of the two-lane highway.

“Looks like we found your lawyer lady,” Freddie said. She was trying to keep a brave face, but I could see she was upset, and probably a little nauseous. I led her gently by the arm, away from the scene and back toward the car.

“Some air conditioning will help. Let’s get you back in here.” I shoved her gently into the waiting back seat, but left the door open. I didn’t like how it locked you inside once it closed. That didn’t seem safe. “Just wait here with me and let the deputy do his job.”

I may have sounded calm, but the truth was, I was terrified. I didn’t know when she may have died, but I knew we had almost run her over.

It was like someone had dropped her body there, hoping another driver would make it look like a traffic accident. I knew that’s not how forensics worked. Maybe the new connections with the lab in the Twin Cities meant we could get some details that might help find the killer.

I shook my head and felt sad. This situation was quickly spiraling out of control. I couldn’t believe that we had gone from suspecting Ms. Edwards, to searching her house and being sure she was up to something, to finding out now she was the actual victim.

And it was clear that she was a victim. It was obviously foul play—there was no way that was an accident. I didn’t want to get into the specifics with Freddie about my inspection of the poor woman, but I’d seen enough to let me know that her death was probably intentional. Only an autopsy could say for sure.

The deputy came back to the car. He placed his arm around me in consolation, and I didn’t resist. I leaned into his shoulder, happy to have him there for support. Though I didn’t know Ms. Edwards well, she’d been the one to invite me to my aunt’s funeral, and let me know about my inheritance. She’d even given the eulogy for sweet Aunt Daphne. I would always remember her for that.

“Let’s get you two home.” He sighed. “The medical examiner is on her way here and so is Sergeant Miser.”

A knowing look passed between the deputy and my teenage friend. I guessed that meant it was time for us to get out of here, before this thing became official.

“I just can’t believe someone left her like that.” I sniffed.

“You’ll have to give a statement,” he said. “Not to me, like before. A real one this time.”

I knew he was talking about my first week in town, when he had wrongly accused me of killing my aunt though I had been clearly innocent all along. His methods then had been sub-par to the point of ineffectiveness.

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