Murder On the Wichita by Bruce Hammack

Author:Bruce Hammack [Hammack, Bruce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781958252147
Publisher: Jubilee Publishing LLC

Chapter Fifteen

Fen followed Hope into a room he hadn’t been in yet. It was intimate, almost like a private retreat. Its diminutive size, lack of electronics, and worn, but still serviceable, leather furniture gave it a cozy feel. There were no windows, only two chairs set at an angle, a matching couch, and a scarred coffee table. The leather was shiny in spots from years of wear, and the coffee table looked like it had experienced its share of boots, some with spurs attached.

Hope closed the door behind them. “This is my thinking room. It’s where I come when I need to be alone.”

The room had the smell of an old saddle. The only personal item was a photo of Hope’s late husband. Fen pointed at the photo. “My office serves the same function. I go to it every morning and talk to my late wife.”

“We have more in common than I thought,” said Hope. “Most people don’t understand. They think I should move on. I can’t, and I’m at peace with it.”

The lump in his throat kept him from doing anything but nodding in agreement. He pushed down his emotions and waited for Hope to retrieve a tissue and dry her eyes.

She cleared her throat and spoke with renewed vigor. “Detective Grimes tried to push his way into Mason Cleg’s home. He was foolish enough to have his arm in the doorway when Mason slammed the door. He then threw himself against it and broke Grimes’s arm. Mason weighs upwards of three hundred pounds.”

“Did Grimes have a warrant?”

Hope answered with a single shake of her head. “That’s not his style.”

“Was Mason arrested?”

“Other officers took him into custody. They were booking him into jail when the chief heard the circumstances and released him. He’ll put Grimes on administrative leave if he returns to work. This may well be the end of Jay’s career in law enforcement.”

Fen put the pieces together and saw into the future. He needed confirmation. “Who will take over the murder investigation?”

“The best detective we have is Margaret. Since she’s already consulting with two former sheriffs on a case that intersects with the murder, it’s like getting three top cops for the price of one.”

“Does Margaret know yet?”

“The chief will tell her sometime today.” She gave him a brief smile. “You don’t look surprised.”

“It was only a matter of time for Detective Grimes. You’re also right about the two cases being linked. Now that Margaret has access to all the forensic information, we can make some headway.”

A question raised Hope’s eyebrows and furrowed her brow. “Are you telling me Grimes didn’t allow Margaret to see information that could have helped you?”

“No need to dwell on that. She’ll have access to everything today.”

Hope pursed her lips. “Combine that file with Hap’s and Margaret’s, and you’ll have all the information.”

Fen didn’t mention the information and conclusions Lou would come up with by scouring past issues of the local newspaper. He also didn’t tell her about his plan to allow the three-part painting to speak to him.

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