Murderfield: A London Carter Novel (London Carter Mystery Series Book 8) by BJ Bourg

Author:BJ Bourg [Bourg, BJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Death Shadow Press, LLC
Published: 2023-09-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

Gracetown

Detective Rachael Bowler brought a tall glass of water into the room where Mrs. Snipes was resting and offered it to the woman. Mrs. Snipes smiled gratefully and took the glass.

Rachael waited for her to take a sip and look up before she spoke.

“Ma’am,” she said slowly, “we’ve got people out in the field running down leads, and I was wondering if you might be able to help point us in the right direction.”

Mrs. Snipes scowled. “They’re in my fields running after what?”

Stifling a grin, Rachael explained, “That’s slang for them being out on the streets working the case.”

“Oh, okay.” She chuckled for a split second, but then her brow furrowed. “I thought you said it was Francis who did it?”

“Well, we didn’t know for sure if he had done it or not,” Rachael explained, “so we had some detectives pull him in and question him. It seems he’s willing to take a lie detector test to prove his innocence.”

“Francis?” She scoffed. “I can’t believe Francis would be willing to prove anything. That is the most disagreeable man I’ve ever met in my life.”

“Well, they’re setting it up as we speak, so I guess he still has a chance to back out,” Rachael explained. “Meanwhile, I’d like to explore other possibilities.”

“I don’t know what else I can possibly tell you to help out. I’ve already told you everything I know. I can’t imagine who might want to do this to us. I’ve been racking my brains all day. I’ve even had dreams about it, and I just keep seeing Francis’ face. Nothing else comes up, and it would be really scary if it’s not him and y’all don’t catch the person. That would mean I could pass him in Hobby Lobby and not even know it.”

“We’ll figure this out together,” Rachael said, nodding her understanding. “Now, can you start by telling me about you and Austin acquiring your dad’s land, and who might’ve been mad about it?”

“What?” Mrs. Snipes seemed shocked at the question. “No one was mad about it. The property on both sides of the bayou has been in our family for 100 years. My dad farmed those fields and raised cattle just like his dad before him, and his dad before him. Everyone knew the land was ours. It’s not like we suddenly bought someone else’s land and their family and friends were mad about it. I just couldn’t imagine anyone being mad about it.”

Rachael had pulled out her notepad and was looking down at it. She had taken notes when London had updated her on what he and Abraham had found, and she suddenly had an idea. “Tell me about when you and Austin moved back from Alaska,” she began. “Was this because of your dad’s financial problems?”

Mrs. Snipes nodded. “My brother who lives in Alabama called one day to tell me that things weren’t going well at the farm, and that the bank was threatening to take the land.”

“How long ago was this?”

“Well, the phone call took place about eleven years ago,” she explained.

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