Once Upon a Crime by Nolon King

Author:Nolon King
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sterling & Stone

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jim grinned when they reached the O’Connor residence. Stoner Bob might have been clueless about his legal rights, but he was spot-on about his neighbors. The elderly couple was seated at their picture window, looking out toward the road.

Their gazes tracked Jim’s vehicle the whole length of the driveway then, if possible, grew even sharper as he and Sullivan walked toward the porch.

Unlike Bob’s house, the O’Connor property was well maintained. The floorboards were painted a bright blue. A doormat bidding visitors welcome was decorated with jaybirds in an identical hue. The white siding was as bright as the drifts of snow in the yard. Clear plastic awnings — because they couldn’t snoop through duck cloth — flanking the porch were pulled taut as a barrier against the driving wind, and the evergreen bushes surrounding the home were meticulously manicured into perfect orbs.

Sullivan raised her hand to knock, but the door swung open before she had a chance.

The elderly couple had both come to greet them.

Their teamwork was cute. In a disturbing kind of way.

Jim smiled and flashed his badge. “Hello. I’m Detective McPherson. This is my partner, Detective Sullivan.”

It rolled off his tongue like a recording. Maybe he was getting used to the idea. He pulled his jacket closed, coving his shield. “Are you the O’Connors?”

The man nodded. “We are.”

“Mind if we ask you a few questions?”

“What about?” Mrs. O’Connor asked.

“Your neighbor, Mr. Garvin.” Sullivan stifled a yawn. Seemed the bananas and water were kicking in.

Before she could continue, Mr. O’Connor spoke up. “What’s that no good, drug-dealing, hippie freak gone and done now?”

“Nothing, sir.” Jim’s lips trembled as he fought another grin, amused at the colorful description. Old fashioned, sure. But it fit Bob to a T.

Sullivan offered a sympathetic nod, not that their expressions changed because of it. “Seems one of his animals went missing last week. His security cameras didn’t catch anything suspicious. We were hoping you might have seen something.”

“Of course, his cameras didn’t catch anything,” Mr. O’Connor said. “Damn things don’t work.”

“Just courting trouble, he is,” Mrs. O’Connor said. “Given the business he’s in, he should pay extra for security. Not turn it off.”

“You mean, the exotic animal business?” Sullivan asked.

“Pffft.” Mrs. O’Connor waved her hand. “If that’s what you think, you can’t be too good at your job.”

Chelsea bristled.

Jim grabbed her arm then gave it a gentle squeeze as he pulled her back a step. “You wouldn’t happen to have noticed any unusual traffic last Tuesday night? Maybe a strange vehicle?”

“Strange vehicles come down this road all the time.” Mr. O’Connor frowned. “That boy has people comin’ and goin’ at all hours of the day and night. Up to no good, that one is.”

“We’ll take that under advisement,” Jim said. “In the meantime, if you noticed anything out of the ordinary on Tuesday, we’d appreciate you sharing what you saw.”

Mr. O’Connor turned and walked deeper into his house. His wife stayed at the door, staring at them and scowling.

Talk about awkward.

Sullivan stifled another yawn.

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