Pit Perfect Murder (A Barkside of the Moon Cozy Mystery Book 1) by George Renee

Author:George, Renee [George, Renee]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Barkside of the Moon Press
Published: 2018-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

B lood spatter, like a Jackson Pollock painting, decorated the bar’s exterior where Ed had been found. The longest tail was about five feet up the side, indicating he was probably standing when he was killed. His carotid artery had been punctured on the right side, which meant he’d have bled out in a couple of minutes. The hole had been small, the size of an ice pick. Maybe smaller.

Most disturbingly, he’d been killed a few minutes before I managed to drag out Nadine. His wallet had fallen out of his pocket, and I picked it up and did a quick rummage. I realized it was bad form to take potential evidence from a crime scene, but I wanted to look. Impetuously, I tucked his license into my coat.

Could I have saved him if I’d been faster? I pulled my coat tighter and shivered as guilt tugged at my conscience while the medics got Nadine onto a stretcher .

All the evacuated customers and employees were on the far side of the street now in a triage set up by the local hospital, fire department, and EMTs. Ryan Petry was sitting on the sidewalk with an oxygen mask on. Jock Simmons was talking to the bartender and a deputy I recognized from the Katherine Kapersky crime scene. I couldn’t find Freda or Lacy in the mix of bodies, but I’d heard a fireman say, “The building is clear, but there was a crowbar wedged under the front door, blocking the exit. We’re lucky there aren’t any fatalities.”

Inside, he meant. Because what happened to Ed Miles might not have been fire related, but it was certainly fatal. Had the fire been set to create a distraction for the purpose of killing Ed? If that was the case, then why had they blocked the front door and not the back? It made no sense if they wanted to get Ed alone to do him in.

Sheriff Avery showed up gruff and angry. I didn’t smell burgers and fries on him tonight. From what I could detect, he’d had steamed broccoli, baked chicken, and spinach greens. I suspected that with the sheriff’s forced diet, he was more hangry than angry.

“What were you thinking, Deputy?” he asked Nadine, who had an oxygen mask on, making the strong, vibrant woman appear frail and fragile. Human. “You’re a police officer, not a fireman,” the sheriff continued. “You don’t go running into burning buildings.” Behind the crotchety butt chewing, I could hear the concern in his voice.

“She was a real hero, Sheriff,” Nadine said. “There would have been a lot more people injured if Nadine hadn’t herded them toward the back exit.”

“According to Ralph Mader, she ain’t the only person dumb enough to run into a burning building.”

“Ralph? The bartender?”

The sheriff narrowed his gaze on me. “Seems you’re pretty strong for a tiny thing.”

“I lift weights,” I said. “The adrenaline rush probably helped, too.”

“Uh-huh,” he grunted, unconvinced. “And then you discovered Ed Miles’ body?” He chewed the inside of his lip.

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