The McKenna Legacy Trilogy by Rosemoor Patricia

Author:Rosemoor, Patricia [Rosemoor, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Suspense
Publisher: Patricia Rosemoor
Published: 2010-12-02T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

"A MAN CAN'T EVEN READ his newspaper in peace," Orville Galt grumbled to himself.

Rising, arthritic fingers hanging onto the section containing the Police Blotter, he opened the door. A sultry summer breeze swept over him. The man on the other side appeared hot and winded, but Orville was glad to be wearing a flannel shirt.

Squinting over his dime store half-moon glasses at the familiar face, he asked, “Can I help you?"

"You can if you're Orville Galt, retired sheriff."

"Don't tell me I won some kinda sweepstakes." He poked his head out the door and peered around. “Nope. No Prize-mobile." Then he inspected the TV tabloid reporter more closely. “And if you're tryin' to sell me brushes, you forgot your sample case."

"I'm Skelly McKenna from The Whole Truth."

"Hm, so you are."

"Could you spare a few minutes to talk to me?"

"I'll prattle to anyone who'll listen. Keeps me from makin' friends with the walls. C'mon in if you don't mind the mess. Can't afford a cleaning lady more'n once a month and it's darn near that now."

His place was tired-looking like him, magazines and books stacked on every horizontal surface, but it was home. He closed the door and claimed his La-Z-Boy.

"Place hasn't been the same since Agatha died." Orville added the newspaper to the growing pile next to his recliner. “Keeping up with chores has never been my strong suit."

"But I gather law enforcement was."

"Forty-odd years." With a resigned sigh, he removed the magnifying glasses and set them down on a rickety occasional table. “But that's enough small talk. Sit and let's get down to business."

Springs squealed in protest and the middle cushion sagged alarmingly when the reporter took the couch. He slid to one side where he hung onto the arm to keep from being swallowed whole.

"How well do you remember the Frank Sullivan murder?" McKenna began.

"Figured that's what you were about." Orville couldn't help his resentment at the younger man's having free reign to dig into the case when his own hands had been tied. “Murder's a major event around here, not like in the big city. In all my years on the force, I had maybe a dozen homicides."

"I suspect this was your most prominent case."

"By far. So you believe Lily Lang was innocent."

"I'm beginning to. And I figured if anyone could help me make up my mind, it would be you."

A little flattered despite the bitterness, he grunted. “I gotta admit Lily's confession made the case easy on us. I've always wondered if it wasn't too damn easy."

"Regret?" McKenna jumped on that.” Then why didn't you hold off until you investigated other suspects?"

"Lily confessed! The highly experienced D.A. believed her. I was the new sheriff."

Orville clenched his jaw at having to defend himself. He was still ticked that he hadn't had the clout to run the investigation the way his gut told him.

"Were you at the crime scene?"

"First to arrive. Lily wasn't herself, granted. She was subdued...like the light had gone outta her. But she told me what she'd done.

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