Read Online Bound To Die: A Cozy Mystery (Strawberry Shores Mystery Book 1) by Mak K. Han - Free Book Online Page A

killer.”
    “And what's this message on the back mean?”
    My face went warm. “I've been asking around town to see if anyone knows anything about the case,” I said. Technically that was the truth with a few details omitted, and not a lie. I picked up static anyway.
    “Welp, I'll dust it for fingerprints,” the Sheriff said.
    He headed out back to get the equipment to do the check.
    “That's scary, Laura,” Emily said. “Did you see anyone during your date last night?”
    I shook my head. “I mean, I saw people. But nobody stood out. And I didn't see any cameras.”
    Sheriff Caldwell dusted for fingerprints, identifying three sets.
    “What does that mean?” Emily asked. “Can you tell who the killer is?”
    Sheriff Caldwell shook his head. “I'm afraid not. I'll have to have it sent to the lab in Greenville and see if they're willing to run it for me. Don' get too excited though, that'll take some time. I'll see if I can get 'em to do a handwriting analysis too.”
    Alex was shaking her head. “That's pointless. It makes sense that there are three sets of fingerprints. I touched it, Laura touched it, and Sheriff Caldwell touched it. One, two, three.”
    “Maybe the killer was wearing gloves,” Emily suggested.
    I held my tongue.
    “Listen, I'm gon' hold on to this for evidence,” the Sheriff instructed me, sticking the photo in one of his drawers. “In the meantime, you might think about leaving the investigatin' to people like me. You hear me?”
    I nodded. “Sure Sheriff. It won't happen again.” I started to turn to walk away before catching a whiff of the whiskey again. “Say, Sheriff. Yes or no—will you tell me who the suspects are?”
    “I can't do that, Laura.” He said.
    Static.
    “Are you sure?” I leaned against the desk, putting on my seductive face, posturing the way I'd seen women in movies do it. “I mean, I'm feeling kind of scared after this whole photograph thing. Maybe if you let me know who your suspects are, I can avoid them.”
    The Sheriff didn't respond.
    “Please? I just want to feel safe, and you're a good sheriff. I trust you.”
    The Sheriff shook his head. “Sorry Laura. The law says I can't talk about suspects. But tell you what.” As he rummaged around in one of his drawers, I noticed there was no static. That was because he was telling the truth. Indeed, the law stated that he couldn't take about suspects. He handed me a card. “You have any problems, you give me a call. I'll come runnin'.”
    I smiled. “Thanks Sheriff. I guess it'll have to do.”
    With that, we left.
    “Jeez, Laura,” Alex said after she hopped in Emily's car. “Way to lay on the sex appeal. You trying to get with Sheriff Caldwell?”
    “Banish the thought,” I said sharply. “No, I picked up static when I asked if he'd tell me who the suspects were. So he has loose lips. I just have to figure out how to come at him the right way.”
    “Well, you wanted insight on the suspects, and maybe you already had some,” Emily suggested.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well...you know Harold isn't a suspect anymore!”
    I frowned at her. She smiled.
    It didn't make me feel better.

Chapter 17
    Come 5:00, nervousness tickled my stomach.
    I'd tried to keep a low profile throughout the day, avoiding the urge to gossip about the case with the library patrons. Still, the idea that the killer was out there, knew I was poking around in the case, and had the ability to see me without me seeing him had me on edge.
    While I was locking the doors, I realized that Susan had been gone for some time now—about an hour or so—since she'd gotten a phone call. She'd gone into the back somewhere. I couldn't leave without her.
    I ventured into the stacks, slowing every now and then to fix books that had fallen over or dropped onto the floor. And while I'd stayed away from talking about the case because I didn't want to risk unwittingly talking about it with the killer, nobody would know if I thought about