Read Online Citizen Insane (A Barbara Marr Murder Mystery #2) by Karen Cantwell - Free Book Online

killer, will you still be nice to me?”
    “I’m sure you’re not a killer, Mrs. Marr.” He smiled.
    He offered his assistance in walking to the ambulance and was kind enough to guide me around the scene where emergency responders hovered over Michelle’s body.
    Colt’s red GTO slid quickly beside the ambulance just as Juan was helping me in.
    “Curly,” he said, barely letting the car come to a complete stop before leaping out.
    “Hi,” I tried to smile. “Wanna join me? It’s warmer in here.” I had settled down considerably, and seeing Colt, his face tight with concern, raised my spirits.
    He jumped into the back of the ambulance nearly toppling poor Juan while he wrapped the blood pressure cuff around my arm. The other EMT, a young woman, did not seem pleased with Colt’s presence.
    “Uh, sir . . .” she said, putting her hand up as if to ward him off.
    I stopped her short. No one was going to turn Colt away at a time like this.
    “No. Please let him stay. He’s my friend.”
    Colt, ignoring the woman altogether, had already knelt in front of me and wrapped my hands tightly in his own. They were warm and strong and sent a force of energy so powerful through every fiber of my body that I nearly forgot my dire circumstances entirely.
    The lady EMT gave up her argument without a fight.
    He brushed a couple of curls from my eyes. “Are you okay?”
    “Define okay. I don’t have any broken bones. Is that okay? Did they tell you what happened?”
    “I got the gist.”
    “I killed a woman. She was still breathing when Roz went to call 911, then—” I shivered and felt sick to my stomach again.
    Colt tipped my chin so I would be forced to look him in the eyes. “We don’t know what happened yet. I’ll get some answers.” He looked at Juan the EMT. “What’s your plan here?”
    “Her blood pressure is a little low,” he said. “And we’re concerned about a concussion. We’ll be transporting her to Rustic Woods Hospital for observation.”
    “Don’t leave without me,” Colt demanded with a stern finger point. “I’ll see what I can find out and be right back.” Colt kissed me on the forehead and jumped down, walking with determined confidence toward the nearest policeman.
    “Colt!” I yelled. He turned back. “Ask them if they found Howard.”
    Things happened quickly after that. Roz came to tell me Mrs. Perkins would stay with the girls until my mother arrived. I asked Roz why she had to call my mother and Roz said who else would she call? A burly policeman with a generous pair of eye brows told me he had some questions to ask. He fired away while Juan pricked my finger to collect blood. What time did you leave your house? Where were you going? Who was with you in the car? Did you see the victim before you hit her? Did you hear anyone scream or yell when you hit the victim? Did you ingest legal or illegal drugs? Were you drinking alcoholic beverages this evening?
    I could feel the blood drain further from my extremities with each question, so it was no surprise when Juan had to apologize and grab yet another finger to attack. I felt like a pincushion being interrogated on a bad episode of NYPD Blue .
    Being sequestered inside the ambulance prevented me from observing exterior events, but I did hear a sharp, single siren followed by some bustling and an obscenity or two. The cop straightened and pulled his gut in as far as it would go. Somebody important had arrived.
    “Sir,” he said with a nod to the as yet unseen arrival.
    “Officer,” replied the voice.
    My heart jumped. I knew that voice.
    Howard’s head appeared around the corner of the ambulance bay. His grim face lightened when he saw me, allowing a somber but gentle smile to appear. Jumping inside, he grabbed me in a hug and held on tight. He was warm and I was in heaven.
    After a long and loving embrace, he pulled back. “How do you feel?”
    “I’m fine. It may be a while before I can use these again,” I said, holding