Read Online Clowns and Cowboys (A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 3) by Linsey Lanier - Free Book Online Page B

they strolled through the grass, Sam began to chatter excitedly in his southwestern drawl. “If you want, I can introduce you to the performers who knew Tupper best. There’s Yvette Nannette, the dog trainer. And Danny, the guy I mentioned last night. And Harvey. He’s another clown. You’ll want to speak to him. Oh, I almost forgot.” He dug in his pocket and handed Miranda something.
    “What’s this?” she asked.
    “Visitor passes for the dress rehearsal tonight. Can’t get in without them.”
    Miranda handed them to Parker who stuffed them into his blazer pocket without a word.
    She didn’t appreciate Sam barging in and taking over their investigation, and she could see Parker was fuming.
    “Mr. Keegan,” he said in a low, ominous voice.
    “Oh, please. Call me Sam.” Sam chuckled as if he didn’t notice there was a problem.
    “We’re quite capable of interviewing people without your help.”
    Sam stopped and turned around to face them. He looked crestfallen. “Jeez, I’m sorry. I just thought I’d help you out. Thought you’d really want to talk to Harvey.
    Miranda sighed in impatience. “Who’s Harvey?”
    “Harvey Hackett. He’s one of the lead clowns. He worked closely with Tupper, and…well, they didn’t exactly get along.”
    Miranda folded her arms. “You think he could be a suspect?”
    “Maybe. I’m not a professional like you two.” He put his hands in his back pockets and gave her that shy sexy grin of his.
    She narrowed her eyes and Parker narrowed his at the same time. They both knew bullshit flattery when they heard it. Still this Harvey dude sounded like he might have a motive.
    She turned to Parker. “Couldn’t hurt to talk to the guy.”
    For one infinitesimal spec of time, his gray eyes flashed dark with rage. Then he took a controlled breath to fight it back. “All right. Where is he, Sam?”
    Sam brightened. “He lives right over here. Should be out practicing now. It’s on the way to Layla’s.”
    He led them past a few more RVs then made a turn between two of the larger ones. There, in what you might call the alleyway, stood a man dressed in a sleeveless white undershirt and baggy pants held up by red suspenders. He was cussing at a set of bowling pins lying on the ground.
    A cigar hung out of one corner of his mouth and he badly needed a shave. He looked like a sad sack clown even without any makeup.
    “Damn cheap props,” he muttered.
    “You’d do better if you got rid of that stogie,” Sam said.
    The man looked up and glared at him. “Shows what you know. It’s part of the act.”
    “Sure it is. In the smoke-free tent.” Sam strode over, snatched the stub out of the man’s mouth and tossed it on the ground. Then he dug the heel of his cowboy boot into it.
    The man’s weathered face twisted in a grimace. “Damn it, Keegan. Who do you think you are, my mother?”
    “You need a mother sometimes.”
    “I’m warning you, you’d better stay out of my stash. I’m missin’ a pack of cigs. And a bottle.”
    “You’re the only one who wants to touch your stash, man. And hey, you need a limit on your wine drinking, too.”
    Miranda looked at Parker. This guy had a drinking problem? With wine? And he was missing a bottle?
    Parker took a step forward. “Sir, we’re wondering if we might speak to you a moment about Tupper Magnuson.”
    “Sir?” He sneered at Parker, revealing a set of yellowed teeth. His tan was deeper than Sam’s, and his skin had the texture of old leather. “Who the hell are you?”
    Sam scoffed. “You really need to work on your manners, Harvey. This is Wade Parker and Miranda Steele from the Parker Investigative Agency in Atlanta, Georgia. I hired them to look into Tupper’s death. They’d like to speak to you.”
    Parker extended a hand. “Harvey Hackett?”
    The man eyed him up and down, then did the same to Miranda. “I got nothin’ to say to either of you.”
    With that, he stumbled over to the steps in front of his