Read Online Dead Broke in Jarrett Creek: A Samuel Craddock Mystery (Samuel Craddock Mysteries) by Terry Shames - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Terry Shames
Ads: Link
chair and folds his hands over his belly. “I don’t know what I could say to help you. I didn’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary.”
“You know Dellmore’s car is missing. Did you see it when you left?”
He thinks it over. “That’s the damnedest thing. You’d think I would have noticed if the car was there, wouldn’t you? Krueger said he saw it, though.”
“Couple of other things.” I tell him that I ran into Coldwater at the café. “He implied that Gary Dellmore pushed the city’s involvement in the water park investment. Citizens Bank did the loan on that project. Is that right?”
He ponders my question. “Marietta and I went through the numbers and I think it was Citizens that made the loan. Marietta is the bookkeeper, so she knows more than I do. Coldwater didn’t mention that Dellmore was involved. Bottom line is, Dellmore didn’t force Coldwater to make that investment. I expect Coldwater is looking for somebody to take some of the heat.”
“There’s one other thing, and it troubles me to have to bring it up. Did your daughter tell you she got in trouble at work because she and Gary Dellmore were carrying on?”
His face darkens. “She mentioned it, but she said he was just flirting with her—that it was nothing more than that. Needless to say, I was pretty put out with him. After all, he’s her boss, and married besides. But if you’re suggesting I killed Gary Dellmore because he was making improper advances to my daughter, think again. I would happily have horsewhipped him in public, but my daughter said she’d be humiliated if I made a fuss over it.”
It’s no surprise that, unlike Cookie, Reinhardt put the blame for the flirtation on Gary Dellmore. I need to dig a little deeper and make sure it was only a flirtation and that Dellmore didn’t pursue her after banking hours. “Cookie Travers said Jessica was really upset when she heard that Gary was dead. Do you think there was anything more to their relationship?”
“What are you suggesting? That my daughter would date a married man?”
“It wouldn’t be a reflection on your daughter, Rusty. Like you said, he’s her boss, and she might’ve worried that her job was at risk if she didn’t go along with him.”
He brings his chair forward with a sudden jerk, glaring at me. “My daughter was brought up right. If Dellmore tried anything with her, she would have put a stop to it right off. She knows there’s no job worth a sinful relationship.” He stands up. “I’ve got things to do. Is that all?”
I rise. “Rusty, you understand I need to clear this up. It’s nothing personal.”
“I understand. But it’s hard to think of that man putting hands on my daughter and then having you question her morals.”
He sees me to the door of his office but is still huffy, and we part awkwardly.
Reinhardt has given me two new perspectives. People have suggested that Alton Coldwater be prosecuted for mishandling the city’s funds. But with Dellmore dead, he can shift the blame. Would he have been desperate enough to murder Dellmore to do that?
The other thing is that, according to Reinhardt, his daughter made light of her flirtation with Dellmore, while Cookie seemed to think Jessica was partly to blame in the matter. I have a feeling that Jessica Reinhardt isn’t telling her daddy the whole story.
I’m walking across the parking lot to my truck, not paying attention, and nearly run straight into Sandy LoPresto. She’s a lanky woman with a wide-mouthed smile and a significant bosom. I’ve never seen her dressed like she is today, in a low-cut sweater and a tight skirt just above her knees and high-heeled boots. She has a wild look in her eyes that’s a little dangerous. She glares at me as if I’m partly responsible for her husband running off with Darla Rodriguez.
“Sandy, how are you doing?”
“How do you think I’m doing?”
“Probably not too happy at the moment.”
“I imagine you’re like
“You know Dellmore’s car is missing. Did you see it when you left?”
He thinks it over. “That’s the damnedest thing. You’d think I would have noticed if the car was there, wouldn’t you? Krueger said he saw it, though.”
“Couple of other things.” I tell him that I ran into Coldwater at the café. “He implied that Gary Dellmore pushed the city’s involvement in the water park investment. Citizens Bank did the loan on that project. Is that right?”
He ponders my question. “Marietta and I went through the numbers and I think it was Citizens that made the loan. Marietta is the bookkeeper, so she knows more than I do. Coldwater didn’t mention that Dellmore was involved. Bottom line is, Dellmore didn’t force Coldwater to make that investment. I expect Coldwater is looking for somebody to take some of the heat.”
“There’s one other thing, and it troubles me to have to bring it up. Did your daughter tell you she got in trouble at work because she and Gary Dellmore were carrying on?”
His face darkens. “She mentioned it, but she said he was just flirting with her—that it was nothing more than that. Needless to say, I was pretty put out with him. After all, he’s her boss, and married besides. But if you’re suggesting I killed Gary Dellmore because he was making improper advances to my daughter, think again. I would happily have horsewhipped him in public, but my daughter said she’d be humiliated if I made a fuss over it.”
It’s no surprise that, unlike Cookie, Reinhardt put the blame for the flirtation on Gary Dellmore. I need to dig a little deeper and make sure it was only a flirtation and that Dellmore didn’t pursue her after banking hours. “Cookie Travers said Jessica was really upset when she heard that Gary was dead. Do you think there was anything more to their relationship?”
“What are you suggesting? That my daughter would date a married man?”
“It wouldn’t be a reflection on your daughter, Rusty. Like you said, he’s her boss, and she might’ve worried that her job was at risk if she didn’t go along with him.”
He brings his chair forward with a sudden jerk, glaring at me. “My daughter was brought up right. If Dellmore tried anything with her, she would have put a stop to it right off. She knows there’s no job worth a sinful relationship.” He stands up. “I’ve got things to do. Is that all?”
I rise. “Rusty, you understand I need to clear this up. It’s nothing personal.”
“I understand. But it’s hard to think of that man putting hands on my daughter and then having you question her morals.”
He sees me to the door of his office but is still huffy, and we part awkwardly.
Reinhardt has given me two new perspectives. People have suggested that Alton Coldwater be prosecuted for mishandling the city’s funds. But with Dellmore dead, he can shift the blame. Would he have been desperate enough to murder Dellmore to do that?
The other thing is that, according to Reinhardt, his daughter made light of her flirtation with Dellmore, while Cookie seemed to think Jessica was partly to blame in the matter. I have a feeling that Jessica Reinhardt isn’t telling her daddy the whole story.
I’m walking across the parking lot to my truck, not paying attention, and nearly run straight into Sandy LoPresto. She’s a lanky woman with a wide-mouthed smile and a significant bosom. I’ve never seen her dressed like she is today, in a low-cut sweater and a tight skirt just above her knees and high-heeled boots. She has a wild look in her eyes that’s a little dangerous. She glares at me as if I’m partly responsible for her husband running off with Darla Rodriguez.
“Sandy, how are you doing?”
“How do you think I’m doing?”
“Probably not too happy at the moment.”
“I imagine you’re like
Similar Books
