Read Online Deadly Places: A Mapleton Mystery Novella by Terry Odell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Terry Odell
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his desk and peered at the impatient face of Tyler Colfax. He let the detective in as his internal line rang.
“Someone’s at your door, Chief Solomon,” the receptionist said.
Ed thanked her and motioned Colfax to a chair. An unnecessary gesture, as the detective never waited on formalities.
“Last time you were here, you brought coffee,” Ed said.
“And you had cinnamon rolls, so we’re even on the no refreshments scorecard.”
“What brings you to our hick town?” Ed asked.
“You.”
“Me?”
Colfax exhaled a deep sigh. “Your damn Deadbeat Dad Killer case. We have another potential homicide that fits your pattern.”
“Where?” Ed had been following local homicides in between the Chief Stuff and hadn’t seen anything that fit his parameters.
“Houston.”
“And why would you be involved in a Houston homicide?”
“Because the deadbeat in question is my brother-in-law. Ex brother-in-law.”
Ed kept his mouth shut until his brain caught up. “My condolences.”
Colfax shrugged. “Thanks. The guy was an asshole, though. I told my sister the same before she married him. Hell, for all I know, she married him because I told her not to. At any rate, he’s dead.”
“And you think it’s connected because—other than he was a deadbeat?”
“Because he died in a boating accident, and the bum hated the water. Got seasick on theme park boat rides. You know, the kind that aren’t really boats because they run on tracks.”
Ed drummed his fingers on his thigh. “And you don’t think there’d have been a good reason for him to have been on a boat? A business meeting. To impress someone? There are pills and patches to combat seasickness.”
“I’ve told the M.E. to run a tox screen for those drugs. But—and maybe it’s because you put that damn bug in my ear—a boating accident doesn’t work for me. The guy might have been a creepazoid, but that doesn’t give anyone the right to kill him.”
“How can I help?” Ed didn’t throw out the a measly small-town cop crack this time. Colfax seemed genuinely upset. Could he suspect his sister of taking out a hit? “Would you rather continue this meeting at Finnegan’s?”
“Not smart in my current mood, since I’d have to drive home. I wanted to escape the job for a few hours.”
He was upset. “My house?”
“You have a family. I don’t want to impose.”
“If I thought it was an imposition, I wouldn’t have offered. I’ll let Mary Ellen know. Tonight’s lasagna night, and there’s always plenty.”
Colfax seemed to be weighing the pros and cons before he spoke. “As long as it’s all right with her. Family time is hard enough to come by in this job, and I don’t want you to cut back on any of yours.”
Ed knew nothing of Colfax’s personal life, other than he wasn’t married now. Whether he had been, or how it had turned out, was an area they’d never covered. He called Mary Ellen, who didn’t hesitate before saying yes.
“How’s Mitch doing?” Ed asked her. Not surprisingly, the boy had been moving slowly this morning and had skipped breakfast.
“Avoiding eye contact, went straight to his room, but he said he finished his lunch and was looking forward to lasagna. I had to push to get him to talk, though.”
“At least his appetite’s back,” Ed said. “See you soon.” Having an outsider at the table might deflect any awkward conversation about Mitch’s little adventure yesterday. Mary Ellen had left it to Mitch to decide if and what he’d tell Jeremy. This morning, Ed hadn’t felt any vibes that Jeremy knew anything, but eventually, it would come up. And when it did, Ed hoped whatever Mitch said to his brother would help to avoid the same thing happening when Jeremy reached that phase.
Good luck with that.
Dinner conversation was small talk, with football being the main topic of conversation. After they’d eaten, Mary Ellen shooed the men out. “The boys and I will handle cleanup. I’m
“Someone’s at your door, Chief Solomon,” the receptionist said.
Ed thanked her and motioned Colfax to a chair. An unnecessary gesture, as the detective never waited on formalities.
“Last time you were here, you brought coffee,” Ed said.
“And you had cinnamon rolls, so we’re even on the no refreshments scorecard.”
“What brings you to our hick town?” Ed asked.
“You.”
“Me?”
Colfax exhaled a deep sigh. “Your damn Deadbeat Dad Killer case. We have another potential homicide that fits your pattern.”
“Where?” Ed had been following local homicides in between the Chief Stuff and hadn’t seen anything that fit his parameters.
“Houston.”
“And why would you be involved in a Houston homicide?”
“Because the deadbeat in question is my brother-in-law. Ex brother-in-law.”
Ed kept his mouth shut until his brain caught up. “My condolences.”
Colfax shrugged. “Thanks. The guy was an asshole, though. I told my sister the same before she married him. Hell, for all I know, she married him because I told her not to. At any rate, he’s dead.”
“And you think it’s connected because—other than he was a deadbeat?”
“Because he died in a boating accident, and the bum hated the water. Got seasick on theme park boat rides. You know, the kind that aren’t really boats because they run on tracks.”
Ed drummed his fingers on his thigh. “And you don’t think there’d have been a good reason for him to have been on a boat? A business meeting. To impress someone? There are pills and patches to combat seasickness.”
“I’ve told the M.E. to run a tox screen for those drugs. But—and maybe it’s because you put that damn bug in my ear—a boating accident doesn’t work for me. The guy might have been a creepazoid, but that doesn’t give anyone the right to kill him.”
“How can I help?” Ed didn’t throw out the a measly small-town cop crack this time. Colfax seemed genuinely upset. Could he suspect his sister of taking out a hit? “Would you rather continue this meeting at Finnegan’s?”
“Not smart in my current mood, since I’d have to drive home. I wanted to escape the job for a few hours.”
He was upset. “My house?”
“You have a family. I don’t want to impose.”
“If I thought it was an imposition, I wouldn’t have offered. I’ll let Mary Ellen know. Tonight’s lasagna night, and there’s always plenty.”
Colfax seemed to be weighing the pros and cons before he spoke. “As long as it’s all right with her. Family time is hard enough to come by in this job, and I don’t want you to cut back on any of yours.”
Ed knew nothing of Colfax’s personal life, other than he wasn’t married now. Whether he had been, or how it had turned out, was an area they’d never covered. He called Mary Ellen, who didn’t hesitate before saying yes.
“How’s Mitch doing?” Ed asked her. Not surprisingly, the boy had been moving slowly this morning and had skipped breakfast.
“Avoiding eye contact, went straight to his room, but he said he finished his lunch and was looking forward to lasagna. I had to push to get him to talk, though.”
“At least his appetite’s back,” Ed said. “See you soon.” Having an outsider at the table might deflect any awkward conversation about Mitch’s little adventure yesterday. Mary Ellen had left it to Mitch to decide if and what he’d tell Jeremy. This morning, Ed hadn’t felt any vibes that Jeremy knew anything, but eventually, it would come up. And when it did, Ed hoped whatever Mitch said to his brother would help to avoid the same thing happening when Jeremy reached that phase.
Good luck with that.
Dinner conversation was small talk, with football being the main topic of conversation. After they’d eaten, Mary Ellen shooed the men out. “The boys and I will handle cleanup. I’m
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