Read Online Fly by Night (A Gracie Andersen Mystery Book 3) by Laurinda Wallace - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laurinda Wallace
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to his chest.
“I apologize if I misunderstood you, Jim. I think highly of your relative. Why, he and I had a very stimulating conversation after the rally at Greerson’s Meadow. He described in excellent detail the flight patterns of the spacecraft he observed a few nights before all the … the rather tragic events …”
Jim interrupted the extended apology. “You and Tobias met after the brawl at the Meadow?”
Roscoe’s brown eyes blinked with bewilderment. “Why, yes. He had some excellent journals of the recent spacecraft sightings. He was quite hospitable, although shaken after that unfortunate incident with the Renew Earth protesters.”
“You were with him at his trailer?”
“Yes. That’s where the journals are kept, of course.” Roscoe’s tone became slightly patronizing.
Jim’s pulse quickened as he mulled over the possibilities. “What time were you there? Do you remember?”
“Of course. I considered it an interview for my report. I can tell you exactly when I arrived and departed.” Roscoe stuffed the papers back into the folder and shoved it in the pile under the computers. Jim reached forward, steadying the laptops, which were hanging precariously on a mountain of paper. Roscoe, already preoccupied with his next task, walked quickly to his tent and disappeared inside. Making sure the laptops were balanced properly, Jim checked his watch. It was just nine o’clock. Maybe he’d have time to call Toby’s attorney if Roscoe hurried. The flap of the tent opened, and Roscoe reappeared with his iPhone and flashlight. He held the flashlight under his armpit, while his finger swiped the phone.
“Here it is,” he said, looking up as the flashlight dropped to the ground, its light flickering. Jim quickly bent down to retrieve it and looked at the phone.
“I recorded it. The conversation is officially time stamped. I began the interview at 8:35 p.m. and concluded it at 10:52 p.m. I took photos of his journal for verification and some video of Mr. McQuinn. They’re time-stamped as well. It’s all appropriately documented. Mr. McQuinn was most helpful in explaining alien abductions that evening. Did you know that he was taken as a child? Most extraordinary experience for him,” he mused, staring off into the night sky.
“Yes, Roscoe. I’m very familiar with that story. You’re sure about the times?”
“Of course. The app is absolutely accurate, as are the other functions. I wouldn’t use the phone if it wasn’t precise.” He seemed offended that the question had been asked.
“Thanks, Roscoe. Keep that phone in a safe place. It’s going to be needed.” Jim handed him back the flashlight and slapped the bewildered man on the back. “You’re a genius.”
*****
Jim punched the “End” button on his cell and leaned back on Gracie’s extremely comfortable leather sofa, putting his feet on the coffee table.
“So?” Gracie asked, anxious to hear the news.
“So, the lawyer says it’s an alibi and basically airtight. I’m going back up to tell Roscoe to hand in his phone tomorrow morning. The medical examiner put the time of death for D. B. between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. There’s no way he was there. Roscoe took some photos of Toby that night too. Everything is documented. The lawyer had some news too.”
Gracie pulled the clip out of her hair, letting it fall over her shoulders. She took a sip from the glass of iced tea, wiping the condensation from the bottom before setting it back on the coaster on the mission-style end table. She curled up in a club chair, with Haley intently chewing on a bone on the floor next to her.
“What else is going on?”
“The shot that was used to kill D. B. was pretty big, as in triple B steel shot. It’s bigger than anything that Toby had on hand. The cops found #6 at the trailer, which is for small game. He needs to start assisting in his own defense though. For some reason, he just won’t cooperate with his attorney. I
“I apologize if I misunderstood you, Jim. I think highly of your relative. Why, he and I had a very stimulating conversation after the rally at Greerson’s Meadow. He described in excellent detail the flight patterns of the spacecraft he observed a few nights before all the … the rather tragic events …”
Jim interrupted the extended apology. “You and Tobias met after the brawl at the Meadow?”
Roscoe’s brown eyes blinked with bewilderment. “Why, yes. He had some excellent journals of the recent spacecraft sightings. He was quite hospitable, although shaken after that unfortunate incident with the Renew Earth protesters.”
“You were with him at his trailer?”
“Yes. That’s where the journals are kept, of course.” Roscoe’s tone became slightly patronizing.
Jim’s pulse quickened as he mulled over the possibilities. “What time were you there? Do you remember?”
“Of course. I considered it an interview for my report. I can tell you exactly when I arrived and departed.” Roscoe stuffed the papers back into the folder and shoved it in the pile under the computers. Jim reached forward, steadying the laptops, which were hanging precariously on a mountain of paper. Roscoe, already preoccupied with his next task, walked quickly to his tent and disappeared inside. Making sure the laptops were balanced properly, Jim checked his watch. It was just nine o’clock. Maybe he’d have time to call Toby’s attorney if Roscoe hurried. The flap of the tent opened, and Roscoe reappeared with his iPhone and flashlight. He held the flashlight under his armpit, while his finger swiped the phone.
“Here it is,” he said, looking up as the flashlight dropped to the ground, its light flickering. Jim quickly bent down to retrieve it and looked at the phone.
“I recorded it. The conversation is officially time stamped. I began the interview at 8:35 p.m. and concluded it at 10:52 p.m. I took photos of his journal for verification and some video of Mr. McQuinn. They’re time-stamped as well. It’s all appropriately documented. Mr. McQuinn was most helpful in explaining alien abductions that evening. Did you know that he was taken as a child? Most extraordinary experience for him,” he mused, staring off into the night sky.
“Yes, Roscoe. I’m very familiar with that story. You’re sure about the times?”
“Of course. The app is absolutely accurate, as are the other functions. I wouldn’t use the phone if it wasn’t precise.” He seemed offended that the question had been asked.
“Thanks, Roscoe. Keep that phone in a safe place. It’s going to be needed.” Jim handed him back the flashlight and slapped the bewildered man on the back. “You’re a genius.”
*****
Jim punched the “End” button on his cell and leaned back on Gracie’s extremely comfortable leather sofa, putting his feet on the coffee table.
“So?” Gracie asked, anxious to hear the news.
“So, the lawyer says it’s an alibi and basically airtight. I’m going back up to tell Roscoe to hand in his phone tomorrow morning. The medical examiner put the time of death for D. B. between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. There’s no way he was there. Roscoe took some photos of Toby that night too. Everything is documented. The lawyer had some news too.”
Gracie pulled the clip out of her hair, letting it fall over her shoulders. She took a sip from the glass of iced tea, wiping the condensation from the bottom before setting it back on the coaster on the mission-style end table. She curled up in a club chair, with Haley intently chewing on a bone on the floor next to her.
“What else is going on?”
“The shot that was used to kill D. B. was pretty big, as in triple B steel shot. It’s bigger than anything that Toby had on hand. The cops found #6 at the trailer, which is for small game. He needs to start assisting in his own defense though. For some reason, he just won’t cooperate with his attorney. I
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