Read Online Murder at Granite Falls by Roxanne Rustand - Free Book Online

“Does anyone know who did them?”
    Some of the students looked around at each other, while others just gave her a blank stare.
    “No one? Well, if the artist wants to talk to me privately, that’s fine, too. Have a great afternoon, everyone.”
    Right on cue, the school bell rang and the students flooded out the door.
    With a sigh, she gathered up the folder and strode to themain office, where Dottie, the silver-haired school secretary, greeted her with a warm smile. “How’s it going?”
    “I’m really happy to be here. The town is charming.”
    “And busy.” Dottie chuckled. “Now that the tourist season is under way, Main is nearly impassable, but come September things will go back to normal.”
    “Is Mr. Grover available? I have a few questions for him.”
    Dottie glanced out the window toward the parking lot. “He left just a minute ago, but you might be able to catch him. Or you can leave a message with me.”
    The message left for him yesterday hadn’t done much good, so Carrie shook her head. “I’ll see if I can catch him outside. Otherwise, I can just wait until next week. Thanks.”
    She hurried out the door and down the sidewalk, reaching the parking lot just as the principal stepped off the curb by a gray Ford Focus. Tall, with thinning brown hair, wire rims and a paunchy midsection, he had the weary air of someone who needed to retire. And from what Marie had said about him, that day was long past due.
    “Mr. Grover, could I bother you for just a second?”
    He paused and frowned. “Is it important? I’m meeting my wife for lunch.”
    “Really, this will just take a moment. I’m a little worried about someone in my class—”
    He gave a bored sigh. “The pictures. I know.”
    “You do?” Carrie’s heart lifted. Maybe this was an ongoing situation and was already being addressed.
    “Marie told me about your concerns. Really, this type of drawing is very typical for boys this age. Just like she told you, they’re intrigued by weapons and battles, and most of them go through a phase of drawing this stuff. It’s like a rite of passage.” He snorted. “Given the tremendous violence of the video games they’re allowed to play, it’s no surprise.”
    “But it seems—”

    “Ms. Randall.” There was no mistaking the impatience in his voice. “I realize that you’re new at teaching. But this is not an issue. And if it bothers you a great deal, well…”
    His voice trailed off, leaving his implication perfectly clear.
    “No. It’s not that,” she said, frustration and disappointment washing through her. Marie had been right after all.
    He punched a button on his key ring and opened his car door. “Good, then. See you on Monday.”
    She stepped back and watched him drive away.
    Had she been foolish, making more of something than she should have? Was it worth jeopardizing her contract to pursue it further?
    The principal had made that risk clear, yet a still, small voice in her heart called out a warning, urging her to not let this go. Please, God, let me know what to do.
     
    Saturday dawned bright and clear, with a chilly breeze typical in the mountains during the first half of June. Pausing as he worked at patching a spare raft, Logan breathed in the incomparable sweet scents of pine and damp earth.
    Snowdrifts still persisted in shaded places, though the delicate buttercups, spring crocus and crimson paintbrush were already blooming in abundance in the meadows, and now rafting customers had a good chance at seeing the other signs of spring—like newborn bear cubs, or moose calves.
    It couldn’t be more different from the heat and dust of a rodeo arena, and for the first time, he found himself almost wishing that he could leave the circuit for good.
    As if that were a choice.
    His attorney had been worth every cent, but now Logan would be riding broncs a lot longer than he’d intended to…and already, his old injuries made him feel twice his age on cold mornings.

    Doc