Read Online Murder on Sagebrush Lane by Patricia Smith Wood - Free Book Online
Authors: Patricia Smith Wood
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Lieutenant.” The rookie officer stood, and for a moment, looked as if he were going to salute.
Swannie grinned. “At ease, son. Just don’t let her push you around. You’re in charge. Make sure she knows it.”
Swannie was anxious to get back to the crime scene. He had more interviews to do, and he wanted to make sure the child was safely away from the area before nightfall. As he drove through typical afternoon traffic along Albuquerque’s busiest streets, he pondered this latest development. He caught the red light when he exited I-25 at Montgomery Boulevard, and while he waited for it to turn green, he took a moment to consider what he knew so far.
A high-level employee at Sandia National Labs had been murdered in his own home. His two-year-old daughter had been in the house at the time. She may or may not have seen the murderer, but she’d definitely had blood from the crime scene on her clothing. At the moment, she was safely in the custody of DJ Scott and his wife, Harrie. But how much longer would that be the case with the troublesome Ms. Bellows on the scene?
He took advantage of the last few seconds of the red light to speed dial DJ Scott on his cell. He put it on speakerphone just as the light changed to green, and he turned right, resuming his journey to the foothills.
“Hey, DJ. It’s Swannie. Bonnie Bellows is at headquarters at this very moment, filling out a ton of paper work. It should keep her busy for at least the next hour. Can you move Katie now?”
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. “DJ, are you there?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I’ve explained to my mother what we need, and she’s ready to take Katie to her house. But I have one problem.”
Swannie tensed his grip on the steering wheel. “What’s wrong?”
“Harrie and Ginger have disappeared.” He paused, “Well, that’s probably inaccurate. I’m pretty sure I know where they are. In fact, I’m headed there at this very moment. How soon will you be back at the crime scene?”
“I’m on Montgomery now. Just got off the freeway. Give me about ten minutes. Where are you headed?”
“I’ll meet you at the Rinaldi house. I’m on my way there now.”
“I thought you said you were going to find Harrie and Ginger?”
DJ laughed a small, humorless laugh. “I am. I’m pretty sure that’s where I’ll find them. At the crime scene. With Harrie being Harrie I’m hoping to head her off before she gets in trouble.”
Swannie shook his head. “You know, DJ. I never fully appreciated how strong-willed your lovely wife is.”
DJ let out a long sigh. “Believe me, Swannie. You don’t know the half of it.”
19
Officer Harley had dreamed of being a police officer since he was fourteen years old. His grandfather, father, and two uncles had been on the force, and he was anxious to follow in their footsteps. But if he’d known there’d be days like today, perhaps he would have been more open to becoming a doctor, like his mother wanted.
When the lovely Harrie McKinsey Scott appeared at the door of the Rinaldi house and asked for him by name, his goose was cooked. He knew he shouldn’t let her and her friend into the house, but she was so cute and petite, and she smiled at him so sweetly. How could he say no to her? All six feet of him practically melted at her feet.
Although Harrie hated playing the flirty female, occasionally she found it necessary. And she actually felt a little guilty about Officer Harley. But it got them into the house, so it was worth it. She and Ginger wasted no time surveying the area where the body had been.
“I’m sure this is the scene I saw in the dream this morning. When I close my eyes, I can still see the body where it was, and the furniture, carpeting and draperies are exactly right.”
“Okay, since you know all that, can we get out of here?” Ginger felt more than a little squeamish about being in the room where a murder had occurred so recently.
“Let’s
Swannie grinned. “At ease, son. Just don’t let her push you around. You’re in charge. Make sure she knows it.”
Swannie was anxious to get back to the crime scene. He had more interviews to do, and he wanted to make sure the child was safely away from the area before nightfall. As he drove through typical afternoon traffic along Albuquerque’s busiest streets, he pondered this latest development. He caught the red light when he exited I-25 at Montgomery Boulevard, and while he waited for it to turn green, he took a moment to consider what he knew so far.
A high-level employee at Sandia National Labs had been murdered in his own home. His two-year-old daughter had been in the house at the time. She may or may not have seen the murderer, but she’d definitely had blood from the crime scene on her clothing. At the moment, she was safely in the custody of DJ Scott and his wife, Harrie. But how much longer would that be the case with the troublesome Ms. Bellows on the scene?
He took advantage of the last few seconds of the red light to speed dial DJ Scott on his cell. He put it on speakerphone just as the light changed to green, and he turned right, resuming his journey to the foothills.
“Hey, DJ. It’s Swannie. Bonnie Bellows is at headquarters at this very moment, filling out a ton of paper work. It should keep her busy for at least the next hour. Can you move Katie now?”
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. “DJ, are you there?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I’ve explained to my mother what we need, and she’s ready to take Katie to her house. But I have one problem.”
Swannie tensed his grip on the steering wheel. “What’s wrong?”
“Harrie and Ginger have disappeared.” He paused, “Well, that’s probably inaccurate. I’m pretty sure I know where they are. In fact, I’m headed there at this very moment. How soon will you be back at the crime scene?”
“I’m on Montgomery now. Just got off the freeway. Give me about ten minutes. Where are you headed?”
“I’ll meet you at the Rinaldi house. I’m on my way there now.”
“I thought you said you were going to find Harrie and Ginger?”
DJ laughed a small, humorless laugh. “I am. I’m pretty sure that’s where I’ll find them. At the crime scene. With Harrie being Harrie I’m hoping to head her off before she gets in trouble.”
Swannie shook his head. “You know, DJ. I never fully appreciated how strong-willed your lovely wife is.”
DJ let out a long sigh. “Believe me, Swannie. You don’t know the half of it.”
19
Officer Harley had dreamed of being a police officer since he was fourteen years old. His grandfather, father, and two uncles had been on the force, and he was anxious to follow in their footsteps. But if he’d known there’d be days like today, perhaps he would have been more open to becoming a doctor, like his mother wanted.
When the lovely Harrie McKinsey Scott appeared at the door of the Rinaldi house and asked for him by name, his goose was cooked. He knew he shouldn’t let her and her friend into the house, but she was so cute and petite, and she smiled at him so sweetly. How could he say no to her? All six feet of him practically melted at her feet.
Although Harrie hated playing the flirty female, occasionally she found it necessary. And she actually felt a little guilty about Officer Harley. But it got them into the house, so it was worth it. She and Ginger wasted no time surveying the area where the body had been.
“I’m sure this is the scene I saw in the dream this morning. When I close my eyes, I can still see the body where it was, and the furniture, carpeting and draperies are exactly right.”
“Okay, since you know all that, can we get out of here?” Ginger felt more than a little squeamish about being in the room where a murder had occurred so recently.
“Let’s
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