Read Online Murder! (Parker & Knight Book 1) by Donald Wells - Free Book Online

should call to her, but what was there to say?
    They weren’t going to have a relationship. Their relationship, what it was and all it ever would be had just taken place, and the only thing she had ever wanted from him was kindness and casual sex, and her desire matched his own.
    Parker straightened himself up, started the car, and headed home, feeling a little older and a little sadder than when he left it.

9
    P arker entered the squad room on Friday morning and saw Jo walking towards him holding a coffee.
    “Cream and sugar, right?”
    “Yes, and thanks,”
    Parker took a sip and felt the warm liquid energize him. He hadn’t fallen asleep until nearly two, and then hit the snooze alarm until there was just enough time to shower and shave.
    “Steve Grace’s girlfriend is coming in this morning,” Jo said. “Although, I’m not sure if she has anything to add to the case,”
    “I know, she told me on the phone that she’d never even met Tiffany, but I wanted to see her in person, to see if she has scratches on her arms or face.”
    “The coroner’s report says that there was no flesh under her fingernails, but she might have punched her attacker, so yeah, we might as well get a look at her and check for a black eye.”
    They got their look about an hour later and there wasn’t a mark on her. A uniformed officer escorted Steve Grace’s girlfriend, Susan May, to their desks.
    May was in her early-forties and was a saleswoman for an office supply manufacturer.
    She was dressed in a conservative pantsuit that was too tight, and her brown eyes were large behind her thick glasses. She had nothing of value to add to the case, but assured them that Steve Grace was with her and her eleven-year-old daughter at the time of the murder. Parker and Jo took down her statement, thanked her for her time, and walked her to the elevator.
    When the doors slid closed, Jo let out a soft whistle.
    “That Steve Grace must have mother issues; his girlfriend’s even older than Mandy Kent.”
    Parker said nothing, but just stood there unmoving, as his mind began to race.
    “Rick?”
    Parker didn’t answer, but just kept staring out at nothing.
    Jo touched his arm.
    “Hey Rick, you all right?”
    Parker nodded, as a sick feeling came upon him.
    “Jo, I think we’ve had this case all wrong.”
    “What do you mean? Are you talking about Susan May?”
    He nodded again, and then mashed the button on the elevator.
    “Yeah, I think she’s the key to this whole case, and if I’m right, it’s more twisted than we thought.”
    The elevator came, and they went after Susan May as Parker told Jo his theory.
    ***
    F ive hours later.
    ––––––––
    T he Kents and their daughter Allie were inside Chief Howard’s office with Parker and Jo. There was also a psychiatrist present, a woman named Dr. Price and Parker hoped that her presence would turn the tide and bring the awful truth to light.
    Parker began with a sad sigh,
    “We know who really killed Tiffany Grace.”
    Alex Kent released his own sigh.
    “Thank God, who was it?”
    “It was Allie, Mr. Kent; your daughter killed Tiffany Grace,”
    The Kents both exclaimed loud protests at the accusation, but twelve-year-old Allie hung her head and began weeping.
    Dr. Price moved beside the girl just as her mother took her hand.
    “Allie,” Dr. Price said. “Honey, we know it must have been an accident, a mistake and... we know about you and Steve.”
    “Steve? Steve Grace? What about him?” Mandy Kent said.
    “I’m sorry Mrs. Kent,” Dr. Price said, “But Steve Grace has been molesting your daughter.”
    “What?” Mandy shouted, as her husband looked stricken with shock.
    Allie said something then, but it was whispered and lost amid her sniffles.
    “What did you say, baby?” Mandy asked.
    “I said Stevie isn’t molesting me, he loves me, and I love him too.”
    Mandy let out a wail as her husband began crying his own tears.
    Parker walked over and looked the wounded