Read Online Nightmares Can Be Murder (A Dream Club Mystery) by Mary Kennedy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Kennedy
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her story, and I placed the espresso pot on the table. This time Sam accepted a cup and nodded her thanks. Her fingers were flying as she recorded Gina’s words in her notebook.
“I’m a little puzzled about something. Gina, you were the one to discover the body, right?” she asked, frowning. “But why did the paramedic tell me Taylor was the first one to find him?”
I gave a dismissive little grunt. “A miscommunication. All of us were peering inside the studio at”—I paused—“Chico.” It seemed strange to say “the body.”
“But Gina is the only one who actually entered the studio, is that correct?” Sam waited for affirmation and then scribbled some more.
“Do they know what happened to him?” Ali blurted out. She’d been quiet during the entire interrogation, and I wondered where her thoughts were taking her. “You said it was a
potential
crime scene, so does that mean you suspect murder?” Her voice wobbled on the last word.
“I’m not at liberty to say,” Sam said, her expression closed, her voice flat. She was all business. “At the moment, we’re calling it a suspicious death. That’s as much as I can tell you right now. Once we get the ME’s report, I’ll have more information.”
After a few perfunctory questions, Sam decided she had enough to write a preliminary report and stood up. “I’m sure we’ll have more questions for all of you,” she said. “If anything else comes to mind, any detail, no matter how small, I want you to call me immediately.”
We nodded, struck by her solemn tone. This was the first time any of us had seen Sam in action as a Savannah PD detective, and she was impressive. Cool, methodical, and deliberate in her questioning, with a steady gaze and no-nonsense style that guaranteed compliance.
I stood up to walk her downstairs, and she surprised me by turning to ask one more question. “Does anyone know if Chico had family? A next of kin?” She directed her question to all of us, but I suspected that she was really interested in what Gina would say. Gina steadfastly kept her head down, staring at her plate.
“He mentioned a wife, or maybe an ex-wife back in Colombia,” Ali said slowly. “But I don’t have the name or any contact information.”
“He told you he had a wife?” Sam quirked an eyebrow. Her tone was incredulous. From what I knew of Chico’s philandering habits, this seemed totally out of character. I just didn’t picture him as a family man.
“No, Chico didn’t mention it,” Ali said quickly. “Someone else must have told me, but I can’t remember who.”
“If you think of it, let me know.” She snapped her notebook shut and glanced around the table. “I’ll let myself out, ladies.”
I returned to the kitchen table, and for a moment, we were silent. Gina seemed to have gotten a grip on her emotions and thanked us for looking after her. Ali gave her a quick hug and promised to check in on her later tonight. She asked if Gina would like to stay for dinner but she declined. She said she was exhausted and was eager to go home and take a nap.
“I don’t think they’ll let me back in the studio to check the computer, will they? I could call the students,” Gina offered.
“I’m sure they won’t,” I said, shaking my head. “But you don’t have to worry about that. There will probably be something in tomorrow’s paper,” I added, “so everyone will know that classes are canceled.”
“Yes, of course, I should have thought of that. My brain isn’t working today.” Gina gave a wan smile and hesitated. “Are they still there?” she asked softly. “The police?” I knew she didn’t want to see the coroner’s van or, worse, Chico’s body lying on a gurney.
“I think they left,” I said, walking to the window. Barney and Scout had lost interest in the scene below, and sure enough, the street was empty. “All clear,” I told Gina, and she headed down the stairs.
I heaved a sigh when Ali and I were
“I’m a little puzzled about something. Gina, you were the one to discover the body, right?” she asked, frowning. “But why did the paramedic tell me Taylor was the first one to find him?”
I gave a dismissive little grunt. “A miscommunication. All of us were peering inside the studio at”—I paused—“Chico.” It seemed strange to say “the body.”
“But Gina is the only one who actually entered the studio, is that correct?” Sam waited for affirmation and then scribbled some more.
“Do they know what happened to him?” Ali blurted out. She’d been quiet during the entire interrogation, and I wondered where her thoughts were taking her. “You said it was a
potential
crime scene, so does that mean you suspect murder?” Her voice wobbled on the last word.
“I’m not at liberty to say,” Sam said, her expression closed, her voice flat. She was all business. “At the moment, we’re calling it a suspicious death. That’s as much as I can tell you right now. Once we get the ME’s report, I’ll have more information.”
After a few perfunctory questions, Sam decided she had enough to write a preliminary report and stood up. “I’m sure we’ll have more questions for all of you,” she said. “If anything else comes to mind, any detail, no matter how small, I want you to call me immediately.”
We nodded, struck by her solemn tone. This was the first time any of us had seen Sam in action as a Savannah PD detective, and she was impressive. Cool, methodical, and deliberate in her questioning, with a steady gaze and no-nonsense style that guaranteed compliance.
I stood up to walk her downstairs, and she surprised me by turning to ask one more question. “Does anyone know if Chico had family? A next of kin?” She directed her question to all of us, but I suspected that she was really interested in what Gina would say. Gina steadfastly kept her head down, staring at her plate.
“He mentioned a wife, or maybe an ex-wife back in Colombia,” Ali said slowly. “But I don’t have the name or any contact information.”
“He told you he had a wife?” Sam quirked an eyebrow. Her tone was incredulous. From what I knew of Chico’s philandering habits, this seemed totally out of character. I just didn’t picture him as a family man.
“No, Chico didn’t mention it,” Ali said quickly. “Someone else must have told me, but I can’t remember who.”
“If you think of it, let me know.” She snapped her notebook shut and glanced around the table. “I’ll let myself out, ladies.”
I returned to the kitchen table, and for a moment, we were silent. Gina seemed to have gotten a grip on her emotions and thanked us for looking after her. Ali gave her a quick hug and promised to check in on her later tonight. She asked if Gina would like to stay for dinner but she declined. She said she was exhausted and was eager to go home and take a nap.
“I don’t think they’ll let me back in the studio to check the computer, will they? I could call the students,” Gina offered.
“I’m sure they won’t,” I said, shaking my head. “But you don’t have to worry about that. There will probably be something in tomorrow’s paper,” I added, “so everyone will know that classes are canceled.”
“Yes, of course, I should have thought of that. My brain isn’t working today.” Gina gave a wan smile and hesitated. “Are they still there?” she asked softly. “The police?” I knew she didn’t want to see the coroner’s van or, worse, Chico’s body lying on a gurney.
“I think they left,” I said, walking to the window. Barney and Scout had lost interest in the scene below, and sure enough, the street was empty. “All clear,” I told Gina, and she headed down the stairs.
I heaved a sigh when Ali and I were
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