Read Online One Deadly Sister (Sandy Reid Mystery Series #1) by Rod Hoisington - Free Book Online Page B

bang.”
    “You’re a man of high standards. Was she romantically involved with the senator?”
    “Romantically involved? Man, I’m gonna start talking like that. You mean like was he doing her? Now you see when I talk, people know what I’m saying. When you talk, people have to think. How did you zero in on them two, you being new in town?”
    “What’s your guess, were they...banging?”
    “You think a powerful man like the senator is gonna let that nice stuff jiggle around him and let it go to waste? Get real.”
    “I know she doesn’t dress flashy, but I was told she’s a pushover.”
    “Only in my dreams, man. You’ve seen her? Is she gravy or what?”
    “Spectacular,” Ray said going along with it.
    “Didn’t think of spectacular, that’s cool. So the dude’s looking for a get-out-of-jail-free card. Depends on the evidence don’t it? Depends on how it all shakes down. You can have many suspects, all of them with shitty alibis and it don’t mean zip, if the lab puts you at the crime scene. And that’s just what they did.”
    “What?”
    “Oh, wasn’t supposed to say nothing. I guess you’ll find out soon enough. They found something proves you pulled the trigger on the senator.”
    No question about how serious this had become, much more than expected. He must get a lawyer, any lawyer right now. He sent Beau off to find a pad, pencil and phone book.
    Ray sat reading the Sunday paper. In the back pages, there were other pieces on the life and times of Senator Towson. Ray could see that the senator had lived a meaningful and important life. The editorial demanded justice on a scale befitting such an outstanding public figure.
    Ray was all for justice himself, he was counting on it. He was rereading the editorial when he looked up and recognized Detective Goddard. The officer with him began unlocking the cell door.
    “We’re making it official. We’re taking you up before the judge for arraignment. You’re under arrest for the murder of Albert Towson. You’ve the right to remain silent—.” Goddard continued with the routine spiel. The weight of the words seemed impossible for Ray to bear. His whole body grew weak. The detective noticed the prisoner’s face turning pale and sweaty.
    The uniformed officer ordered Ray to put his hands behind his back. His wrists were forced together, and with the click of the handcuffs his arms ached immediately. He could feel his heart thumping with an intense force. Suddenly, he couldn’t breathe. He made a choking sound. His knees melted. He collapsed forward. The officer tried to hold him up.
    Goddard rushed into the cell just as the prisoner pitched forward and vomited wildly onto the wall and bunk. They lifted him onto the opposite bunk. Goddard quickly loosened the jumpsuit and motioned for the officer to remove the cuffs. “Let him relax then hook him up in front from now on, not in the back.”
    Upon lying down, the color returned to Ray’s face, although he was still shaking. He gave the detective a meek smile. “Sorry, I’ve never been gagged like that before.”
    “We didn’t gag you.”
    “You didn’t gag me? Oh, I thought you did.”
    “We would never gag you. Are you diabetic or taking any medications?”
    Ray shook his head and slowly brought himself upright on the bunk.
    “You okay now? Want to see a doctor?”
    “Okay, now. This is all very disturbing. You definitely can’t arrest me. I definitely can’t remain in jail.”
    The detective took Ray upstairs and completed the booking ritual, and then transported the prisoner across the boulevard to the Court House. The detective sat with him in a small room off the courtroom until his case was called. A brief Sunday morning arraignment for the Saturday night offenders was routine. Other cases were DUI and minor wrongdoings; Ray Reid was a big deal.
    The judge asked Ray if he was financially able and desirous of employing counsel. He said he was, although he hadn’t been able to