Read Online Terminal 9 by Patricia H. Rushford - Free Book Online Page A

hook up with you later?”
    Mason pulled a grimy cell phone from the pocket of his orange safety vest and read the printed number to Mac. “I carry this with me most of the time; you can give it a try. I keep it on vibrate mode so I can get calls out on the yard. I should get a break after three or so; at least, I hope that’s the case. I’m due to be off shift about then.”
    â€œThanks.” Mac jotted down the number Mason gave him and put his pen and pad in the jacket of his sports coat. “Just one thing before we go. Who released the train that hit Mr. Mullins, and where is it now?”
    â€œThere’s your answer right over there on who cut it loose.” Mason pointed behind Mac at a uniformed officer standing across the terminal by a marked city police car.
    Mac glanced over his shoulder. “Chief Spalding?” Spalding raised his silver coffee cup to Mac and they made eye contact. Mac turned back to Mason without acknowledging the chief.
    â€œYep. He said we could get it to the steam shop and clean it up. That was about four hours ago. The engine was power washed and put back on line.” He glanced at his watch. “She’s on her way to Spokane for servicing and repairs at our sister terminal. You can ask the mud hop for an exact location.”
    â€œMud hop?” Mac asked. “And just who would that be—in plain English, if you don’t mind?”
    â€œThe terminal clerk, Roger Perrault. He hangs out over there in the building with that big antenna on the roof.”
    â€œThanks for your help,Mr. Mason. We’ll be in touch.”
    Dan Mason nodded at Dana as he walked past and immediately started talking into the handheld radio.
    â€œDid you hear that?” Mac asked Dana. “The chief released the scene.”
    â€œI heard. Should we say something?”
    â€œYou better believe it.” Mac huffed and slid in behind the wheel.
    â€œI can’t believe that guy would go over my head. Hop in, Dana.”
    â€œWant me to talk to him?” Dana offered. “While you cool down.”
    Mac shook his head. “No thanks. I’m mad, but I’m not stupid.”
    â€œDidn’t say you were . . .” She pulled the door shut.
    Mac drove over to where Chief Spalding’s car was parked. The wheels slid in the loose gravel when he braked, and he shut the door behind him with more force than necessary.
    â€œTop of the morning.” The chief saluted both Mac and Dana as they approached his car.
    Spalding was in far too good a mood. Mac had a feeling the older man knew exactly what they’d come to talk about.
    â€œMorning yourself, Chief. Any changes overnight that we should know about?” Mac crossed his arms, legs slightly apart in a gesture meant to intimidate.
    â€œNot a thing. Still have the boys sitting on the house. I went ahead and released the train back to the company so they could get it cleaned up and back into commission.”
    Mac clenched his fists and felt his jaw tighten. “So I see. I really wish you’d called me first. I wanted the scene held until Doc Thorpe was done with the autopsy.”
    Chief Spalding took a sip of coffee; his eyes narrowed into dark slits. “I didn’t know I needed permission to do things in my own town, Detective. Next thing you know I’ll have to call you guys before I use the john.”
    Mac took a step forward, measuring his next words. Diplomacy, Mac. He could almost hear Kevin’s sage advice. “I appreciate your situation, Chief, but it’s standard procedure not to release a crime scene until there is no possibility of additional evidence collection. I’m sensitive to the needs of the terminal management, but it is my position as the lead investigator to release the scene. It wasn’t your call.”
    â€œSorry, but I didn’t think this was shaping up to be Murder on the Orient Express. This isn’t a crime scene.