Read Online The Chocolate Snowman Murders by JoAnna Carl - Free Book Online Page B

didn’t find anything, or they would have kept it.”
    â€œDo you think McCullough seriously suspects either of us?”
    â€œHe seems to be a pretty smart guy, Lee, so I imagine that he’s still keeping all his options open. I can see at least one thing that doesn’t seem to fit in with either of us killing Mendenhall.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œThe guy’s cell phone is missing.”
    I gasped. “Golly! That went right by me.”
    â€œYeah. McCullough didn’t make a big deal out of it, but it’s obvious that they haven’t found Mendenhall’s cell phone.”
    â€œIt could still turn up in the motel room. Under the bed or someplace.”
    â€œBy now they will have looked every place that’s likely. My guess is that the killer took it.”
    â€œWhy?”
    The waitress came with our drinks then, so I had time to think through the answer to my own question. As soon as she left, Joe and I leaned toward each other and did our unison-speaking act again.
    â€œThe killer’s number was on the phone.” Then we both sat back, looking at each other.
    â€œBut, Joe,” I said, “can’t the police trace Mendenhall’s calls, even without the phone?”
    â€œSure. The cops will find out who had his phone service and call them. They’ll know all the calls he made—oh, by five o’clock today—even if they don’t find the phone.”
    â€œThen why would the killer take it away?”
    â€œMaybe he—or she—took it by accident. That’s one reason they searched the truck. Mendenhall could have dropped it there. And it might have somehow wound up in your purse.”
    â€œLike he left it in the seat of the truck, and I thought it was mine? Something like that.” I grabbed up my ski jacket and hastily went through the pockets. “No, I’m sure I don’t have it. I was wearing jeans yesterday, and they’re tight. I would never have put a cell phone in my pants pocket.”
    â€œI know you don’t have it,” Joe said, “because when I called Mendenhall’s cell number around six thirty yesterday, I heard the phone ring inside the room. But when I called this morning, standing outside his door, I didn’t hear it. So I think that phone left the premises between last night and this morning.”
    â€œBut taking the phone was useless, since the cops can trace the calls anyway.”
    Joe shrugged. “The killer might not have known that.”
    â€œYou mean it’s someone who doesn’t know much about phones?”
    â€œCould be.”
    â€œBut who would Mendenhall have called? George didn’t talk as if the man had any personal connection with Michigan.”
    â€œHe’d been in contact with George, of course. But in any case, McCullough and his team will figure it out.”
    â€œI guess there’s nothing we can do.”
    Joe reached across the table and took my hand. “There’s one thing I can do, Lee. Warn you about McCullough.”
    â€œI caught on to the fatherly act.”
    â€œGood. I did call Webb while they were questioning you. Just to alert him to the situation.”
    â€œWhat was his advice?”
    â€œPlay it just the way we have been. Be honest and open. But he said not to underestimate McCullough. He retired from the Grand Rapids force—and Webb was a little cagey about that.”
    â€œMcCullough retired under a cloud?”
    â€œWebb wouldn’t say. McCullough’s record wasn’t bad enough to keep this suburban force from hiring him. But Webb says McCullough’s a really smart guy and can be tricky. So if he wants to question you again, call Webb before you talk to him. Okay?”
    I shuddered. “I hate this, Joe. I hate having to watch every word I say. I hate being under suspicion. I hate having people think I’m capable of killing someone.”
    At that point I looked