Read Online The Heirloom Murders by Kathleen Ernst - Free Book Online Page B

great,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll get it.”
    He rolled his shoulders. “Well, I’m not sure. There are two of us going up for it. Me and Skeet Deardorff.” Roelke began tapping the arm of his chair with his thumb. “Skeet’s got as much experience in Eagle as I do. He’s taking extra classes. And he’s never given anyone in Eagle a speeding ticket.”
    Libby blinked. “What?”
    “He lets anyone with an Eagle address off with a warning.” Roelke and Skeet had debated that approach many times. “They’re paying our salary, man,” Skeet would say. Roelke insisted that equity in every detail was the only way to go. Now, he tried to remember if he’d ever ticketed anyone on the Police Committee for speeding.
    “Roelke? Hey, you.” Libby snapped her fingers. “Don’t obsess about it now. You’re a good cop.” She got up to check the grill.
    Chloe smiled at him. “And you’ll do great at the interview.”
    God, she was beautiful. Roelke didn’t like needing to compete—for the job he deserved, or for a place in Chloe’s life—but when she smiled like that, he felt as if anything was possible.
    “Ah, perfect.” Libby pulled some fruit kabobs from the grill, and served them on small plates. Pineapple dusted with coconut, and some yellowy-orange fruit Roelke couldn’t identify. Mango, maybe? The skewered fruit provided the perfect treat to end a hot day, warm and crusty outside, juicy and sweet inside. The last of his tension leaked away.
    “Anyone want a beer?” Libby helped herself to a Leinenkugel from the cooler, then turned to Chloe. “Did you talk to Dellyn today?”
    Roelke felt his sense of calm head for the hills.
    “I was at her house this afternoon,” Chloe said. “I’m helping her with a bunch of old stuff her parents left in the attic.”
    “How’s she doing?” Libby poked a lime wedge into the bottle.
    Chloe shot Roelke a sideways glance. “She’s OK, I think, considering.”
    “Did something happen?” Roelke asked, trying really hard to sound mild.
    Chloe told them about the letter. “Poor kid,” Libby muttered.
    “I’d like to see that,” Roelke said at the same time.
    Chloe squirmed. “Well, I told her to call you about it. Bonnie’s husband wanted to see it, though.”
    “I hope they don’t destroy it.” Roelke gazed blindly over the lawn, thinking.
    Libby frowned. “What difference does it make? The poor woman committed suicide, Roelke. I know that pisses you off, but you can’t change it.”
    A chipmunk darted to the edge of the patio, packed his cheeks with seeds spilled from one of the bird feeders, and raced away. “Something feels funny about this one,” Roelke muttered. “I’ll talk to Dellyn about it.”
    Now Chloe was frowning at him, too. “Do you really need to make Dellyn talk through everything all over again?”
    Well, hell. Roelke considered his options: back away, or dig a deeper hole. Something compelled him to cling to his metaphorical shovel. “Will you two come on a drive with me?” he asked.
    “Why?” Libby ran a hand through her short-cropped hair, eyeing him with suspicion.
    “Where?” Chloe asked, with equal suspicion.
    It belatedly occurred to Roelke that asking Chloe to help him dissect Bonnie Sabatola’s last earthly moments was quite possibly the worst idea he’d ever had. “Never mind,” he said. “Forget I said anything.”
    “OK,” Libby said. “Listen, Justin just joined a soccer club. He wants to do it, but the poor kid isn’t as athletic as some. His first game is a week from Sunday. Want to come to his first game and help cheer him on?”
    “Of course,” Roelke said. He tried to fill the gap left by Justin’s asshole father, who was more absent than not.
    “Me too!” Chloe said, which was a surprise, but a good one. “Sounds like fun.” She glanced at her watch. “I really need to hit the road.”
    Roelke walked her to her car. He considered trying to kiss her again, but the moment just