Read Online Trinity Harbor 3 - Along Came Trouble by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online
Authors: Sherryl Woods
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apparent victim of foul play. As I’m sure you can imagine, his wife is in shock, but I have persuaded her to say a few words. There wil be no questions at this time, though I am sure that the investigating officer from the sheriff’s office wil speak to you when we’re through and fil you in on what they have so far.”
Liz risked a glance at Walker Ames, saw the barely restrained fury on his face. She could just imagine what he’d have to say when she was finished. She didn’t dare look at Tucker.
Liz stepped forward, determined that what she would say now would be only the truth, even if only half the truth. She would not be the one to tarnish her husband’s reputation. She summoned her memories of Larry’s best qualities.
“The people have lost an ardent champion today,” she began softly. “My husband was a dedicated public servant who believed fervently in his ideals. He was a great delegate. He would have made a wonderful governor. This is a senseless tragedy, and I assure al of you that I wil not rest until the person responsible has been brought to justice.”
She al owed her gaze to meet Walker’s, to hold it without blinking. “I am confident that Deputy Ames, who is handling the case, wil bring it to a rapid conclusion, for Larry’s sake and for the sake of al of us who loved him.”
She turned then and walked directly to the deputy. “I’l answer your questions now.”
“You’d better believe it,” he said tersely. “Inside.”
“You don’t want to make a statement to the media first?” she asked, surprised that he would let the opportunity to counteract her statement pass by.
He gave her a wry look. “I think the reporters have plenty to chew on for the moment. That was a nice performance. I imagine your lawyer put you up to it.”
“I make my own decisions, Deputy.”
Something that might have been respect flickered in his eyes for just an instant. “I’m glad to see that you believe in being accountable for your actions.”
“Always.”
He gestured toward a chair at her kitchen table. It was the first time in years Liz had sat there. Larry had frowned on sitting down to eat in the kitchen. He’d said it was common. In so doing, he’d managed to deprive Liz of a habit begun in childhood, when she’d eaten with the housekeeper more evenings than not. She’d been happier in this room than anywhere else in the drafty old house. It had reminded her of the Spencers’ home, where the family tended to congregate in the kitchen, both while Mrs. Spencer was alive and after, when Daisy had been struggling to make everything seem exactly the same despite their terrible loss.
Liz had been accepted as a part of the family back then. Tucker had seen to that. Even Daisy had liked her, had treated her like a sister.
Remembering al that, Liz felt sadder, but stronger somehow. She sat at the scarred oak table, then met Deputy Ames’s gaze. “Whenever you’re ready,” she told him just as Powel came charging through the door. Before he could speak, she waved him to a seat in the background. “It’s okay. We’re just getting started.”
“Okay, Mrs. Chandler, let’s make it simple. Why don’t you tel me exactly what happened here yesterday?”
For the third time, Liz described the events that had led up to the discovery of her husband’s body. She tried to read the deputy’s expression as she spoke, but he would have been an excel ent poker player. His face gave nothing away.
“And after you found him, what did you do?”
“I panicked,” she said. “I knew what people would think, so I went looking for Tucker. I knew he’d know how to handle it.”
“Why didn’t you just cal him?”
The memory of the moment when she’d realized that Larry had been shot, that he was indeed dead, came flooding back over her. Tears stung her eyes at the senseless waste of a life.
“I…” She swal owed hard. “I couldn’t stay here. Not for another
Liz risked a glance at Walker Ames, saw the barely restrained fury on his face. She could just imagine what he’d have to say when she was finished. She didn’t dare look at Tucker.
Liz stepped forward, determined that what she would say now would be only the truth, even if only half the truth. She would not be the one to tarnish her husband’s reputation. She summoned her memories of Larry’s best qualities.
“The people have lost an ardent champion today,” she began softly. “My husband was a dedicated public servant who believed fervently in his ideals. He was a great delegate. He would have made a wonderful governor. This is a senseless tragedy, and I assure al of you that I wil not rest until the person responsible has been brought to justice.”
She al owed her gaze to meet Walker’s, to hold it without blinking. “I am confident that Deputy Ames, who is handling the case, wil bring it to a rapid conclusion, for Larry’s sake and for the sake of al of us who loved him.”
She turned then and walked directly to the deputy. “I’l answer your questions now.”
“You’d better believe it,” he said tersely. “Inside.”
“You don’t want to make a statement to the media first?” she asked, surprised that he would let the opportunity to counteract her statement pass by.
He gave her a wry look. “I think the reporters have plenty to chew on for the moment. That was a nice performance. I imagine your lawyer put you up to it.”
“I make my own decisions, Deputy.”
Something that might have been respect flickered in his eyes for just an instant. “I’m glad to see that you believe in being accountable for your actions.”
“Always.”
He gestured toward a chair at her kitchen table. It was the first time in years Liz had sat there. Larry had frowned on sitting down to eat in the kitchen. He’d said it was common. In so doing, he’d managed to deprive Liz of a habit begun in childhood, when she’d eaten with the housekeeper more evenings than not. She’d been happier in this room than anywhere else in the drafty old house. It had reminded her of the Spencers’ home, where the family tended to congregate in the kitchen, both while Mrs. Spencer was alive and after, when Daisy had been struggling to make everything seem exactly the same despite their terrible loss.
Liz had been accepted as a part of the family back then. Tucker had seen to that. Even Daisy had liked her, had treated her like a sister.
Remembering al that, Liz felt sadder, but stronger somehow. She sat at the scarred oak table, then met Deputy Ames’s gaze. “Whenever you’re ready,” she told him just as Powel came charging through the door. Before he could speak, she waved him to a seat in the background. “It’s okay. We’re just getting started.”
“Okay, Mrs. Chandler, let’s make it simple. Why don’t you tel me exactly what happened here yesterday?”
For the third time, Liz described the events that had led up to the discovery of her husband’s body. She tried to read the deputy’s expression as she spoke, but he would have been an excel ent poker player. His face gave nothing away.
“And after you found him, what did you do?”
“I panicked,” she said. “I knew what people would think, so I went looking for Tucker. I knew he’d know how to handle it.”
“Why didn’t you just cal him?”
The memory of the moment when she’d realized that Larry had been shot, that he was indeed dead, came flooding back over her. Tears stung her eyes at the senseless waste of a life.
“I…” She swal owed hard. “I couldn’t stay here. Not for another
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