A Candidate For Murder (Old Maids of Mercer Island Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

the head, Julia,” David said quietly. “A patrol officer found her when he was checking on the library. He noticed a car in the parking lot.”
    “Dear God,” I muttered. “And no one saw anything?”
    “No. But we think the patrol officer got there only moments after the killer fled.”
    “That parking lot is pretty open,” Rudy said. “He didn’t see anyone running away?”
    David shook his head. “No. Remember there was a storm last night. But the blood…well, everything looked fresh. And her body was still warm.”
    David glanced at Detective Abrams and then pulled a piece of paper from his inside pocket. His guilty expression had my ears buzzing.
    “What?” I said, glancing at the paper.
    He handed it to me. “It’s a search warrant. We need to confiscate any computers or electronic devices you have.”
    “Why?” Rudy demanded. “What would Julia have to do with Trudy Bascom’s death?”
    David leveled his gaze on Rudy. “We just spoke to Dana Finkle, and she said that she and Trudy were at someone’s home last night collecting a campaign contribution.” He turned toward me. “Just before 10:00, Dana received a message from you on her cell phone, asking her to meet you at the library at 10:30. Mrs. Finkle was busy, and so she sent Trudy instead.”
    I’m sure my eyes were as round as billiard balls by this time. “But I didn’t send Dana a message. Why would I? I hate the woman.”
    David flinched. “Julia, be careful what you say.”
    “But I was with you ,” I declared.
    David shifted his weight again. “I know, Julia. We’ve already discussed that,” he said, indicating Detective Abrams. “But we have to follow the lead about the message.”
    “Are you here to arrest her?” Doe said. “Because I doubt an email or text message is much evidence.”
    “No. Of course not. But it appears that if Julia didn’t send the message, someone is trying to make it look like she did. That’s why we need to take a look at your computers,” he said, turning an apologetic gaze my way. “Along with your cell phone.”
    The normally dominant Detective Abrams was unusually quiet. I glanced at him. “So, whoever sent that email meant to kill Dana? Not Trudy.”
    “We believe so,” he replied. “And, of course, given the nature of your relationship, Mrs. Finkle is blaming you.”
    The fact that someone wanted Dana Finkle dead wasn’t a surprise. Most everyone on the island hated her. Neither was it news that I might now be suspected of murder. Been there – done that.
    But I had spent the last several years silently wishing someone would get rid of her. Not necessarily kill her. But having her disappear would have been nice. Now I wasn’t so sure. This didn’t have the feel of good news.
    I took a deep breath and twisted my neck to look into Detective Franks’ very handsome, but right now, very serious face. “I’m happy to have you take whatever you want,” I said with a stiff lip. “But I didn’t send her an email, a text message, or any other type of communication. Let’s just get this over with. You guys can stay here,” I said to Doe and Rudy. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
    I turned on my heel and led them into the breakfast room again. Mr. Mulford looked up.
    “I’m afraid we’ll have to finish up later, Mr. Mulford,” I said with a slight toss of my head. “These gentlemen will be taking my computers. I’ll give you a call tomorrow to schedule another time. Meanwhile,” I said, pointing to the paperwork already lying on the table. “Why don’t you take everything else with you?”
    “Yes, of course,” he murmured. His eyes darted back and forth between the two detectives. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
    I nodded and left him to finish up, while I took the two men to the reception desk. Crystal kept her head down, but glanced up with her eyes as we approached. I use a small office tucked behind the desk and under the staircase and gestured towards it.
    “You