Cancelled by Murder Read Online Free PDF Page A

telling when the branch had fallen.”
    Cliff, Tony, and I—how many other people were now second-guessing their decisions, thinking they could have prevented Daisy’s death somehow? I thought how this must be a regular occurrence for Sunni, trying to go back andfigure out how she, the chief cop, could have done better in a disaster, even prevented a death.
    The wind and rain had stopped. They had done their damage. I wished there were someone to be angry with. I gestured to the living room where the chairs were more comfortable. “Can you stay awhile?” I asked Sunni.
    â€œI shouldn’t. I need to give Ross a break.”
    Not that I would remind her, but Officer Ross Little was about twenty years younger than Sunni, and well able to handle an extra shift or two.
    â€œJust a few minutes,” I said. “You’ve had a rough day already.”
    If I were being honest, I’d have admitted to her that I didn’t want to be alone just yet. Thus my relief when she let out a heavy sigh, followed my directions, and sat on one of my rockers.
    â€œIt wasn’t that bad a storm,” I said, sitting across from her. “We’ve had so many that were worse, not just the past year, but also my first years here as a kid. Nor’easters. Hurricanes. Blizzards.” I ticked them off on my fingers, almost mentioning earthquakes in my distress. “There wasn’t even widespread power loss with this storm. And Daisy was killed by it?”
    â€œMaybe,” Sunni said. Maybe? Was this my fantasy speaking? Was Daisy in the ICU, with a chance of recovering? Had I misunderstood from the beginning? “I’m waiting for a call from Barry.”
    The medical examiner. North Ashcot was one of the few small towns with its own ME, a local doctor who performed double duty in cases of suspicious death. What wassuspicious about Daisy’s death, other than it was a senseless loss from a storm that probably wouldn’t even require government assistance?
    â€œYou mentioned you saw Daisy during the storm?” Sunni asked me.
    I nodded and described my ride home. “The visibility was so poor, I’m not sure now. The person I saw was the right size, with that yellow anorak Daisy always wore in the rain, but I suppose anyone could have thrown it on for a minute to grab the banners.”
    â€œOne of her employees,” Sunni suggested.
    I thought for a minute. As far as I knew, Daisy’s helpers were all part-time students. “Mia is way too tall. Barb is much heavier. Katie is visiting a friend in Philadelphia for two weeks. But no, she’s back already.” I threw up my hands. “I guess I just assumed it was Daisy.”
    â€œBut you’re sure whoever it was, they were handling the merchandise, taking it inside?”
    â€œYes,” I said, glad to be firm on one thing at least. “I’m sorry I can’t be certain of much more. Is this important?”
    â€œCould be.”
    â€œNow I wish I’d pulled over and offered to help her.”
    â€œMaybe it’s just as well you didn’t.”
    â€œWhat do you mean by that?”
    Sunni’s phone rang. I wanted to quash the call. I doubted I’d be able to survive a long wait for clarification on her questions to me.
    I heard her side of the conversation only.
    â€œYeah, Barry.”
    A long, never-ending pause.
    â€œThat’s final?”
    A shorter pause. A few “Okays.” Another pause. And finally, “Then I guess we have a lot of work to do.”
    Sunni clicked off her cell and looked past me. “Daisy was murdered.”
    Not the clarification I’d hoped for.
    Sunni was out the door before I could ask how or who or any of the growing list of questions about Barry’s message.
    When she popped her head back in a moment later, I thought she was going to take it all back. Instead, she said, “Not a word, okay?” and left again without