Canyons of Night Read Online Free PDF Page B

been sitting here for decades.”
    “Like I said, Aunt Beatrix wasn’t big on organizing stuff.”
    “This goes beyond a lack of organizational skills. There’s a word for folks with this kind of psychological problem, you know.”
    “Hoarder? Yes, I know.” Charlotte stopped. “What can I say? It’s no secret that my aunt was a little weird.” She gestured down the narrow path created by the towering walls of crates. “That’s the door that was unlocked this morning when I arrived.”
    Slade walked forward and crouched on the floor directly in front of the door. “Huh,” he said.
    “What do you think?” she asked.
    “Looks like the print of a running shoe.” Slade got to his feet. “Judging by the muddled footprints, he spent some time in this room and then went into the front of the shop. Turned around and came back here. Left the same way he got in. Through the back door.”
    “Believe it or not, I figured that much out all by myself.”
    “Yeah?” Slade raised his brows. “You ever think of pursuing a career in crime fighting?”
    “Very funny. What do you think happened here?”
    “I think someone found the door open last night, walked into the shop, took a look around and then left.”
    “I told you, I locked up last night,” she said firmly.
    Slade glanced at the lock on the back door. “Even if you did, all anyone would need to get through that door is a credit card.”
    “I intend to order new locks. But there’s been so much else to do that I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
    “Good plan.”
    She frowned. “Shouldn’t you be dusting for fingerprints or something?”
    “Oh, yeah, and maybe swab for DNA while I’m at it. Thanks for reminding me.”
    “You really are not going to treat this seriously, are you?”
    He looked at her. “If you were in Frequency City and your shop got robbed what do you think the cops would do?”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Not much. Probably just ask for a list of stolen goods in case any of the objects turned up in a pawn shop.”
    “Since nothing appears to have been stolen here and there are no pawn shops on Rainshadow, the scope of this investigation is somewhat limited.”
    “Cripes. You’re really not into your job, are you?”
    Slade shrugged. “It’s just a temporary detour.”
    “It strikes me that you have a very poor attitude, Chief Attridge.”
    “Okay, okay. Here’s the most likely scenario. Last night after closing up someone noticed that the door of your shop was open. He came inside, took a quick look around to make sure everything was okay, and then he left. How’s that for a theory of the crime?”
    “Absolutely pitiful. But it’s obviously all I’m going to get in the way of law enforcement so I’ll take it.” She turned and went into the front room. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
    “Depends. Is that a bribe? If it is, I think you’re supposed to include a doughnut.”
    “Sorry, no doughnuts. Something tells me bribery would be useless with you, anyway.”
    “What makes you so sure of that?”
    “My intuition. You are in luck, however. I happen to have half a loaf of leftover zucchini bread that my neighbor, Thelma Duncan, made for me.”
    “Thelma Duncan’s zucchini bread seems to be everywhere at the moment. Myrna brought a loaf to the station this morning. Rex ate it.”
    “The whole loaf?”
    “Well, he and Officer Willis split it. Turns out Rex loves Mrs. Duncan’s zucchini bread.”
    “That’s good, because I’m told it will be around for a while. Mrs. Duncan is an incredible gardener and as it happens zucchini season just hit. I’ll cut a slice for Rex.”
    She went behind the counter and unwrapped the zucchini bread. She was very aware of Slade watching her as she cut a slice and set it on a small paper plate. She set the plate on the counter.
    Slade looked over his shoulder. “Come and get it, Rex. Zucchini bread.”
    There was a muffled chortle from the vicinity of the vintage purses