Dead Giveaway Read Online Free PDF

with a stern look. ''You never mind about that. I think your job is to help find Mrs. Olsen's kin. Keep looking through the desk for any contacts while Ms. Rose and I get better acquainted.''
      ''Yes, sir,'' the deputy said. He turned and went back to work.
      Despite the attitude, I had to admire Glen's physical attributes. He had the nicest butt I'd seen since . . . well, since Jeff and I had that long hot shower together the other morning.
      Chief Rollins and I went to the kitchen, a room I had not visited the other day. I felt smothered by the overabundance of ornate Victorian furniture in the rest of the house, but the kitchen seemed to calm me, despite the clutter of spice racks, hanging pots and new appliances made to look like antiques. Maybe it was my imagination, but the room still smelled like the blueberry cobbler Verna Mae lovingly watched Will consume.
      We sat at a small oblong table draped with a crocheted cloth and I said, ''Could I ask you something that may sound dumb, Chief?''
      ''Sure.'' He smiled. The guy had the small-town charm act perfected, but there was a wariness in his sad eyes. No, sir, Chief Rollins did not fall off the stupid truck. He was sizing me up good.
      ''Why would you need a search warrant to come in here? I mean, Mrs. Olsen is dead. She can't object.''
      He folded his hands on the table, and I noted knuckles thick and twisted with arthritis. Bet he'd have a hard time firing a weapon these days.
      ''Who said we had a search warrant?'' he asked.
      ''Your wife. I called your house before I came here.''
      He grinned. ''Ah. How'd you enjoy talking to the Missus?''
      ''She's . . . very straightforward,'' I said.
      ''Aren't you tactful? Good quality for an investigator. As for the warrant, what do you think would have happened if we came barging in here without one and whoever killed Verna Mae was sitting in her parlor enjoying her satellite TV?''
      ''Oh, I get it,'' I said. ''Since the killer stole her purse and keys, maybe even her car, he could have come here to get more stuff. Should have figured that out myself.''
      He nodded. ''The police don't ever want to be SOL in court. I've answered your question and now you need to return the favor. Tell me why you're here, Miss Rose.''
      ''Call me Abby,'' I said.
      ''Okay, Abby. And I prefer Burl as long as we stay friendly. See, friends are honest with each other, isn't that so?''
      ''We're friends?''
      ''For now. Why are you here?''
      ''To talk to you. I suspect you're a busy man and that's why you didn't return my calls.''
      He pulled a small tape recorder from his pocket. ''You wanted to discuss the baby case, huh?''
      ''Yup.''
      ''If we're gonna go there, first tell me about your interview with Verna Mae the other day—and you don't mind if we save this conversation for posterity, do you?''
      He was smiling, but obviously he was working this case, despite the fact that Verna Mae died in Houston. I wondered how Jeff would feel about this small territorial issue.
      ''I don't mind at all if you tape me.''
      He turned on the recorder, and I explained about my visit to Verna Mae and how my client had come with me.
      When I finished he said, ''You're telling me your client is that baby I took away from this very house?''
      I nodded. ''That baby is now six-foot-ten and plays college ball. His name is Will Knight.''
      Burl smiled broadly. '' That Will Knight? Plays for UT?''
      ''None other.'' I needed to get up to snuff on my college hoops. Everyone seemed to know the kid.
      ''I'll be jiggered,'' Burl said. ''You brought him here? To see Verna Mae?''
      ''Not sure I should have, but yes.''
      ''You regret it, huh? Guess you figured out what most of us in Bottlebrush know. Verna Mae Olsen never forgot about the kid. Can't say I have either.''
      ''That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. Can you—''
      ''Chief Rollins?'' The deputy was standing