Death Loved A Woman (Happy Holloway Mystery Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

nothing like what she had seen in Amberlon. Did they even have anyone in charge, and where was Barbara Jean?
    A squat man with a bald head and thick mustache stepped forward in the middle of the fray. He couldn’t be above five feet, but when he shouted for everyone to shut up, they obeyed.
    The man rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. He rested both hands atop the heavy belt at his waist, a gun in a holster on one side. “It’s too early in the morning for all this noise, and I haven’t had my coffee yet.”
    “Sheriff Appleton.” The man Annie assumed was Wesley’s father released his wife and bore down on the sheriff. Annie tried to judge which man exuded more power and authority and had to go with Mr. Witman, but the sheriff didn’t appear to be cowed. “I know you understand how we feel. Our son has been lost.”
    “Yes, and I’ve arrested Ms. Stanford for the time being,” the sheriff shot back. “So, I don’t understand why you and your family plus that unnecessary limo are all invading my station!”
    Annie almost wanted to cheer. Good for you, Apple. Don’t let them bully you.
    “What I’d like to know is why you have arrested BJ.” When Flynn spoke, all eyes turned toward him. Annie noted the annoyance in Mr. and Mrs. Witman’s expressions and recognition in the sheriff’s. The sheriff didn’t appear to dislike Flynn as the detective in Amberlon seemed to.
    “Frankly,” the sheriff began, “I arrested her partly for her protection, as you can see the reaction here. The outcry was worse at her apartment. Word travels fast in this town.”
    “Well, you can release her,” Flynn said. “I’ll protect her.”
    Annie gasped. The complaints rose again, and Annie searched the faces of all those present. She came across one man who looked a lot like Wesley. In fact, she could swear they were brothers. Same chocolate brown eyes, hawkish nose and small, narrow mouth; features Mr. Witman passed to them from the looks of it. Annie could see no resemblance to Mrs. Witman.
    The man in question stood off to the side a little from his parents, leaning against a wall. From his bland expression, Annie wouldn’t guess his brother had just been murdered. She couldn’t help herself and spoke above the arguing.
    “How do you know it was murder?”
    Everyone stopped speaking and looked at her. She waited with raised brows for the sheriff to explain.
    “Annie,” Flynn warned her.
    She looked at the sheriff. “How?”
    “I don’t know that it’s any of your business, young lady, but I suppose everyone else knows. It looked like he’s been poisoned. Coroner said he had all the hallmarks—foam around the mouth, discolored skin, vom—”
    Mrs. Witman’s sobs cut him off, and he rushed to apologize.
    “By Ms. Stanford’s own admission the last thing Wesley had was a dinner she made for him. Everything has been sent away to a lab for analysis. We’ll have the results back in a couple days.”
    “A couple days?” Flynn said. “I’m sure you’re not going to keep BJ locked up for that long. I’ll post her bail.”
    “That’s up to the judge to decide.”
    “Genton?” Flynn eyed Mr. Witman, whose face cleared of anger the moment he heard the name. “I don’t believe BJ can get fair treatment if Genton presides.”
    Now Flynn offended the sheriff. He drew himself up all of a quarter inch. “Judge Genton has been on the bench probably longer than you’ve been alive. The law states she can be held for forty-eight hours before seeing the judge.”
    Flynn ground his teeth. “I know what the law says. I’m asking if she can see someone other than Genton.”
    “Genton is an honest man, and a fine judge! He is also our only judge in Mars Cove.”
    “And rumor has it he’s in a certain person’s pocket.” Flynn turned an angry glare toward Mr. Witman, and Annie moved closer to him.
    “Flynn,” she whispered, “making the sheriff mad isn’t going to help you get Barbara Jean