Doggone Dead Read Online Free PDF

for that. I think I’m just supposed to take pictures of the grounds and a few of the watermelons.”
    “You want to promote the pageant as well as the festival, now don’t you? This is the perfect way to do it.” Her voice lowered slightly, “Take the picture.”
    Feeling a little intimidated by her tone I raised my camera, “Cheese, Haley.”
    “No, no, no. You can’t take her picture standing in front of me.” She looked around and spied one of the two sheds. “Over there against that nice white background.” She tugged both me and her daughter to the white shed twenty feet over from where we were standing.
    She posed her daughter up against the shed leaning slightly to the side with one toe pointed. The little girl turned on a fabricated smile, and I snapped her picture.”
    “Great, I got it.” I hoped she didn’t ask to see it on the camera as I also got part of the other shed and my dad in the picture.
    “Wonderful, I can’t wait to see it in the paper. Where can I get extra copies?”
    “Well, there’s no guarantee which picture my editor will pick for the article.”
    “Oh, don’t you worry, he’ll pick her. Oh, and could you email me a copy of the picture as well? I would love to add it to her portfolio, you know.” She rummaged through her red bag, pulling out a small business card that read, “Amanda Harris, Manager/Publicist/Parent of Haley Harris.”
    “Sure.” I took the card and quickly put the camera back in my bag before she plopped her daughter somewhere else for a picture.
    “Back off, cop!” I heard shouted from the other side of the shed. “This part is not open to the public,” Coop Bonnet said.
    “And why is that?”
    “Because it’s none of your damn business, that’s why.” Lina and Clay Bonnet came running from the fruit stand.
    “Lieutenant Kelsey, I think your field trip is now officially over.”
    “Whatever happened to that good old farm folk hospitality?”
    “You gotta be kidding me with that good ol’ boy grin. You’re just looking for some reason to take me in,” Coop sneered.
    “That’s enough, Coop.” His father interrupted the ranting of his red-faced son. “Be on your way, Lieutenant Kelsey.”
    “Certainly, but just know the next time I come back I’ll be bringing a search warrant with me.” My father leaned down next to the car and picked up something that was hanging out of the door. “Oh my,” he said. “Look what I’ve found here in plain sight.” My father opened the door and pulled a small baggie that looked like it was full of some sort of moss, but it wasn’t moss. There was also a piece of light blue plastic in the bag that looked like it had been torn off of something.
    “Coop, I’m going to have to bring you in for possession.”
    “It’s medical marijuana. I have allergies.”
    “That's too bad seeing as we don't allow marijuana for medical reasons in Texas.” Coop looked down and shifted his feet.
    Clay Bonnet stepped between them. “This is ridiculous. I’ll have a lawyer on your ass before you can pull out of the driveway.”
    “I’m sure you will,” my dad answered. He pulled out his cuffs and put them on Coop Bonnet and led him back to his cruiser.
    Clay Bonnet took off his ball cap and pushed the sweat out of his eyes. “Don’t worry, son. We’ll have you out in time for supper.”

Chapter Six
     
    Reasoning that my Aunt Maggie would want to know what just went down at the Bonnet farm, I made a quick stop at her house before picking up Zach.
    Maggie was stooped over a flowerbed pulling weeds. She wore a floppy straw hat, and when she straightened up to greet me her face was a deep red.
    “Aunt Maggie, it’s too hot for you to be out here weeding. Let’s go inside.”
    “You’re right, but these weeds have been bothering me for days. I just had to get out here and give ’em a yank. Glad you’re here. Time for a break. I have some fresh-made lemonade in the refrigerator. Some of my lemons were