Dying Echo: A Grim Reaper Mystery (Grim Reaper Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

have?”
    He set the shirt on the table. “We didn’t find it at the crime scene. We found it in your brother’s house.”

Chapter Five
    “I don’t understand it,” Casey said.
    “Doesn’t seem too confusing to me,” Death said from the driver’s seat. They were waiting for Don to finish up the last of the paperwork which would make Casey a completely free woman. “They found her blood on Ricky’s shirt. In his house. Perhaps he’s not the golden boy, after all.”
    “There has to be an explanation.”
    “Of course there is. Maybe he was there .”
    Casey spun sideways. “Maybe if you were better at your job, you could find out these things right at the beginning.”
    “You mean at the end. For them. But I told you. She didn’t say the names of the men. And the way things were during her last few minutes, Ricky could have been there and she wouldn’t have known. She wouldn’t have been all too coherent just then.”
    Casey collapsed back against the seat. “It’s all just…too awful.”
    Don got in the car, barely missing Death, who oozed to the back, and sat for a moment with his eyes shut. “Your part went remarkably well.”
    “You called them.”
    “It worked out, didn’t it?”
    “But what if it hadn’t?”
    He started the car. “No use worrying about it.”
    He was right, of course.
    “What didn’t go well was that I hadn’t known about the shirt before.”
    Casey could tell from the set of his jaw that he was angry. “What was their excuse?”
    “That we aren’t at trial yet, and they still had time before disclosing it.”
    “Is that true?”
    “Even if it is, it’s unfair. Watts should have told me. He should be giving me every chance to prove your brother’s innocence.”
    Death made a choking noise. “So a bloody shirt found in Ricky’s house means he didn’t do it?”
    “He is innocent,” Casey said. “We will prove it.”
    Don was silent.
    “So, can you get me in?”
    Don didn’t pretend not to understand. “I asked the detective to put our names on the prison’s visitation list. We’re set up for a lawyer appointment during open hours this afternoon.”
    “And until then?”
    “I’ve got work to do. You can hang out in my waiting room. Unless, of course, you have other places to go.”
    Casey heard the suggestion in his voice, along with what was probably criticism.
    “How can I possibly visit my mother without seeing Ricky first?”
    “Easy,” Death said. “You go to her place.”
    Don shook his head. “I don’t know, Casey. But this has been a hard time for her.”
    Casey rested her forehead on the side window, letting the coolness soothe her.
    “I know,” Don said. “It’s been a hard time for you, too. But think about it…”
    “Scout doesn’t even have a mother,” Death said. “I’m sure she would have been overjoyed to spend time with one if she had been lucky enough—”
    “Will you shut up about that book?”
    “What book?” Don’s forehead wrinkled. “You have been having the strangest outbursts today.”
    “Oh, God . I know. I’m sorry. It’s…the stress. And I haven’t been sleeping well.”
    “Sure.” Although he didn’t look too sure. “You want to take a nap at my house? I’m sure Mel would be fine with that.”
    “I don’t want to bother her. I’ll just…I have some places to go.”
    “All right.” He put the car in gear. “So where should I drop you?”
    “Actually, nowhere.” She got out and leaned back in the open door. “I’ll walk.”
    “Casey—”
    She shut the door and held up three fingers. Three o’clock. That’s when she’d be back at his office to go visit her little brother in jail. She could see Don wanted to say more, that he would argue with her about being on her own that far across town, so she waved, and walked away.

Chapter Six
    “You okay? You look a little pale.” Death leaned toward Casey. “I’m really not so sure this was a good idea.”
    Casey ignored the nagging and