Ed Lynskey - Isabel and Alma Trumbo 01 - Quiet Anchorage Read Online Free PDF Page A

rolling boil. Our shooter took out the handgun and fired it at Jake.”
    “On the other hand, the shooter may’ve lurked in ambush, say, behind the barber chair. Jake came inside the shop, and the shooter confronted him. I better write this all down before I forget it. Do you carry an ink pen and memo pad?”
    “Not to worry, Alma. I can remember it.”
    “What sort of an argument enrages a person enough to kill another?”
    “Murder is usually a crime of passion or a premeditated plot. I’m at a loss to say which of those applies to Jake’s case.”
    Alma made another swipe of the tissue at the grease stain. “He worked like a fiend with Megan’s help to build up his business and in less than a blink of an eye, it’s wiped out.”
    “Stop fussing over the grease stain, or you’ll make it permanent.” Isabel paused. “While he was working like a fiend, did he aggravate someone enough to want to kill him?”
    “Megan should know if he had bad blood with any customer unless he hid the grudge—something I can see the secretive Jake doing.”
    Isabel’s glance scoped the length of the shop floor. “Do you spot any spent brass cartridges or handguns lying around?”
    “Sheriff Fox and his deputies have removed any clues.”
    “More times than not, it seems like the police in our mysteries miss a main clue.”
    “That’s done more to heighten the suspense than a genuine depiction of a homicide investigation.”
    “Still, we should be thorough. Since you’re already messy, stoop down and have a peek under the work bench.”
    Alma’s headshake was emphatic. “I’m not touching this filthy floor. Anyway we’ll need a flashlight to see anything under there.”
    “Did Sheriff Fox photograph or make sketches of in here?”
    “The police also, I’ve read, videotape the crime scene layouts.”
    “Hopefully they videotaped before moving anything. We’ll be sure to tell Sheriff Fox we want copies of everything they’ve got. Are we covering all the bases?”
    “I don’t know, Isabel, but we’ve sure raised plenty of questions.”
    “And like Megan, we have few answers at this point. I’ve seen all I want unless we take a swipe through Jake’s house or hike to the woods and try our luck.”
    “Save that for later.” Alma shifted her purse straps to ride on her other forearm and consulted her wristwatch. “Right now I want Megan to come home with us. Sheriff Fox’s allotted hour is up.”
    “I’m holding him to his word. Be careful and avoid rubbing against any more greasy spots.”

Chapter 5
     
    The sisters got the heart-jarring news after they were seated in Sheriff Fox’s office. The drafts to the oscillating fan chased the dust bunnies back and forth across their shoes. Isabel saw the framed diplomas on the wall and bet a crooked sheriff had cheated his way through school. A green metal desk buffered them from him, a fortunate thing since their meeting had lost its civility.
    “What did you just tell us?” Alma’s dark blue eyes slitted, and Isabel couldn’t recall seeing her any angrier.
    “I said I arrested Megan.” Craning his neck, he loosened his necktie, more for the effect than comfort. “I charged her with the homicide of Jake Robbins. We also impounded her car left at Jake’s place.”
    Isabel used a testy voice. “You snookered us. You took advantage of our hospitality and cooperation to lure Megan here and effect your phony arrest.”
    “So, shame on me.” He displayed a condescending smile. “Ladies, it’s my sworn duty to apprehend the suspected felons. Niceties get trampled in the process, and as I also stated, I take no great joy in this arrest.”
    “Spare us your hokey speeches.” Alma squinted harder at him. “Where is Megan now? Locked up inside of your gulag?
    “We’d like to see her,” said Isabel.
    “My deputies are booking her as we speak,” he replied. “Visiting her is against regulations, and your request is denied.”
    Isabel’s facial