Elizabeth C. Main - Jane Serrano 02 - No Rest for the Wicked Read Online Free PDF

thoughts of Alix’s situation resurface d. No matter how tempting it was to think about seeing Nick, it would have to wait. First things first. Unfortunately, I’d already rescheduled this date twice. Alix’s predicament was yet another in an unfortunate series of obligations to others that I couldn’t ignore.
    Should I call now to tell him I was on my way to the sheriff’s department? No, not until I knew more. It was only six-thirty. Only two days ago, after the latest rescheduling of our date, Nick had asked me to think seriously about my tendency to let other people dictate much of my time. He’d been patient for a long time , and I owed him an answer.
    Tyler returned from the car, carrying a plate of cookies and chewing energetically. “ These are great. Want one? ”
    “ Later. And there’d better be some left when I get back. ”
    “ You know, ” he said, “ these cookies would be much safer if I locked up and went with you. ”
    “ No way. ”
    “ Hey, it was Alix who insulted that jerk of a deputy last year, not me. ”
    “ Yes , but you were part of the group outside chanting , ‘Free Bianca.’ I’m hoping to achieve a slightly lower profile this time around. ”
    “ Okay. ” Tyler shrugged his shoulders, my logic getting through to him in spite of his disappointment. “ I’ll work on the blog. You’ll be back soon? ”
    I went with the confident approach, but whether for myself or him, I wasn’t sure. “ Sure. This is some kind of mistake. You know Arnie. ”
    The look on Tyler’s face mirrored Bianca’s and Minnie’s earlier relief. My super sleuth credentials remained supreme with everyone but me. Now, if only I could convince myself of my invincibility. A voice in the back of my head told me that surely any sheriff, even one as inept as Arnie Kraft, would have established some connection between Alix and the murdered man to justify taking her in for questioning. I’d better find out what it was.

Chapter 3
    I pulled my Volvo into the nearly deserted parking lot of the Russell County Courthouse. The expanse of empty asphalt appeared well suited to a pickup basketball game or the swooping of skateboards, anything to make the place less forbidding. Before stepping from the car, I took some of the deep, cleansing breaths Bianca recommended from her yoga practice. Couldn’t hurt.
    The gray building cast a shadow over the entrance as I approached. Was the resulting chill in the air just my imagination working overtime? Taking one more deep breath, I pushed through the heavy doors and smiled at the bored guard, whom I caught in mid-yawn. He ditched a fistful of Cheetos behind the counter before hiding his orange hands in disposable gloves and rummaging, red-faced, through every inch of my voluminous bag. Too bad I hadn’t stuck in one of Minnie’s gingerbread guns along with my lipstick. That’d wake him up.
    “ Ouch! ” He snatched his hand out. “ What the … ? ”
    “ Oh, the can opener. For our book club meeting, ” I explained as he held up the can of pineapple tidbits. He didn’t appear impressed at my attempt to provide a healthful snack, but what could I expec t from someone who ate Cheetos?
    “ Oh, yeah. You’re that Murder of the Month woman. ” His tone didn’t suggest an immediate interest in getting my autograph. “ The can opener stays here ’ til you come out. ”
    “ Afraid I’ll use it—metaphorically speaking—to get someone out of the ‘ can ’ ? You can keep the pineapple, too, if you want. ” No response, so I lowered my voice. “ You know, that can’s heavy. Make a good weapon. ” His look caused me to abandon further attempt at conversation.
    During the extended screening, I surveyed the room beyond the metal detector. The deputy at the desk wasn’t familiar, thank goodness. I relaxed a fraction. Anyone we’d met here last year would view me with all the enthusiasm they’d show an escaped ferret. Cheeto-hands finally motioned me on.
    At