Engaged in Murder (Perfect Proposals Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Jeb was escorted out of the bathroom by Officer Vandall.
    “I told you, I’m head of airport security. It’s my job to make sure no one messed with the crime scene,” Jeb grumbled as Officer Vandall put him against the wall beside me.
    “Is this the guy you called?” the officer asked me. For a brief moment I contemplated saying no, but the look of murder in Jeb’s gaze gave me pause.
    “Yes,” I said.
    “Stay here, both of you,” Officer Vandall warned. “We’ll need to get your statements.” He reached up on his shoulder and hit his communication device. “Dispatch, this is Unit 73. We need Crime Scene Patrol and an ambulance to the Executive Airport, hangar number four. They won’t need to run with lights. There is a confirmed DB. Again DB is confirmed.”
    The device made a squawking noise that he seemed to understand and he turned back to us. Pulling out a notebook and a pen, he asked. “Okay, let’s take it from the top. Who discovered the body?”
    “I did—”
    “She did—”
    We answered at the same time. The officer nodded and made a note on his pad. “Ms. Pomeroy, is it?”
    “Yes, sir, Pepper Pomeroy.”
    As he wrote down my name, a third officer came in. “What have we got?” The new guy looked more like a Boy Scout than a police officer. I looked at Officer Vandall as if to ask if this new guy was a real cop.
    “We have a DB,” Officer Vandall said. “This is Officer Flynn. Is Westin with you?”
    “Right here,” came the sound of a second male voice. Suddenly the place was full of men.
    Jeb crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. “The scene is secure,” he grumbled. “I secured it.”
    “I’m sure you did,” Officer Vandall said as the other two went into the bathroom.
    A moment later, Officer Flynn came out of the restroom. He looked a little green as he rushed by.
    “It’s his first DB,” Vandall said.
    The sound of retching came from around the corner. My stomach leapt into my throat. Was it really that bad? Wait, this was my first dead body, too . . . My heartbeat picked up and my palms broke out in a sweat.
    “Sit down,” Officer Vandall ordered and pushed my shoulder as my knees gave out.
    I sat down hard. My vision started to go dark. Great, just what I needed . . . to faint in front of the cops. It could be worse, I suppose. I could be outside with Officer Flynn. Or worse, inside marring Officer O’Riley’s shiny shoes.
    “Head between your knees.” He put his pad away and squatted beside me. I had to admit that the ground felt particularly comfortable at the moment. I rested my forehead on the cool tiled floor.
    “I’m fine,” I muttered.
    “I’m sure you are,” he said.
    Why then did I have tears in my eyes?

Chapter 4

    “I have a blanket in my truck,” I heard Jeb say.
    “Get it.” Vandall’s voice was full of sympathy. “You had quite a shock, Ms. Pomeroy. Take a deep breath in and blow it out. Good.”
    I felt the blanket go around my shoulders. The warmth staved off the shivers that had started down my spine. I sat up to look into Vandall’s hazel gaze. He had those lovely diamond-shaped eyes that were wider in the center and pointed at the ends as if he spent days laughing in the sun. “I’m fine.”
    “I’m going to have to ask you some more questions,” he said. “Are you up to it?”
    “Yes.” I nodded.
    “There’s an office across the hall,” Jeb said. “You can take her in there.”
    Both men helped me up and I huddled in the blanket. The office door was open and the overhead light still on from my excursion inside to find Jeb’s phone number. I walked in, this time sensitive to my surroundings. The office held a file cabinet, a desk with a chair behind it, and two chairs in front.
    Officer Vandall ushered me into the second chair in front of the desk. He looked at Jeb. “Can you get her some water?”
    “Sure thing.” Jeb left and I huddled in the blanket as Officer Vandall leaned against the desk