Sandrift: A Lin Hanna Mystery Read Online Free PDF

pretty shocking and I
was pretty badly shaken up I’m afraid, but I feel much better now.”
    “I’m so sorry,”
Eloise was genuinely concerned. “You probably need some company.   Why don’t you come over to my house and
have some lunch?   It’s after noon, a
few minutes anyway.”
    Lin quickly
looked at her watch. “I’m supposed to go down to the police station to give a
statement,” she replied, “and officer Parker should be back by now.   He’s probably wondering what happened to
me so I’d better call and hurry on down.”
    “Dinner then,”
Eloise insisted, “ come about six.   I won’t take no for an answer.”
    Lin agreed and
Eloise departed for her home.   After
letting Sparky out for a bit and checking his water bowl, Lin dialed the number
on Ken Parker’s card.   A
receptionist answered.   Parker was
in his office.   He hadn’t been back
long, it seemed.   Lin said she would
be down shortly.
    Arriving at the
local police station, Lin was quickly escorted into a conference room where Ken
Parker waited to take her statement.  
    “You look much
better now.   Hope you feel ok.”
    “Much better,
thanks,” Lin responded. “Some breakfast and a nap worked wonders.”
    It only took a
few minutes for Lin to share her description of what had happened during her
walk that morning.   Nothing really
complicated, she realized. It was just an unfortunate incident; she and Sparky
happened to be the first ones to arrive on the scene.   As she signed the statement form, Lin
asked. “Has the young woman been identified? Do you know what happened?”
    “I really can’t
tell you who she was,” Parker replied. “She had id but her family must be
notified before…”
    “Of course,”
Lin said. “ and I feel sure the medical examiner has
to do an autopsy.”
    “Yes,” Ken
agreed, “but I can tell you that we saw no obvious signs of trauma.   I think this was probably a natural
death.   I’ll be glad to call you, if
you like, when we know more.   I
realize that finding someone like that is quite a shock and you’d like to know
what happened.”
    “Thanks, I
would,” Lin shook hands with the young officer and left the station.
      It was time to return to normalcy.   She decided to go to the outlet mall she
had spotted when she first arrived and try to do some shopping before she went
back to the house and her dinner with Eloise.   I need some normal activity, she thought,
something to take my mind off all this.   She looked at the ever-darkening sky; it
looked like that rain was finally coming so a walk on the beach was not a good
idea at the moment.   Shopping was
the best alternative.

 
    ***
    Lin awoke
Sunday morning feeling well rested and almost fully recovered from her
experience the previous day.   Of
course, her trip to the outlet shops had put a bit of a dent in her bank
account, but she hadn’t been able to resist a couple of outfits that she felt
were exactly right for her.   She
planned to pack one of these to take tomorrow.   It would be perfect for dinner out with
Neal.   She’d even found a silky blue
nightgown to add to mix—certainly sexier than her knit pajamas!
    Dinner with
Eloise had been just what she needed.   Kate’s neighbor was an excellent cook and the white wine she served with
the meal had been a great choice.   After a relaxing evening with the older lady, Lin had had no trouble
falling asleep.   Now, as she
showered and dressed for the day, she decided she would go out for a bite of
breakfast and then maybe take Sparky over to the beach for a walk.   The previous day’s rain had passed
leaving chillier temperatures and a brilliant blue fall sky.   Better wear a sweatshirt and take a jacket
for that beach walk, Lin thought.
    Yesterday, she
had spotted a small café that had an outdoor eating area where Sparky would be
welcomed; she decided to take the dog with her and save a trip back to the
house after her meal.  
    Arriving at