Stump Speech Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

Cooper?” asked Pamela.  “She certainly wasn’t afraid to ask James a lot of hard questions at that rally yesterday, if you noticed, Joan.”
    “Yes,” agreed Joan, “she’s a go-getter. I wonder if she was as aggressive about interviewing Brewster when he showed up yesterday?  We left about that time.  Remember?”
    “No one is aggressive about interviewing him,” said Jane Marie, knowingly.  “Haven’t you ever noticed that?  Reporters know better than to pin him down.  They know what might happen to their careers—what has happened to careers–if they ask Hap Brewster anything but innocuous questions.  Plus, he has that campaign manager of his—that Victor Baines—always out there clearing the way for him.  He has a huge machine.”
    “I’m sure a far bigger machine than James Grant has,” said Joan, despondently, “or had.”
    “Oh, Joan,” said Arliss, giving a warm hug to her friend.  “Don’t give up.  I think it’s wonderful that you’re trying to help make Reardon a better place.  And if you say that this James Grant can do it, I believe you.  Maybe he was set-up.”  She lowered her voice and dropped her head as she made this last comment. 
    “Dr. Barnes,” said Jane Marie suddenly, “I bet you can help solve this crime.”
    “I don’t see how,” replied Pamela.  “The police have already made an arrest.  As far as I know, they don’t need anyone to listen to any recorded messages that might identify a suspect for them.  That’s all I’ve done in past cases.”
    “You never know,” continued Jane Marie.  “You’re a real detective, Dr. Barnes.  If anyone can help this James Grant, if anyone can find out what really happened, and who killed his wife—assuming he didn’t do it—it’s you, Dr. Barnes.”
    “Yes . . . Dr. Barnes,” chuckled Joan.  “Our very own Agatha Christie.  Trust me, James did not kill his wife.  But because the police believe he did, they will, no doubt, make no additional effort to find the real killer.  I guess that leaves you, Pamela.  You’ll have to find Stacy Grant’s killer.”
    “Thanks,” said Pamela with no enthusiasm.  She did not intend to get herself embroiled in another murder investigation.  She looked back into the chinchilla cage at Eva and Eddie, snuggling up together around their new brood.  “You two are so lucky you live in Green Acres,” she sighed. “I’m stuck here in Reardon in the center of a big mess. I wish I could join you in there.”
     
    Chapter Five
     
    After her morning classes, Pamela nabbed a copy of the local newspaper–the Reardon Advocate– from Jane Marie’s desk and seated herself in the secretary’s alcove where she poured over the front page story.  The headline read, “Local Mayoral Candidate James Grant Arrested for Wife’s Murder”: 
    “Reardon city police were called to the home of James and Stacy Grant at 110 Cornelia Blvd., yesterday at 5.36 p.m.  According to city Police Chief Joseph Bellows, a 911 emergency operator directed officers to the Grant home when Mrs. Grant called 911 at 5:28 p.m., to report that her husband was attempting to break into their home.   When officers arrived, they discovered the front door open and inside found James Grant kneeling over his wife’s dead body, apparently attempting to revive her.  Officers also reported that they discovered a large, bloody, brass candlestick on the ground next to the body.”
    Hmm, thought Pamela.  According to this report, James had apparently been trying to revive his wife.  If that was true, and it wasn’t just a hoax to make himself look grief-stricken, then it implied that James entered his home and discovered his wife—already dead.  A distinct possibility.  Of course, it was also possible that James left the rally yesterday, went home, got in a terrible fight with his wife–and killed her.  Then when the police arrived, he just pretended to be reviving her.  Or, he could have