The Lingering Dead Read Online Free PDF Page A

looking forward to good food and good beer.”
    Shelby brushed by and opened the door leading out, giving Jackie a fleeting kiss on the cheek as she passed. “You’ll have to come over one of these days so I can teach you how to properly lie. You really are terrible at it.”
    Jackie made sure to bump her going out, but refused to look into those smiling, bottomless eyes. “Up yours.”

Chapter 3
    Charlie opened the door to the Thatcher’s Mill Police Department and wrinkled her nose. Why did the place always smell like a cat had pissed in the corner somewhere? The open entry room of the small brick building two blocks off of Main Street held several wooden chairs and a long, narrow bench, upon which sat the gray, dim form of Rebecca. Charlie stepped over to her, a wistful smile forming on her lips and reached out to brush her hand over the girl’s hair. The wide, staring eyes closed for a moment when she did. The price one paid when asking the law for help.
    â€œMs. Thatcher!” Elinore, the tawny-haired receptionist, said. “What a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting you.” Crumbs from the holiday cornbread leftovers in her hand crusted the corners of her mouth.
    â€œAre you ever, Eli?” Charlie said, rolling her eyes. “I need a word with Elton. See that nobody disturbs us.”
    â€œOf course, Ms. Thatcher.”
    Charlie marched through the reception area, or rather around the reception desk, and stepped into Elton Carson’s office. She waved at the cigarette smoke that hung like fog in the air. “Damn it, Elton. I thought I said to keep the fucking cigarettes out of your office. I hate that shit.”
    He hastily brought his feet down off of his desk and stubbed out the butt in the already full ashtray. “Sorry, Ms. Thatcher. Old habits.” He smiled, wiping his hand across the strands of hair still left on his head. “What brings you to the office today? I wasn’t expecting you until our usual meet.”
    â€œI’ve heard by more than one person that Rachel Crenshaw is moving up to Dubuque to live with her boyfriend.” Charlie stepped forward and placed her hands on the edge of his desk. “Can you substantiate that rumor?”
    Carson shrugged. “Could be, I guess. That college boyfriend of hers has been down here more than a few times to visit, if you know what I’m saying.”
    â€œSo, she’s fucking a visitor,” Charlie said. That always produced problems, without fail.
    The police chief licked his upper lip, dragging the tip of his tongue across the pencil thin smear of mustache. “It would appear so, Ms.—”
    Charlie’s hand flicked out with hummingbird speed, her delicate hand flicking the disgusting tongue before it could be pulled back into his mouth.
    â€œOw!” He dabbed at his tongue with the back of his hand, checking for blood. “Christ, Charlie. What was that for?”
    â€œFor being a lecherous shit,” she said. The man was far more foul than his father. At least he had given due respect for the law and was tolerable to look at. His son was a snake, living in the dank, dark world of rocks better left unturned. Carson’s son was thirteen now, and looked to be far more like his grandfather.
    â€œBut I wasn’t ...” He sighed and averted his gaze from hers. “Sorry, Ms. Thatcher. It won’t happen again.”
    She laughed at that. “Of course it will, Elton. God, at least have the balls to admit your lust for me. Your embarrassment only pisses me off.”
    â€œSorry. Really. I don’t mean—”
    Charlie jumped over the desk, a deft gymnastic maneuver, vaulting and landing beside him. The switchblade was in her hand before her feet had hit the ground. She pressed it to his throat, grabbing his chin with the other hand to force him to face her. “Can you deal with the college boy? I don’t want him around here