The Tamarack Murders Read Online Free PDF Page A

have much of a record, but he was once arrested for beating three bikers senseless. Charges were later dismissed when witnesses reported he had been attacked first. He was carrying a concealed weapon at the time of his arrest, but he had a permit. There was no record it had ever been used in a crime. The gun was returned to Shanks after the charges were dismissed.”
    â€œBeat up three bikers! They must have been the kind of bikers who pedal.”
    Lurch shook his head. “Nope, the other kind. He’s apparently a formidable individual.”
    â€œAnd this Shanks belongs to the partial print?”
    â€œRight.”
    Daisy came and stood in the doorway. “So, boss, we’ve got another murder on our hands, not to mention a bank robbery?”
    â€œAfraid so.” Lurch gave Daisy his chair and went back to work.
    Tully took a sip of his coffee, eyeing Daisy over the top of it. They had concluded a messy affair a few weeks before, but she seemed back to her same perky self—white shiny blouse, short tight black skirt, curly black hair bobbed short, a very compact and cute little number.
    Daisy said, “Somebody should call in a stolen vehicle report on the getaway car, don’t you think?”
    Tully shook his head. “Probably not on this car. The owner is no doubt glad to be rid of it. It was easy pickings for the guy who boosted it.”
    â€œYou don’t think the victim stole it?”
    â€œMaybe. But he doesn’t look like a car thief.”
    â€œI didn’t know car thieves had a special look.”
    â€œIt’s more that people who don’t boost cars have a look. And the vic had that look. Anything else going on?”
    Daisy consulted her pad. “This should be of interest to you. Your fortune-teller is back in town.”
    â€œYou’re kidding! Etta is back?”
    â€œYes indeed. She wants you to give her a call.”
    He studied Daisy for signs of irritation, found none. She was an ace secretary. So much so, he had promoted her to deputy and issued her a department gun, a .38-cal. revolver. On the target range, at least, Daisy could now outshoot all the deputies except Pugh. On the other hand, Etta Gorsich, perhaps ten years older than Daisy, could make his heart stop merely by putting her hand on his chest.
    Daisy stared at him. “What’s wrong, boss?”
    He didn’t want to say he was involved with too many women. “Nothing. It’s just that we’ve got this weird case. I have no doubt our shooting vic is one of the bank robbers, but we haven’t found the loot. He wasn’t carrying it when we tracked him up the mountain. There was no place for him to hide it. And there was no gun. He was like a decoy.”
    â€œThat’s weird,” Daisy said. “How much did the bank say he got away with?”
    â€œI don’t know. I suspect the FBI is all over it by now.”
    â€œYou bet,” Daisy said. “They’ve got half a dozen agents on it. Flew them in. Guess who one of them is.”
    â€œI have no idea.”
    â€œYour little friend, Angela Phelps!”
    Tully started to smile but caught himself in time. “Oh no, not her!”
    â€œI know she can’t be as bad as you let on, boss.”
    Tully shook his head. “She’s a whole lot worse than I let on, Daisy. I’m a person of great restraint when it comes to Angie Phelps.”
    â€œWell, she’s the SAC.”
    â€œAngie’s the special agent in charge? I guess she’s moving up in the bureau. Probably picked up a lot of investigative techniques from me.”
    â€œShe no doubt picked up a lot of techniques from you, boss, but you were probably doing most of the investigating.”
    â€œVery funny. Now beat it, Daisy. I’ve got to make some phone calls.”
    Daisy grinned as she gently shut the door behind her.
    Tully grabbed the phone book and looked up the number of the bank. He dialed. A