The Winter Widow Read Online Free PDF

what you’re doing and you’ll be in the way.
    She nodded, not in agreement, but in acceptance of his right to an opinion. He could believe whatever he damn well pleased, as long as he gave her what she wanted.
    â€œIt’s all in there.” He nodded at the reports on the desk. “Unless you left out something that happened when Dan was home.”
    She felt her face grow warm. He wanted to make love to his wife, but if you think I’m going to tell you about it, you’re crazy. Anyway, it never happened: The phone kept interrupting. Who made that second call?
    Parkhurst smiled maliciously at her discomfort.
    â€œIt’s all in here,” she said dryly, tapping the reports.
    He raised an eyebrow and she felt her poise start to slip. “New leads?”
    â€œSo far, zip.”
    She didn’t believe him. She didn’t exactly know why, but a bell had gone off in her mind. She’d learned to pay attention when her cop’s instincts were roused.
    â€œWhat did you find at the crime scene?” She shifted and crossed her feet at the ankles.
    â€œDan on his back in a pool of blood.”
    She saw it, just as Parkhurst intended, a vivid picture of Daniel—She jerked her thoughts up short and managed to keep her face impassive, the weeping woman buried deep inside.
    â€œBullet came from a northwesterly direction. Severed the spinal column. Death was instantaneous.”
    She lit a cigarette, gratified to note her hands were steady.
    â€œIndications the body had been moved around some after death. Reasons unknown—go through his pockets, maybe. Gun was in the holster, no shots fired.”
    Pushing herself away from the desk, she moved around it to sit in the chair. “Guthman denied making that phone call.” She’d tried to see Guthman early yesterday evening after she’d examined the site where Daniel was shot, but he was in Kansas City and not expected back until late today. “You believe him?”
    â€œI haven’t found anything that suggests otherwise.”
    She was aware that he hadn’t answered her question. “Who made that call? Why? Was it simply a ruse to get Daniel out there? Did it have anything to do with cattle rustling?”
    â€œThere have been some reports, but Otto claims no losses, no indications attempts were made.”
    â€œMotives? Who had a motive? If cattle theft wasn’t involved, why was he killed?”
    Parkhurst sat like a sphinx.
    â€œYou know something you’re not telling me,” she said. “I want to hear it.”
    â€œPardon?”
    â€œWhich part didn’t you understand?”
    He stared at her, apparently finding it hard to open his mouth; his teeth seemed locked together.
    â€œPrejudices have a way of wiping out judgments,” she said sweetly.
    His look sent a chill through her. A muscle ticced in his jaw. “Before Dan went home, he said he needed to talk to me when he got back.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œHe said it could wait. Just something a little puzzling, might be nothing.”
    â€œWell?” she said. “Thoughts. Guesses. Hunches.”
    Parkhurst was silent so long, she thought he wasn’t going to respond. “I don’t know. He saw something, heard something, something happened. I don’t know. The only thing I do know, there was no report of any crime in that hour he was out looking for Sophie. Nothing even unusual or peculiar.”
    Hazel stuck her head through the doorway hesitantly, as though testing the climate and prepared to duck if conditions were unfavorable. She gave Susan a soft look of encouragement and said to Parkhurst, “Sorry to interrupt, but we got a call from the mayor. He’d like you to fill him in on any new developments.”
    Parkhurst nodded curtly and rose, then looked at Susan. “Unless you’d rather?”
    She shook her head, doubting Bakover wanted filling in; more likely, he