BooksBarbecue
Back Murder Past Due Save as PDF
Chapters (36)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Acknowledgements
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. TWENTY-NINE
  33. THIRTY
  34. THIRTY-ONE
  35. THIRTY-TWO
  36. THIRTY-THREE

“It’s possible he’ll be released tomorrow.” Julia relaxed her arms, letting them slide into her lap. “But he’s ill. You cannot upset him.”

Kanesha pulled a business card from one of her shirt pockets. “Please call me at this number tomorrow, and let me know when I can speak with him.”

Julia accepted the card and placed it on the table in front of her. “Certainly.”

“Thank you. I may have more questions for you later.” Kanesha said. “Now I’d like to speak to your son.”

“I’ll get him, if you like,” I said to Julia.

“Thank you, Charlie,” she said. “If you don’t mind.”

“Back in a minute,” I said, rising from my chair.

As I left the kitchen I heard no further conversation. Would Kanesha continue to question Julia while I was out of the room? I was concerned about Julia and that one hesitation in answering. I doubted Kanesha would let that go for long.

Nothing I could do about it now, I thought as I climbed the stairs to the third floor.

I knocked on Justin’s door and waited for a response. When none was forthcoming, I opened the door and looked inside. Justin, still dressed and with his shoes on, appeared to be sound asleep on the bed. Diesel, stretched out beside him, raised his head and blinked at me.

I entered the room, moving quietly. I found three candy wrappers on the floor by Justin’s bed. Some dinner, the poor kid. He’d had a terrible day, and it wasn’t finished yet.

Laying a hand on his shoulder, I shook him gently and called his name.

Justin’s eyes popped open, and he stared up at me in confusion. “Mr. Charlie? What . . . ?” The memories of the day evidently came back, and he sat up, rubbing his face.

“Sorry to wake you,” I said. “But the deputies are here. You need to come downstairs now.”

“Yes, sir,” Justin said, his voice dull.

Diesel jumped to the floor and rubbed against my legs as I turned to leave.

“Please wait. I need to ask you something.” I turned to face him as Justin stood.

Diesel began chirping at me, and I reached down to rub his head. The cat pushed his head against my hand, and I rubbed a little harder. He really loved head rubs.

“What is it, son?” I asked.

“I don’t know what to do.” Justin ran a hand through his hair.

“About what?”

Diesel walked over to Justin and rubbed against his legs.

“What if I found something in the hotel room?” Justin asked. “Something that could get somebody in trouble?”

ELEVEN

ELEVEN

“In the hotel room, you mean?” I examined Justin’s face. He was clearly worried.

Justin nodded.

“You should tell the deputies, like we discussed earlier.” My tone was firm. “It’s best to be truthful. What you found could help them solve the case.”