by Kira Reese
“The only flaw in it all was when my bodyguard came back without the private investigator. I found out where she was staying. She was to be next after the reading of the will.” The snort escaped louder. “I didn’t expect John Goff to leave me anything. I only showed up because I was told to be there. When I saw you and that investigator come in, I knew it was not coincidence that the odd collection of people were there.”
Officer Sam Checkers nodded to the officer inside the doorway of the interrogation room. He told Randall Hunt he was under arrest for three murders and robbery of the dead. Randall grinned.
***
It was Catherine’s last day at Goff and Sons Mortuary. Officer Sam Checkers and I entered the building. He held the packet of notes and the large envelope in his hands. He spread them on her cleared desk. “Do you recognize this handwriting?” he asked.
She nodded. “I saw Randall writing a note written like that. He was in the main office. I came in to hand him a file he had asked for. I saw the odd printing mixed with cursive writing. I averted my eyes, since, though I wondered, I knew not to ask what he was doing. I couldn’t read the words and he folded it quickly. I’ll never forget the writing, though. It was so odd to me.”
“Do you recall if it was a long note?” I asked.
“It was a line or two, at most. I have always felt ill at ease around the man. You’ll have to ask him what it was about.”
I spread out the crumpled note on the desk. “Can you tell me if this is the one?”
“It was about that long,” she said. “I can’t be sure it is the same. The words on that envelope resemble the letters on the note I saw briefly.” She looked at us. “I think he is someone you should question.”
We smiled at her and Sam gathered the notes. He inserted them back into the envelope. “We found jewelry pieces inside this envelope. If any family member asks about them, please tell them they are in the locked safe at the precinct. She told us she did not know of any family member asking for items they missed but would keep that in mind.
***
Sharon took the next day from work to be there when I left for home. Once again she told me how good I was at my job. I liked the compliments but knew cases like the one I had just been into were never solved by me, alone.
I lowered my car window and waved to her. The cold air felt good, and I left the window down. I reached for the switch on my car heater but decided I didn’t need artificial heat as my mind raced toward Nick Adams. Thoughts of home and being back in his arms again emitted enough warmth to last a few more miles.
~ END ~