Dubois asked, "You saw the bite too, if they were dressing those places. The teeth marks were there. Is there any doubt in your mind we've got the murderer and those are the dog's teeth marks?"
Duggan shook his head.
"You're aware the three witnesses saw him kill that woman?"
"Yes. I am. I believe them. We've got the right man."
"So what are you worried about?"
"You."
"Me? Care to share?"
"You're a big boy, I've got confidence you're a good one too. You can make your own decisions. I just want to make sure you've got all the facts so you can make decisions that will be safe for you."
"You're worried about some certain influences?" Dubois raised an eyebrow.
"The pretty lady? No. Not worried. I just want you to know all the facts."
"I know. Thank you, Duggan. And I don't think I'm in any immediate danger. You're a good friend and I appreciate you help."
"You don't think this lady will hurt you?"
"No." Daniel gave it some thought. "From the little we've shared so far, I believe she has a code of ethics as strict as ours. I just don't understand them all yet." He hesitated. "I'm taking this relationship one day at a time. But you're right about one important thing. This lady is very special to me. I care about her."
Duggan shrugged.
Dubois didn't comment further and Duggan stood up to leave. He smiled at his old friend, holding out his hand. "And I'm happy."
Duggan took the hand, gave him a quick hug and smiled back as he left. He stopped at the door. "She coming back? Today?"
"She had something to do. Should be here any minute."
* * *
Duggan had given up and gone home by the time Elfrieda came back.
"What kept you?" Daniel greeted Elfrieda when she opened his door and came in. He came around the desk to meet her and kissed her hand. "All through with errands and getting daughter off and whatever else you had to do before we go?"
"There was only one thing I had to finish up. All through except for that, and I've put things in motion to see it finished without any more help from me."
"I'm jealous." Daniel laughed. "I have to see everything here to the bitter end." He reached for his coat. "You give lessons on how to do that?"
"No. I had to use my special talents. The ones I told you nobody else should try at home."
"Oh, those. Are we ready now? Do you have to notify someone you'll be gone a while or something?"
"No. Lets enjoy our dinner first. We can pick up your things later." She smiled mischievously, "Or, we might decide during dinner to just go from there."
"Sold, Pretty Lady." Dubose grinned, "Let's go talk about it."
Elfrieda took his arm, smiling up at him.
* * *
When Chelsea's secretary got back to the office she looked at his note, threw it in the trash can, and looked at the clock. Time for the temporary help who worked evenings to report to work. She smiled to herself as someone knocked on the door.
She opened the door to a younger woman and smiled a welcome.
"Right on time, as usual," she greeted the temporary typist.
"Thanks, it's good to be appreciated." The temp looked at the door behind the secretary's desk. "He gone?"
"Yes. Went to lunch with a client I guess. He left a note saying he was going to lunch and I doubt he'd have paid." Both of them laughed.
"Well, I'm glad he's gone. I learned right quick not to let him get me hemmed up against the wall in there. I don't know how he ever has any clients to take advantage of. I sure wouldn't be here if I didn't really need the money."
"Me either." The secretary shrugged. "Enjoy his absence." She gestured. "That stack on the desk you use is what he gave me for you. You can stretch it out to quitting time. With any luck you'll be gone before he gets back. But I'm afraid he'll be back soon, so look at the work and get all of it done you can."
"I'm glad you said all of it I can. I really need to leave right on time today. My husband has leave and he will only be here this week."
"Don't worry. You can just leave what you've done on the desk and I will sign your time slip and you can go."
At five minutes to five o'clock, the temp got up and picked up the basket of correspondence. "I got it done. I'll put this on his desk and go, quick before he gets back, if that's all right with you."
"Sure. I'll put the time as six o'clock."
The secretary began filling out the time slip and dropped her pen when she heard the temp scream.
She jumped up, wondering if Chelsea had been in there and attacked her or something.
The temp hurried through the door and slammed it behind her.
"What is it?"
"A rat! There's a big old rat in there." She opened the door a crack and motioned for her to look. "See it? It's eating one of those cookies he keeps in the desk."
"I see it," the secretary nodded. "Got the same taste as the resident rat, hasn't he?"
"Yes, even his hair. That gray grizzled fur is the same." Both of them laughed as they shut the door again.
"Be with you in a minute and give you that time slip," the secretary called as the temp got ready to leave.
The temp stood holding her purse as the secretary came out of the supply closet with a large rat trap.
"I guess he must have known about the rat. This was still in the sack from the store." She laid it on her desk and handed the temp her time slip.
"I hate to go and leave you with this situation?"
"No problem." The temp had her hand on the doorknob. The secretary's hand closed on the sharp steel trap. "I'll take care of it..."
The End
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THE DEVIL IN MARYVALE
A Maryvale Cozy Mystery
Book One
Excerpt from
The Devil in Maryvale
A Maryvale Cozy Mystery
Book One
by
Jackie Griffey
Two of Sheriff Larkin's men traveled down highway 220. Young Deputy Freeman drove, his eyes on the road and the underbrush that lined it. "We'll have to cut through the woods and cross that narrow stream of water to get at the back. I'm glad I've got my boots on."
They walked single file on a path local fishermen must have worn in the weeds. Randal Raines was the oldest of the Pine County Deputies and retiring soon. With his head turned to admire the scenery and part of his mind on his retirement plans, Raines bumped into his young partner. "Hey! What's the idea? You didn't signal you were going to stop—you traffic hazard, you!" Raines chuckled good-naturedly.
Deputy Douglas Freeman stood rooted to the ground. His eyes stared ahead and to the right of the path.
Raines followed Freeman's line of vision as Doug raised his arm and pointed a not too steady finger. "Over there," Doug managed to get out. "The other side of the path. There's—there's..."
The Devil in Maryvale
by
Jackie Griffey
~
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The Devil in Maryvale
from your favorite eBook Retailer,
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Cozy mystery aut
hor Jackie Griffey likes to read as well as write mysteries and romantic suspense. She and her family, two cats, a Chihuahua, and a couple of wild bunnies live in Arkansas.
Jackie loves hearing from her readers. You can contact Jackie through her publisher at [email protected]
Table of Contents
Cover
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
A Note from the Publisher
Excerpt from THE DEVIL IN MARYVALE (A Maryvale Cozy Mystery, Book 1)
Meet the Author
The Mardi Gras Murder Page 22