Bob Moats - Jim Richards 01-03- 3 for Murder Box Set Read Online Free Page A

naming perps so we are all on the same page.”
     
    “Did anyone see the killer well enough to ID him?” I asked.
     
    “We have a description, but I’m sure he was disguised. What I can’t figure is how he knew the routine and how he figured Harper would be the one to drink the coffee.”
     
    “Where was it placed?” I asked.
     
    “On the desk, next to her computer.”
     
    “Joyce was so shook up, maybe she thought she brought it and needed the caffeine,” I theorized. “He must have known Joyce’s habits, and he was confident that after Joyce found the email she would have called the police. Your guys would have arrived and done what good cops do, so he waited and did his thing. I’m sure none of your people would have drunk from the cup. He was just thumbing his nose at everyone. Guy’s got guts.”
     
    “It was planned. He couldn’t just get a CSU outfit at the last minute. This was calculated,” Trapper said in admiration of a bad deed.
     
    “Dee Wittenfield’s murder wasn’t very spectacular. Where was the drama in that?” I wondered aloud. “She didn’t call the police so the killer had no show to put on. He just did her in to start the ball rolling, I guess.”
     
    I thought more on it and said, “But Joyce said that Dee was warned not to call the police. Why would he do that if he wanted to play?”
     
    “Maybe he figured she would call us after another threat. Maybe if she had called us, we would have been guarding her, and he would have slid in through the crapper window while she was in the shower and strangled her.” He went silent and focused his eyes past the walls.
     
    I was almost speechless. “My God! Is that what happened??”
     
    “You didn’t hear this.” He hesitated then leaned toward me. “I wasn’t there. It was a different crew assigned to the case, but after it happened they sent me and my people in to clean up.” He went quiet again. “The papers were not told this bit of info, just what we wanted them to know. Same with the Harper case. It will be known that she was found poisoned. I hope you are cooperative about the suppression of certain facts that are to be kept from the press.”
     
    “What, that two woman were killed while the police was on guard?” I muttered.
     
    “Just when I was getting to like you, Richards. Don’t upset me,” he growled.
     
    “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m not involved with murder every day the way you guys are. The lives of two personal friends have been snuffed out, and I don’t know what to do about it.” I looked into his eyes and thought I saw a spark of understanding.
     
    I was feeling tired. “Are you done with me? I missed my afternoon nap.” I gave him a fake grin.
     
    “Yeah, get out of here, but don’t leave town.” He gave me a fake grin back.
     
    Then we both stopped grinning.
     
    I left his office and the station. Back to my car and out on the road, I was mystified by the events of the last two days. I had two friends go out in violence, and I wasn’t prepared for the drama. I got back to the house and into my room. I checked my email online. Thankfully no pleas for help.
     
    I went out to the kitchen and made a light lunch. I never eat big meals which is why I can’t figure why I have such a big gut. OK, I guess it would be called a beer belly, and I am proud of it. Back to my room to eat, and then I crashed on the bed. I really feel miserable anymore if I don’t catch a nap in the afternoon. I hated it, but I hate feeling miserable more. I slept poorly until it was time to help Mom put Dad to bed and went back to my room.
     
    Around 7 P.M. I thought about Buck. He wasn’t working tonight, but I just had to talk to someone so I called him at home.
     
    Buck answered the phone by the third ring and must have checked his caller ID. “Hey Jimmy, solved the case yet?”
     
    “No, and it got worse,” I replied then went over the details of the last two days. I swore him to secrecy