Pickled (An Alex Harris Mystery) Read Online Free Page A

the bell and it was quickly answered by Sid Dupre.
    “Can I help you?” Mr. Dupre held a pair of glasses in one hand and a section of the Sunday paper in the other.
    “Good afternoon, Mr. Dupre. I’m Alex Harris. I met you last night at the pickleball supper.”
    “Oh, right. Of course. You kept me from punching Humphrey’s lights out. Looks like someone else had a beef with him as well.”
    “So you know he was killed last night?”
    “It was on the morning news. Can’t say I’m shocked. It was bound to happen one of these days. The man had a way of making enemies.”
    “Would it be okay if I came in for a few minutes?”
    “Oh, of course. Sorry. Come on in.”
    I followed Sid Dupre through a small foyer into a den with a fire blazing.
    “I was just about to get another cup of coffee. Can I get you anything?”
    “A water would be fine.”
    A few minutes later Mr. Dupre came back to the den with a fresh cup of coffee and a bottle of mineral water for me.
    “So, what can I do for you?” He settled back into a chair with the rest of the paper sitting on an ottoman by his feet.
    “I was just over at the Bryson home and Mrs. Bryson hoped I might be able to shed some light on exactly what happened last night. I was actually the person who found her husband and I’ve had some experience with murder before.” My explanation for poking my nose into other people’s murders always sounded so lame but what else was I going to say?
    “So you’re not here on any official capacity?” Sid Dupre asked.
    Here it was. I’d be getting the boot out the door any second. “Well, no, I’m not. Like I said, Mrs. Bryson heard about some other murders I helped solve and felt I might be able to get to the bottom of this before, well, before—”
    “Before all their sordid affairs were made public? Too late. Everyone knows what kind of person Humphrey Bryson was.”
    “And just what kind of person was he?” I asked.
    Mr. Dupre stood up and walked over to the fire and poked it a couple of times and then added another log. He was not a very tall man but he looked like someone who worked out. His upper body looked muscled even through his shirt and cardigan, and I felt certain he would have no trouble holding down Humphrey Bryson and shoving a pickle down the man’s throat. Having stoked the fire, Mr. Dupre returned to his chair and picked up his coffee cup.
    “What kind of man was Humphrey? Well, for starters he was a man who didn’t have a problem coming on to another man’s wife.”
    “I take it that was what upset you last night?” I asked.
    “It was. I’ve talked with him on many occasions about dancing with my wife and touching her in an inappropriate way, but, well, you saw him. Had his hand on Marie’s behind for God’s sake. I know he was just egging me on. Humphrey liked to egg people on, but it was just one time too many.”
    “One time too many?” I asked. I wondered if the man realized how his comment sounded.
    Sid Dupre’s rich brown eyes grew wide. “I didn’t mean it that way. What I meant was added to the other crap he’s been pulling lately I just had enough of the man for one night.”
    “Like what?” I asked.
    “I own the recreational vehicle dealership here in town. Boats and campers for the summer, snow mobiles and the like for the winter. We also have a small department for tractors and snow plows. I’ve supplied Pirates Cove and the surrounding town with plows for as long as I’ve been in business and that’s been about thirty years. Started small and provided good value and a great service department and things just grew over time.”
    “And what does this have to do with Humphrey Bryson?” I asked.
    “He’s on the town council and out of the blue he cancelled my contract.” Mr. Dupre’s color was taking on the same hue as last night. “Gave the business to some dealership in New Jersey. New Jersey, for God’s sake. Every time something breaks down or needs some servicing