The Candy Cane Cupcake Killer Read Online Free Page B

“How about you? Were you watching the carriage the whole time?”
    â€œI was lookin’ in this general direction,” Sam said, “but I wasn’t really payin’ that much attention to Barney. I was lookin’ at the crowd and the parade and all the lights . . .” Sam frowned in thought. “But I saw him kind of rock back on the seat a little, and then he started to stand up. I knew he wouldn’t be doin’ that while he was drivin’ the team unless something was wrong.”
    Whitmire nodded and said, “You two will have to come down to the station and give statements. Too many witnesses have wandered off already. I’m not letting the two of you get away.”
    Carolyn was standing close enough to hear the chief’swords. She said, “That sounds rather ominous. Should Phyllis and Sam bring a lawyer with them?”
    Wearily, Whitmire shook his head and waved off the question.
    â€œNo, no, they’re not being charged with anything—”
    â€œYou’re not supposed to even question them without letting them know their rights,” Carolyn went on. Both she and Phyllis had fallen under suspicion of murder in the past, and that had caused Carolyn to look at the local law enforcement in an adversarial light most of the time.
    Chief Whitmire was starting to look annoyed, and Phyllis didn’t want Carolyn to get arrested for interfering with an officer or obstructing justice. She turned to her friend and said, “It’s all right, Carolyn. I’m not worried about it. I waive the right to counsel.”
    â€œSo do I,” Sam said. “I don’t have anything to hide.”
    Carolyn said, “Hmph. We’ve seen before that innocence doesn’t always mean much in this town.”
    Whitmire looked like he was about to say something angry, but before he could, McCrory’s daughter, Allyson, stepped up to him and asked, “Where are they taking my father, Chief?”
    Calvin and Ted had loaded McCrory’s body onto a gurney and were wheeling it toward the waiting ambulance. Whitmire said, “They’ll take him to the funeral home. My office will keep you informed about the situation, ma’am.”
    â€œThe situation,” Allyson repeated. “What does that mean?”
    â€œThere’ll have to be an autopsy. You’re the deceased’s daughter?”
    â€œThat’s right. I’m Allyson Hollingsworth.” Her face was red and puffy from crying, and tear streaks on her cheeks reflected the myriad lights all around. But she was more composed now than she had been a few minutes earlier. She nodded toward the fair-haired man beside her and added, “This is my husband, Nate.”
    â€œI’m sorry for your loss. I’ll need to talk more to both of you, so why don’t I have one of my men take you down to the police station, and I’ll meet you there shortly?”
    Allyson stared at him in disbelief.
    â€œYou’re
arresting
us?” she demanded.
    â€œNo, not at all,” Whitmire said. “I just need to get statements from both of you. I realize this is a terrible time to be bothering you—”
    â€œYes, it is,” Nate Hollingsworth said coldly.
    â€œBut we’re just following procedure,” Whitmire forged ahead. He signaled to one of his men. “This officer will take you to the station.”
    â€œWe can’t go in our own car?”
    â€œIt’ll be simpler this way. He can show you exactly where to go. And then he’ll bring you back to your car when we’re done. I hope it won’t take very long.”
    Nate looked like he wanted to argue, but Allyson said, “All right, if we’ve got to, let’s get it over with. But I’ll have to get to the funeral home and talk to them about the . . . the arrangements . . .”
    Her face started to crumple into sobs again. Nate put his arms around