Vengeance Is Mine Read Online Free Page A

this.” Steve scanned the report. “The time of death was approximately midnight. Ray died of a massive cranial injury, caused by repeated blows to the head. His skull was fractured in five places.”
    â€œGet on with it, Steve.” Margaret tapped her foot impatiently. “We know all that from the press release.”
    Steve cleared his throat. “Dr. Corliss says the murder weapon was T-shaped with several small, sharp protrusions. One of the points gouged Ray’s eye.”
    Les Hollenkamp swallowed hard. “Do you think it was the Mafia? Ray was always bragging about his connections back east.”
    â€œHeavens, no.” Margaret shook her head. “I’ve covered plenty of mob murders. Those people don’t mess around. If they thought Ray was talking out of turn, his tongue would have been missing. It’s a very effective warning.”
    â€œI’ll be right back.” Les got up and rushed for the door, his hand over his mouth. Margaret coughed to cover her smile. Steve had worried about the wrong person’s sensibilities.
    â€œI don’t think we can rule out the Mafia, Mrs. Whitworth. It could have been a quick hit and run. I’m checking the backers on Ray’s projects now. Some of them may be fronts.”
    Margaret thought for a moment. “It’s certainly possible. Ray wasn’t exactly a pillar of virtue. Did you check the reformatory?”
    â€œIt was the first call I made. No escapes.”
    Les came back in and sat down. Margaret noticed that the mayor still looked a little green around the gills.
    â€œI think we’d better play this down as much as we can,” the mayor advised. “The community’s pretty upset, and we could have a real panic on our hands.”
    Steve nodded. “I agree. That’s one of the reasons I asked both of you to come in. What do you think, Mrs. Whitworth?”
    â€œI’ll cooperate. The less said about Ray’s death, the better.”
    â€œGood.” Steve closed the file and pushed back his desk chair. “Of course, I’ll continue the investigation, but we’ll keep it very quiet for now. How about a cup of coffee? I can buzz for Carol.”
    Les glanced at his watch. “Not for me. I have to meet Trish at the Sunwood for lunch.”
    â€œAnd I’m taping a show this afternoon.” Margaret got to her feet. “I’ll be at the station for the rest of the day, Steve. Call me if anything breaks.”
    Margaret preceded Les to the door and stopped, her hand on the knob. “By the way, I think you’re doing a fine job. It may be just as well that Barney Schultz is out of the country. He’s a little too old for this sort of thing.”
    Steve managed to hold back his grin until the door closed behind them. Margaret Whitworth was at least ten years older than the chief, and she personally ran the newspaper and the television station. Her praise made Steve even more determined to catch Ray’s killer. Chief Schultz was due to retire at the end of the year. With Margaret Whitworth’s endorsement Steve knew he’d be a shoo-in for the job.

    â€œYou’re late.” Trish Hollenkamp sat at the best table in the Granite Room, facing the fountain. Her blond hair was swept up in a French twist, and she wore a new mauve knit that the saleswoman in Better Dresses at Herberger’s had assured her was both stylish and slimming.
    â€œSorry, kitten.” Les slid into the chair opposite his wife and sighed. “I had an emergency meeting.”
    â€œI ordered you a Long Island Iced Tea. It’s the rage in the Cities. Try it, Les.”
    â€œIced tea?”
    â€œJust try it. Minnesota Monthly says it’s the ‘in’ drink.”
    Les lifted the glass and took a sip. Then he made a face. “Couldn’t I just have a beer?”
    â€œBeer is so tacky.” Trish frowned. “That’s not really iced tea, you