Secrets in a Still Life, Kari Ganske [best fiction books to read .TXT] 📗

He clipped Fang to a lead by his desk and led me through a hallway toward the police station. I hated that he was mad at me. Besides Colleen, he was my only friend here in Piney Ridge. I couldn't even count my parents or Nana K because, as my family, they were obligated to like me.

I decided to let it go for now since the anxiety of being near Chief Duncan was already making my tummy hurt.

To add insult to injury, being here was my own stupid idea. Since I wanted authentic, personal shots, photographing the police officers in their environment made sense. In addition to Becky, I would also have the other police deputy and Chief Duncan as models today. I hoped Detective Spaulding hadn't told the chief about the locket yet. Wishful thinking.

The humane society provided another dog and a few more cats for the day's shoot. I could hear the scrambling of claws before we even crossed the threshold into the station.

Becky, one of the 9-1-1 operators, was first. I set up the shot at her desk. Becky chose a cat for her companion. Like most cats, this one made a beeline for the keyboard. I got a great shot of Becky laughing as she lifted the furry adventurer off the desk.

Linc stayed true to his word and coaxed Becky into conversation about Missy. Her face turned to stone at the mention of Missy's name, but Becky mentioned she'd been in Virginia with her sister all weekend. Nowhere near the reservoir. Cross another suspect off the list.

I tried not to be offended when Linc was his normal, jovial, fun-loving self with everyone else. He reserved his steel stare for me. And it wasn't only anger—disappointment laced every sigh before he answered my direct questions. Was he really that mad at me for wanting to know about the case? Wouldn't he want to try to figure out the mystery if he were one of the prime suspects?

I mulled it over as we walked to Chief Duncan's office. I didn't realize my steps had slowed until Linc called, "Stop dragging your feet," from a few feet ahead of me. To say I dreaded this was the understatement of the month. I was half tempted to pass my beloved camera off to Linc and wish him luck as I ran for the hills. If the thought of passing my expensive camera to anyone else didn't give me automatic hives, I absolutely would have.

I didn't want to show the chief I was rattled, so at the door, I gave myself a little shake and squared my shoulders. Linc looked down at me, his eyes softer than they had been all day.

"You okay?" he asked in a moment of cease-fire. "We can postpone until after the investigation if you want."

"No," I squeaked. Then cleared my throat and said more definitively, "No. I'm okay. I can't keep hiding from my problems."

"Okay," he said. "I'll do the talking. You just point and shoot."

I scowled at him behind his back as he rapped his knuckles on the office door. So many people diminished my profession to "just point and shoot." I didn't think Linc was one of those people, but he was full of surprises lately.

I pushed my frustration aside as the door opened. Chief Duncan's girth took up the doorway and spilled over behind the edges. He wiped crumbs from his shirt as he said, "Come on in. Let's get it over with."

We followed him into the room.

"Thanks for taking the time today," Linc said.

"I still don't understand why we have to do it here and not in our usual spot," he said, looking at me.

"This tells your story better. The chief of police busy at work in his office. The humane society even brought a German shepherd to be your companion."

The chief harrumphed, but I could tell he was pleased.

"Where do you want me?" he asked.

"Standing behind your desk. We'll sit the dog beside you. Your certificate frames will be the backdrop," I explained. The dog handler came in then. I repeated my request, and the dog sat by the chief's feet.

I snapped a couple of safety shots, then suggested Chief Duncan interact with the dog a little. His chair gave a little groan of protest when he plopped back down in it. I got a rare smile from him as the dog put two paws on his lap and panted into his face. Chief Duncan rubbed the dog's ears and neck while I snapped away from several angles. Fortuitously, the dog even covered some of the chief's weight.

When we finished, Linc walked out with the dog handler, leaving me alone with Chief Duncan. I could have cut the awkwardness with a knife.

"Thanks again for agreeing to pose for me. I hope you're pleased with the final shots," I said, one hand on the doorframe.

"Listen here, Ms. Lightwood," Chief Duncan started, the smile now vanished from his rotund face. "Spaulding might think you're innocent, but your lost-little-girl act doesn't work on me. Finding that locket is a little too convenient. I've got my eye on you, Alex. You'll make a mistake sometime, and I'll catch you."

I almost said, "Where is your other eye pointed?" but caught myself just in time. Instead, I said, "I hope you find the killer, Chief Duncan. And I will also expect an apology when you finally realize it wasn't me."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 24

 

 

 

Driver Improvement Program. More like Naughty Driver School.

According to the pamphlet I received when I registered, this program was usually assigned to people who accumulated over five points on their license or were driving egregiously. I'd barely driven my car at all during the last decade. And hitting the sign wasn't even really my fault—I'd been startled by the