Devonshire Scream Read Free Page B

There’s nothing more to fear.”
    â€œBut did you
see
what happened?” Sabrina snuffled. “Did you see those horrible men hacking away at the glass cases?” She exhaled deeply. “And then that poor girl got killed.”
    Theodosia gently rubbed small circles on Sabrina’s back. “I saw the whole thing,” she said. “And it
was
awful.”
    â€œAwful,” Sabrina repeated. Then she pushed away and said, “I should go home. I should leave now.” Her tears seemed to have dried up. Now she was talking in a more matter-of-fact tone of voice.
    â€œI think the police want to interview everyone,” Theodosia said. “I’m sure any information you can give them would be of value.”
    Sabrina shook her head. “No, I don’t think I can do that.” Now she just seemed nervous.
    Theodosia grasped Sabrina’s elbow. “Let’s just go talk to one of these nice police officers, shall we?” She pulled Sabrina along. “Excuse me, Officer?”
    A bookish-looking uniformed officer with blond, brush-cut hair and a pair of wire-rimmed glasses glanced her way.
    â€œI have another witness for you to interview,” Theodosia said.
    â€œVery good,” the officer said, turning his attention to Sabrina. “I just have a few questions . . .”
    Theodosia backed away and studied the scene once again. Brooke was talking to Tidwell now. They were standing just inches from the crime scene tape that was draped around Kaitlin’s body. From the droop of Brooke’s shoulders and the despondent expression on her face, she was obviously relating her version of how the robbery had unfolded. Only her version wasn’t that of an innocent, shocked bystander. It was from the perspective of someone whose shop had been rudely invaded by masked gunmen and her niece brutally killed in the process.
    Theodosia shuddered. She knew Brooke must be completely devastated, though she seemed to be holding it together.
Amazing
, she thought. The inner strength of that woman.
    Tidwell had handed Brooke off to another investigator and was now headed in Theodosia’s direction. Theodosia squared her shoulders, preparing herself for a barrage of curt, no-nonsense questions.
    â€œWell,” Tidwell said. He beetled his bushy brows and peered at her, eyes bulging, chin tucked down. His feetwere spread wide apart in an almost confrontational stance. “What can you tell me?”
    â€œProbably not a lot more than you’ve already heard,” Theodosia said.
    Tidwell nodded abruptly. “Yes, yes, the black SUV, the devil masks, the wrecking of the glass jewelry cases, and of course . . .” His words halted abruptly and he jabbed his chin in the direction of two EMTs who hovered over Kaitlin’s body.
    â€œKaitlin,” Theodosia said. “Dead.”
    â€œKilled in a hail of shattered glass.” Tidwell shook his head. “Obviously a terrible accident.”
    â€œIf Kaitlin’s dead,” Theodosia said, “wouldn’t that constitute murder?”
    â€œA possible homicide, anyway,” Tidwell said.
    â€œBut if it was intentional? Then wouldn’t it be murder?”
    â€œWhy don’t we leave the technicalities to the district attorney?” Tidwell muttered. “I’m not here to prosecute anyone, only to solve the crime.”
    â€œTo apprehend the perpetrators,” Theodosia said.
    â€œI do understand what’s involved, Miss Browning. I have done this before.”
    â€œOf course you have,” Theodosia said.
    â€œNow. What can you tell me?” Tidwell asked. He held up a hand. “And before you say anything, there’s no need to rehash the story of the SUV crash. I’ve heard twenty versions already.”
    â€œPerhaps you’d like to hear some new information, then?” Theodosia said.
    â€œDo you have something new?”
    â€œI may have