Evelyn David - Sullivan Investigations 01 - Murder Off the Books Read Free Page B

intervention but a little nervous about working at O’Herlihy’s. The owner had a wild reputation–or at least wild for a funeral home director. Last year one of his funerals made the front page of a national newspaper. It was a graveside service that had ended in a family brawl when the client climbed out of the casket and declared the whole thing an April Fool’s joke. The only ones who found the stunt funny were the client and the funeral home director. Oh, well, at least the pay was better than what she’d been making. She’d just have to learn how to lighten up a little bit or maybe keep her office door locked.
     

Chapter 3
     
    “Mrs. Brenner, are you okay? Do you have any idea of who broke into your house? Did they have guns?”
    Her mile-a-minute interrogator was Carrie Taylor, teenaged friend of her son, part-time college student, and a part-time cosmetologist. Rachel smiled. Carrie had more earrings than common sense and changed her hair color as often as her underwear, although the purple streaked bangs were generally a constant. Carrie had earned her cosmetology license the year before and was using it to help pay for college.
    Carrie had shown up before Rachel had even settled into her new chair. The teen had brought in sub sandwiches and sodas from the nearby deli, to celebrate their new jobs and to find out the scoop on Rachel’s break-in.
    “Yes, no, and I doubt it,” Rachel answered before she took a large bite. The lack of breakfast had caught up with her.
    “And…I meant to say earlier….” Carrie mumbled the rest of her sentence, her mouth full of tuna on wheat.
    “What?”
    The teen swallowed. “There are two cops–detectives–outside talking to some woman who has to be a hundred if she’s a day. Is that the legendary Myrna Bird? She was gone the day I met Mr. O’Herlihy. Anyway they were asking about you, the cops, not Ms. Bird.”
    Rachel set down her sandwich and repeated her previous question, “What?”
    “There are two cops out there,” Carrie nodded at the closed door. “The young one’s kind of hot. But the old one reminds me of my Dad on a bad day. Think they cracked the case already or are you in some kind of trouble?”
    “I have no idea,” Rachel admitted, getting to her feet. “But I better find out. And you’d better get back to work.”
    “Hey, I already handled a client–a living one.” Carrie giggled. “Can O’Herlihy’s arrange a funeral for a pet? Wonder if I need a separate license to do dog shampoos?”
     
    ***
     
    “Good morning. I’m Rachel Brenner. Can I help you?”
    “I’m Tom Atwood.” The young African-American detective flashed his badge. “And this is my partner, Eddie Gorden.” The older, white officer nodded in acknowledgment.
    “Is this about the break-in last night? Did you find out who did it?” Rachel crossed the room and stood behind her new desk.
    “What break-in?” Atwood asked.
    “My house. Someone broke into my house last night. If you’re not here about that….” Rachel’s voice drifted off. “There was glass every–”
    “Do you know Daniel Thayer?” the older cop interrupted, his obvious lack of interest in her break-in confusing.
    “Know him?” Rachel’s voice rose. “Of course I know him. He’s my brother.” She looked frantically from one policeman to the other. “Did something happen to Dan?”
    “We want to ask Mr. Thayer some questions,” the older cop said, his tone a warning that trouble was ahead.
    “About what?” Rachel’s brain began trying to make sense of the situation. The cops weren’t here about the burglary. Something else had happened, something involving her brother.
    “There’s been an incident at Concordia College,” Atwood said.
    “That’s…that’s where Dan works,” Rachel said softly, sinking into her seat. “What kind of incident?”
    “What does your brother do at the college?” Gorden asked, ignoring Rachel’s question.
    “He’s assistant comptroller.