Fixin' To Die (A Kenni Lowry Mystery Book 1) Read Free Page A

going to keep the rest of Cottonwood safe?”
    “This is Finn Vincent of the Kentucky Reserve Unit.” I gestured toward Finn. He stood with his hands clasped in front of him. “He is here to assist until we figure out what we are going to do about filling that deputy position.”
    Edna’s brows furrowed. “And exactly how will you be assisting?” Edna wasn’t going to let the questions stop there, but I was.
    “Thank you, Edna.” I smiled politely. “We will let you know when we have further information.”
    “Is there a killer among us?” she yelled out.
    I turned and headed back into the house, hoping that when I came back out the crowd would be gone, along with Edna Easterly.
    “I can’t believe we have a serial killer in Cottonwood.” Toots began to sob all over again.
    “Whoa.” I put my hands out. “Who said anything about a serial killer?”
    Toots let out a little sniff and shrugged.
    “Let’s not go packing tales where there is no tale to pack.” The last thing I needed was a town full of gun-carrying people looking for a reason to shoot someone. I pointed to the stack of files. “Does your desk always look like this?”
    “No.” Toots shook her head. “It was like this when I got here. Sterling was outside in shock. The look on his face is forever stained on my brain.” She sucked in a deep breath and slowly let it out as if she were calming herself. Her voice quivered. “I asked him what was wrong and he could only point. When I came in, I saw this and ran back to Doc. Then I called Betty. Now here you are.”
    I pulled the notepad and pen from the breast pocket on my shirt and flipped it open.
    “Is this like one of them formal statements you see on the TV?” she asked, curling up on her toes to get a look at my notepad.
    “I’m just making notes,” I said to Toots, scribbling her recollection of her morning events.
    I turned toward Finn. “Can you ask the gentleman in the Henley shirt on the porch to come inside?” There was no need for Sterling Stinnett to hang around. I’d get him questioned and get him on his way.
    Finn walked to the door and did what I asked, coming back in with Sterling trailing behind him.
    “Sterling.” I waved him over. “Did you have an early appointment with Doctor Walton?”
    “Nah.” He shook his head. “I needed a refill on my blood pressure prescription and Doc told me to come on out when I needed it filled. I like to get here early so I can beat the heat since I have to walk.”
    Sterling Stinnett was sort of a drifter around Cottonwood. He had a small cement-block home with the bare necessities to live. He did odd jobs for homebuilders and some grass-cutting for the elderly.
    “I knocked on the door. He usually greets me with a cup of hot coffee, but not today.” He looked down at his boots and scuffed his toe on the floor. He said in a low voice, “After a few minutes, I let myself in and hollered for him.”
    “What time was it?” I asked, wondering how much earlier he’d gotten there before Toots.
    “It was about ten minutes before Toots showed up. I was outside getting sick to my stomach after I saw Doc lying there in all that blood.”
    His eyes drooped, his face hollow.
    “Did you touch anything while you were in here?” I asked.
    “I called out his name to see if he would respond.” He shook his head. “When he didn’t, I walked over and bent down over him. That’s when I saw all them puncture marks in his neck and I knew he was dead.”
    “I’m going to need you to come down to the station and give a statement for the record and get some fingerprints taken,” I told Sterling. “Maybe Wyatt can give you a ride. You can wait outside and I’ll ask him.”
    Sterling hung his head and walked out the door. I had more questions for Toots.
    “What time did you get here?” I asked Toots, trying to establish a timeline.
    “It was around six forty-five.” She nodded her head as though she was confirming it to herself.