HAMMERED (Mrs. Fix It Mysteries Book 1) Read Free

department, a paid operation, and the first-aid squad (strictly volunteer) had a building nearby.
    The noise hit Kate when she walked in. Phones rang. People talked. A few people yelled. They were all behind a glass partition, but the cacophony seeped out into the lobby. A petite blonde sat behind the partition, not smiling but waiting. She wore a uniform and had a large belly that made it hard for her to reach the phone on the desk. She’d answered when Kate first entered the lobby, and it had been a struggle.
    Guess she was on light duty. She looked ready to pop out that kid any minute. Kate shuddered, remembering how large she’d been with twins.
    “Can I help you?” the young woman said.
    Kate realized she had no idea who she was supposed to see. “I guess I’m here to see the chief.”
    “He’s still out. You can wait in the lobby.”
    “I’m supposed to make a statement about the thing he’s at.”
    The woman nodded. “I’ll see if someone else is here that can do that. Just have a seat.”
    Kate sat on furniture as comfortable as being stretched on a rack. Despite the bench looking like wood, she was sure it was made out of concrete. It held the chill of the air conditioning. She had her work overalls on, but they weren’t thick at all, so she felt the coolness on her butt. She was tempted to stand, but she’d been ordered to sit.
    Not that she couldn’t be a rebel, but she was off her game today.  Discovering a dead body will do that.
    “Miss?” the woman said finally.
    Kate stood and moved to the glass. “Yes?”
    “Detective Johnson will see you. When you hear the buzzing, push the door to your right open.”
    Something made an anemic buzzing sound. Kate pushed the door open. Inside, the noise was even louder. How did anyone work here? She was usually alone in her tasks, so she didn’t have office mates to shoot the breeze with. If there was noise, she made it with a power tool.
    She enjoyed the solitude. After years of two boys in the house, she liked the peace and quiet of working alone. This environment would never do and had more than once convinced her that she hadn’t been cut out for an office job.
    Detective Johnson, or Ken as she knew him, loped toward her. He was a long man. Long limbs, long neck, long body. Making the transition from Mr. Johnson to Ken had taken her years because she and his daughter, Carly, had been best friends since high school.
    He had brown hair and dull, brown eyes, which belied a quick mind. More than once, Kate and Carly thought they could get something past her father, but it hadn’t happened once. Most people underestimated him.
    Kate wondered if he was close to retirement, or did he never plan to leave the job? He’d been up for the chief of police job, but Scott had been given that. Did he hold any resentment? She hoped not.
    “Hi, Ken.”
    He didn’t hug or kiss her. He was obviously in cop mode. “Hello, Kate. Follow me.”
    She did as he led her past a maze of desks. She hadn’t realized that the Rock Ridge Police Department was that big. There were at least eight desks in the small room. All with at least one inhabitant.
    Ken led her to the back of the room to a smaller room. Probably for interrogation purposes since there was a mirror on one wall just like in the cop shows.
    “Have a seat. You need coffee?”
    “Yes.”
    She could drink coffee all day. Even right before bed. Though she didn’t hold out hope that this one would have much taste. Might have been in the pot all morning. Ken grunted then left her in the room.
    She sat, a chill going up her spine. Did she need a lawyer? She hoped not. She couldn’t afford one. If her business had been doing better, she might have been able to, but she’d only started in six months ago.
    It had taken her two months after the boys had left for college for her to figure out what she was good at.
    Ken came back in with the coffee.
    “Thank you. Do I need a lawyer?”
    “If you want one, we can