Over Troubled Water: A Hunter Jones Mystery Read Free

need to start warming up to Sanders Beal and T.J. both. Show them how you’d be in the courtroom.”
    Hunter and Mallory both went to the briefing early that afternoon. The information, presented in the simplest terms, was stark.
    “At some time before seven a.m. today, four cyclists, all from Merchantsville, were shot as they crossed the bridge over Foxtail Creek on Sumter Road. Aaron Twitchell, a local resident, had been first at the scene and called 911 at approximately five minutes after seven.
    “Responders found three dead and one wounded.
    “Ricky Richards, the owner of the GetFit Gym and Health Club, was in stable condition at the Magnolia County Medical Center following surgery for two gunshot wounds to his right leg.
    “Annie King Chapman, 50, a widowed mother of two, Yoga teacher at GetFit Gym and Health Club, was found dead at the scene.
    “China Rose Jackson Carson 22, a receptionist at the Magnolia County Board of Education Office, married, was found dead at the scene.
    “James Everidge Jordan, 29, the Director of Planning for the City of Merchantsville, a native of Tarryville, Georgia, was found dead at the scene.
    “Investigators at the scene concluded that the shooter was on foot. No weapon has been found, but ballistics tests on the ammunition indicate that it was an assault rifle. A search is ongoing…”
    After it was over, Hunter talked to T.J. Jackson briefly. He was the chief investigator for the District Attorney’s office and a good friend of Sam’s.
    “He’s down there in the woods around the creek,” T. J. told her. “Better him than me. He’s shot one water moccasin already.”
    “Thanks for cheering me up,” Hunter said.
    After a hectic day of working with Mallory to pull stories together about the shooting victims, Hunter watched the media event again on television at six that evening.
    She was collapsed their big comfortable sofa with her 12-year-old stepdaughter, Bethie Bailey, cuddled at her side.
    They shared the sofa with two of their cats – Tuxedo and Marmalade—and their big German Shepherd, Flannery. The third cat, Katie Calico, was in her usual place on the back of Sam’s recliner, keeping an eye on all of them.
    “Miss Taneesha looked really sad,” Bethie said, scratching Flannery behind her ear. “But she looked pretty, too. I love her hair when she has those curls.”
    “You need to do your homework,” Hunter said to Bethie as she turned off the news.
    “At school, they were saying it was probably somebody crazy,” Bethie said. “And he might do it again. They said that if he came to our school we’d have to have a lock-down.”
    “Well, let’s just hope that he gets caught soon,” Hunter said.
    There was a knock on the back door. Flannery leaped off the sofa and ran to the door barking. Bethie ran to open it, and Hunter surprised herself by suddenly yelling, “Don’t you open that door until we know who it is.”
    It was Mallory with a backpack.
    “I thought you were at the City Council meeting,” Hunter said.
    “They adjourned after a half hour,” Mallory said. “They tabled a bunch of stuff because it was from Jim Jordan’s department. I did get some good comments about him, and”, she paused for dramatic effect. “The Sheriff of Magnolia County had his secretary text me and make an official request that I spend the night here in case he can’t make it home or has to leave during the night. Do you want to see what I texted back?”
    Hunter smiled and nodded.
    “Here it is,” Mallory said, looking at her phone. “Advise Sheriff assignment accepted, have watched ‘Call the Midwife,’ can deliver B.B.”
    Hunter and Bethie laughed. B.B. was the short version of Baby Bailey.
    “Well, I’m not planning to have the baby tonight, but I’m glad you’re here,” Hunter said. “I hope you don’t mind sleeping in the nursery. We’ve still got the bed in there, but it’s full of baby stuff.”
    They went upstairs and Mallory took one