The Glass Cat: A Detective Kevin Fowler Mystery Page 3
“Yes?”
“Miss Harper. Do you remember her? Retired English teacher taught most of the kids in town?”
The chief indicated he did know.
“Nephew of hers has been bugging her, trying to get custodial care. Tried to have her declared incompetent to take care of herself. Failed. Judge threw it out. But Harper didn’t give up, it seems.”
The chief punched an intercom and asked for two cups of coffee.
“Neighbors found him dead at the foot of the stairs. We found both pockets stuffed full of a wad of money and several pieces of the old lady’s jewelry. Must have taken it by force. She was pretty banged up, but doc says she’ll pull through.
“Neighbors heard the ruckus, came in, and called the medics. Wilson, the kooky writer, had heard a male voice yelling at Miss Harper earlier so he went and got Miss Michelin from next door to come and check on her.
“That’s a wrap, then? Accidental death from a fall down the stairs? Sounds like he deserved it.” The chief got up, walked to the window, and back again.
“I remember Miss Harper myself. Gentle lady, never hurt a fly.” He poured sugar in his coffee from a packet on his desk.
“Well, he did deserve it, but that kooky writer says that house was full of cats and it’s his theory that a cat tripped the thief up.”
“So? What kind of cat did she have?”
“None, at least not a live one. Eddie and Jill say the house was full of cats, but they were china—porcelain ones. The writer swears he’s allergic to cats and saw a live one. Says it bothered his allergies even though he’d had a shot earlier.”
“He seem like a stable individual to you?” his boss asked skeptically.
Kevin nodded slowly. Man seemed quite normal if a bit stuffed up.
“What was the cause of death?”
“Broken neck.”
“I say let’s leave it right there.” The chief sipped his coffee and glanced out the window.
“Only one peculiar thing that doesn’t add up, not that it particularly changes anything,” Fowler said, rubbing his chin.
The chief, well aware Fowler hated loose ends, asked, “What’s that?”
“Coroner’s report ruled the death accidental. He also said Neal Harper’s pants at the ankles were covered with animal hair—probably cat.” He paused, looked out the window, and rubbed the bridge of his nose before continuing. “Orange cat.”
Chief McCall flashed a startled expression before resettling his usual bland mask over his face. Silence between the two stretched as they contemplated this information. The scent of old coffee, tired leather shoes, and dusty filing cabinets lingered in the still air.
“Probably had it on him before he got there,” the chief offered as Fowler nodded thoughtfully, staring down at the frayed cuffs on his pants.
“Yeah. A person, especially a clumsy man with his pockets loaded with goodies he stole from a nice, elderly lady, can pick up cat hair anywhere.”
“Accidental death. Close the case.” The chief stood up in dismissal.
Fowler nodded and left the room.
Some things were better left alone and unsaid.
As he reentered his own office, he noticed out the window the pretty, young artist and the visiting writer holding hands as they hurried down the sidewalk to share a ride, probably on the way to the hospital to check on their mutual neighbor.
Fowler sat down to write up his report. Who was he, after all, to question justice in whatever form it manifested?
Read more about Detective Fowler in the full-length cozy mystery novels, MURDER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD and MURDER IN THE JUNKYARD
MURDER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
A killer is attacking respectable citizens in picturesque Hubbard, NY, and leaving corpses on their front steps in the middle of the day. Detective Fowler isn’t certain who causes him to lose the most sleep, a certain sexy reporter with bouncing curls and sparkling black eyes, or the elusive psychopath creating panic in his small-town community. Together, the detective and the reporter race to find the monster in their midst and return the town to the desirable place where people come to raise their families in peace and contentment. Can they sort through their differences to find romance even as they search for a determined stalker with murder on his mind? The clock ticks down on a man in a rage with a deadly mission.
Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/natu6co
MURDER IN THE JUNKYARD
Detective Kevin Fowler is furious that low life has targeted his town where people live in blissful safety. Brenda Bryant is out junkin’ for good things when she stumbles over the grotesque body of a man beloved by no one. Suspense heats up when large sums of money are found in two different places. Drug money is suspected and Brenda targeted by someone who wants the money returned. Detective Fowler faces surprise after surprise as he peels back the surface of Hubbard, New York and deals with its shocking underbelly. Meanwhile romance infiltrates the group of friends with a wedding in the making.
Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/o2c5szd