"Kiser, Marcia - Some Like It Hot" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kiser Marcia)

Jimmy Bob slowed to turn on my lane. "So, now, you're saying Cody coulda killed her?"

"Jimmy Bob, when you get right down to it, between jealous men and old girl-friends, half the county could have killed her, but I'm not saying one particular person did. I just thought you should know Cody threatened her."

He let the car roll to a stop and turned off the engine before opening his door. He came around and opened my door. And people say gallantry is dead.

"Is there something else, Jimmy Bob?"

"Well, as a matter of fact, Fiona, there is. I thought I'd wait while you get cleaned up and we could talk."

I shrugged and headed toward the back porch. All I really cared about was a hot bath.

*****

Thirty minutes later, dressed in my ratty robe, the one with the deep big pockets, as I walked downstairs I patted my pocket to make sure the bulge from my .22 wasnТt noticeable. I normally keep it in my nightstand drawer next to the throat lozenges and tissues, but I felt better having it with me. Daisey Mae getting killed had me powerful upset.

I sat down at my kitchen table in front of a piece of my apple pie Jimmy Bob cut for me. As hungry as I was, I was more curious about what he wanted. It wasnТt like Jimmy Bob to hang around and I was beginning to get a bad feeling. I pushed the plate back and folded my arms on the table.

"You wanted to talk, so talk."

Jimmy Bob reared back in the chair and propped his knee against the table. "Why are so getting so involved in this, Fiona?"

"What on earth do you mean?"

He stared at me. I stared back and wondered who'd break first.

"Fiona, level with me. Tell me what the hell is going on."

"I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about." I picked up a fork and twirled it through my fingers.

"Well, let me tell you what I see, okay?" he drawled. "I see an old friend of mine taking her car to Tiny for the first time in memory to get it checked out -- nothing specific, just checked out. Which just happens to put you walking to your shop on the one day we just happen to have a dead body show up in the park. And then, after telling all the ladies in town what you found and what you think, you trot over to my office and start dropping names like rollcall at boot-camp, all the while claiming to just want to help, acting like Ms. Injured Private Citizen when I ask you what you're up to."

"What are you trying to say, Jimmy Bob?"

Jimmy Bob set his chair on the floor and stood up. He pulled his cap down and hitched up his belt. That's when I noticed he was wearing his sheriff's belt, complete with his service revolver.

"Well, Fiona, I'm really sorry, but I'm saying I'm placing you under arrest for the murder of Daisey Mae Ratliff. You have the right to remain silent. You. . ."

"Have you gone completely crazy, Jimmy Bob? Has the heat fried what little brains you have?"

"Cut the shit, Fiona!" Jimmy Bob slammed his fist on the table. "You set this whole thing up. You killed her."

"Me? Kill one of my employees? A nice, middle-aged widow like me? You've gone off the deep-end, Jimmy Bob."

The Jimmy Bob I stared at was not the boy I'd shared beer and barbeque with. I was looking at a stranger.

"May be you didn't notice what direction I was coming from when I found you in the ditch. I was coming from your house."

"You said Tiny called you." I felt a prickle of sweat on my back.