Read Carolyn Arnold - McKinley 01 - The Day Job is Murder for Free Online

long draw on her coffee mug. Peter leaned back in his chair and laced his hands over his abdomen. Sean came back to meet with Daphne’s eyes.
    “Mr. McKinley, Mr. Quinn didn’t just leave you something. He left you everything.” A large grin enveloped her face.
    “I’m not sure why he would do that.”
    Maybe this was going to be like his dad’s estate—a lot of messes to sort out and very little, if any, financial gain.
    “Well, Mr. Quinn didn’t have any family left. What he did have, was you.”
    “Me? I haven’t been that good of a friend in recent years. He was a great man and we had some good talks, but I’m afraid I let life interfere with seeing him as much as I would have liked.”
    “Mr. Quinn believed otherwise. In accord with his expressed wishes, please read this and then we will continue.” Daphne extended an envelope.
    He took it from her, while looking around the table at everyone. His mouth went pasty and dry. He licked his lips as he let his eyes settle on what he held. His heart thumped so rapidly, he feared it might jump out onto the table. His stomach cinched.
    He lifted the corner and ran a finger along the seal, glancing up. “Are you sure you have the right person?”
    The Grahams were passing glances at each other; the question seemed to have interrupted their silent dialogue. The other two kept watching him. It felt like they were sizing him up.
    Peter gestured toward him. “Please. There is no mistake.”
    Sean slipped a sheet of paper out and unfolded it. He looked up at them one more time before returning to examine the contents.

    The letter was handwritten and was signed by Quinn himself.

 

     
    It’s All Coming Together
     
    SARA HAD A FULL COFFEE mug in one hand and her other drummed impatiently against the desk as she waited for results to fill the screen. She needed to find out what had gotten Cunningham shot. Workmates and friends didn’t provide any insight into who may have wanted him dead. Most said he stuck to himself and was a quiet man who preferred evenings home watching television. Their lead to the killer had to be drug related.
    She drained back a mouthful of the brew, savoring its robust flavor. The stronger the coffee, the better. She wanted something that bit back.
    The computer beeped as results filled the screen. It included the most recent drug busts and aliases. Somewhere in this list was the person they were looking for, she sensed it. Typically, she was right about these things. She even had a dream last night that told her they would find the killer today. Not that she was psychic, but she had an ability, sometimes, to sense things. She termed it strong intuition based on the compilation of facts. She was determined to solve this case, so her mind fed her that as truth. That’s how she saw it anyhow.
    “Detective Cain?” Sergeant Voigt stood at the edge of her desk, a pen in his hand. “Where’s McKinley?”
    “He had an appointment. He’s expected back.” Sara glanced at the clock.
    Two fifteen.
    “Probably any minute. His appointment was at one thirty.”
    “You know Burton,” Voigt said.
    “Yes, but we had to cut him loose.”
    “Well, not soon enough. Seems he’s going after the department for being embarrassed at his place of work.” Voigt’s words carried reprimand but the curved edges of his mouth dampened the impact.
    “You’re kidding me? We did everything by the book, Jimmy.”
    “Sergeant Voigt.”
    “Yes, sorry.” Sara smiled at him. She loved reporting to Voigt and couldn’t imagine a better boss. He was tough when he needed to be, but also had an understanding and relaxed nature. It was the latter that lent itself to the periodic slip of his first name.
    “Anyway, Legal’s taking care of it, and it should be swept away quickly. Any more leads on the Cunningham murder?”
    “Working on it right now.”
    Voigt tapped the pen against his palm. “Wonderful. Let me know once you’ve got something.”
    “I will.”