Read Too Much at Stake for Free Online Page B

shivered as she remembered the scene. It was as if cold fingers were running up her spine. She zipped up her black workout jacket a little farther and sat at the ancient wooden table in the sun.
What a circus it was after the discovery!
she thought. She sat down, poured herself her first cup—adding plenty of cream—and sighed as she replayed the events in her head.
    After we found the body—no! Not just a "body." It's a person, someone's son or husband—everything was such a blur of people and noise and lights. But Ruth arrived within an hour of the discovery.
    Just then, Ruth walked by the side deck with Sydney, her Australian sheepdog.
    "Hi, Ruth! Wasn't that just an awful scene?" Pat called out. Ruth waved, then walked up to the deck. As she approached, Pat asked, "How on earth did you get involved in that anyway? Bayfield isn't your usual territory."
    Ruth nodded. "Unfortunately for me, the coroner from Bayfield County is on a kayak trip out in the Apostle Islands and won't be available for another week or so." Ruth's reply was pleasant enough, but her eyes were filled with unanswered questions about why she had met Pat and Deb at yet another crime scene.
    "At l east I didn't go outside and throw up after seeing the body," Pat said, remembering the horror of the moment and shaking her head. "I wanted to, though. And what a good thing that LeSeur just happened to be on the scene. Is he going to stay involved in the investigation?"
    "Technically, it is not his beat," Ruth answered, "but Sal Burrows sure was glad that LeSeur was there. He readily admitted to me that he needs the help—welcomes it from his old boss at the Ashland P.D. But you should have seen the look he had when he told me that you and Deb were there too!" She laughed, remembering. "His face was celery-green!"
    "Can't really blame him," said Pat. "Since his only other murder investigation in his entire career had Deb and me woven into it like pieces in a rag rug." She sighed heavily. "I am just so exhausted. And I'm wondering what will happen now, after all that work getting the Tent ready for opening night. Do you think New First Night will happen on time?"
    "As far as I'm concerned, the on-site investigation is over. Of course, the building will be cordoned off, but that shouldn't be a problem," Ruth replied. "Now it's up to the crew to decide if they can pull off the first few shows."
    "I don't know much about the financing of that big tent, but I know they try to keep all expenses to a minimum and that every show counts," Pat said. "After all, that's why so many people like us volunteer to park cars and sell T-shirts or raffle tickets."
    "Oh, by the way, Pat," Ruth said. "My catching you like this has saved me a call—Linda and Forrest had asked me to call you."
    Pat's eyes widened in amazement. "Call me? Whatever for?"
    Ruth lowered her voice and explained, "This isn't public knowledge yet, but the body found in the canvas was Monty McIntyre."
    "Mac? Good Lord! How awful!"
    "Linda said that she and Forrest were sometimes members of the church you're serving. She would like you to help with some kind of service."
    Pat nodded woodenly, still a bit shocked. "How did you find out?"
    "ID in his pocket," Ruth replied.
    "Oh. Of course. But when can we expect to plan a funeral?" Pat inquired.
    "Well, it's going to be a while before the body is released. It's pretty clear that it wasn't an accident that killed Mac. I'll let you know when I know," Ruth said.
    "I'll give Linda a call, but if you talk to her before I do, tell her I'll be glad to help out in any way I can. The poor woman."
    Ruth's dog pulled impatiently on his leash. "I've got to get going, Pat. I have a lot of calls to make today. Talk to you soon."
    "See you later, Ruth," Pat said as her neighbor started toward home, with Sydney's stump of a tail waggling eagerly beside her.
    Pat shook her hair and then ran her fingers through it, as if she could shake off last night. She took another sip of