Room for Murder - Tim Myers [6]
Alex and Mor walked out onto the porch as the squad car approached. Emma and Elise had declined to join them. Just as well, Alex thought. There would be plenty of time for questions later.
Alex saw the sheriff’s cousin and Canawba County’s chief forensics expert, Irene Wilkins, in the front seat beside Armstrong. She must have had an opening in her schedule as Elkton Falls’ resident beauty parlor operator. Irene was no lightweight when it came to crime scene investigation, she’d won several awards for her forensic work, but it was the fact that she kept Armstrong in line that Alex admired most about her. One “Ducky” from her, and all the puffed hot air shot right out of the sheriff. Irene was definitely not a book to be judged by its cover. Looking at her teased hair and listening to her brash manner, it was sometimes too easy to forget that she’d aced every class she’d taken in forensics, and was building up such a strong reputation that even many of her peers were grudgingly calling her in to consult on some of their tougher cases.
Armstrong shut off his lights and siren as he pulled up beside Mor’s truck, now deserted in the field that had served as overflow parking behind the Main Keeper’s Quarters. Alex and Mor reached them just as Armstrong’s door opened.
The sheriff said, “Doc Drake’s on his way,” as he heaved himself out of the cruiser. Armstrong’s steady politicking at Buck’s Grill was apparent from his massive girth.
“Hello, boys,” Irene said as she collected her investigation kit from the backseat of the squad car.
Armstrong asked Mor, “First thing I need to know is, did you move or touch anything?”
Mor said tersely, “It’s my truck, Armstrong. My fingerprints are bound to be all over it.”
Armstrong said, “Don’t get your tail in a knot, Pendleton, I need to ask these questions. Now let me ask you again, did you touch the body or anything around it?”
Mor said, “I pulled him back to see if he was still alive. He was colder than January when I touched him, though.”
Armstrong nodded toward the body. “And you said you recognized him right off the bat?”
“I told you on the phone, I’ve never seen him before in my life,” Mor said. “When Emma told me who he was, I didn’t believe her at first.”
Armstrong nodded as Irene joined them with her video camera. There was no nonsense in Irene’s voice as she said, “Excuse me, gentlemen, but I need some room to work. After I shoot the video, I want to take some Polaroid shots, then I’ll get down to the close work.”
As the three men stepped well away from the vehicle,
Armstrong said, “I’m going to need to talk to Emma Sturbridge. Either of you have any idea where she’s at?”
Mor blocked the way back to the building. “Hang on a second. She’s just had a real shock. Give her some time to get herself together, will you?”
Armstrong shook his head. “I’m going to do my best not to upset her, Mor, but it’s real important I talk to her as soon as I can.”
“I said you’re going to have to wait.” There was steel in Mor’s voice as he stood his ground.
Armstrong took a deep breath, then said, “You need to think long and hard about interfering with this investigation, Mor. Now I know better than anybody that the two of us have never really gotten along, but that doesn’t rightly matter at the moment. I’ve got a job to do, and I’m going to do it; you can bet your last hat on that.” Armstrong paused, looked hard into Mor’s eyes, and added, “It can go hard on you if you mess with me. I’m not trying to throw my weight around here, but I am going to speak with her, whether you like it