The Season of Killing by Leigh Mayberry (top romance novels .TXT) 📕

Before Meghan answered him, the phone for public works rang. It gave her a start because it was late, and the added bells for the landline were loud. She picked up the phone before the second ring.

“Chief Sheppard,” she said.

“Yeah, see, now that I believe,” Anderson said.

“Are you calling so late because you’re coming to town and need someone to pick you up at the international airport out here?” she asked jokingly.

“I don’t think you need me out there.” She heard paper shuffling on his end of the line. “I wanted to let you know we got a hit on the ATM in Noorvik Sunday around two in the afternoon.”

“What do you mean?” She looked at Lester. Eric and Lester weren’t part of the call because the landline didn’t have a speakerphone.

“Someone tried accessing Hilma Fisher’s ATM card. They made a few attempts before the machine canceled the transaction. I guess most banks have machines that claim the cards. The one out there is more like a card reader at a gas pump.” Anderson cleared his throat. “Barbara McKenzie contacted the bank regarding her mother’s accounts.”

Meghan liked hearing that because it meant the woman was proactive about the situation. Eric had the ME send Barbara her mother’s death certificate. It gave her full access to her mother’s bank account. Curiosity motivated a lot of people. Money made people sit up and take notice.

“So, the bank sent AST an alert about the fraudulent use of the ATM. Did they get a picture of the person trying to make the withdrawal?” Meghan asked.

Anderson chuckled. “Yeah, I forwarded you the picture in your email when they sent it to robbery. You’re going to love it.”

While Meghan wedged the phone receive against her cheek and shoulder, she opened the laptop and logged on. She saw the picture, a black and white still capture from the ATM camera at the store. She turned the screen facing Lester and Eric.

It showed a mask. The type and style of neoprene mask everyone used in the cold. The person wore black wraparound sunglasses and a black knit ski cap. It was the kind of attire someone needed to disguise their face while failing to access a dead woman’s bank account. It was impossible to tell whether or not the person was male or female.

“So, all that for a $100 limit,” Eric said.

Meghan nodded. “Well, thanks for the heads up. We’ll go to the store tomorrow to see if anyone saw the masked robber using the ATM.”

“Are you having any luck with a suspect?” Anderson asked.

It was Meghan’s turn to chuckle. “We’ve narrowed it down to nine suspects.”

“Next, you’ll be telling me they all took turns killing the lady while traveling on a train.”

“Was that a literary reference out of you, Greg?” Meghan asked.

“Hey, just because I’m a stupid cop, doesn’t mean I can’t read. Out of those nine, did you flag Willie Ortega?”

“Yes.”

“Well, he’s got a bench warrant out of Anchorage for missing a court date. He appeared for a minor consuming alcohol when he was fourteen. But he didn’t complete the alcohol-based education program ordered by the court.”

“You know he’s twenty-three now, right?” she asked.

“It doesn’t mean the bench warrant expired on the books. The others have a few more MCAs. It seems like any contact with the people from your list has to do with booze and not violence,” Anderson said. “The rest of them are clean. Still no word on the search warrant, but I doubt anyone is in a hurry to review it. You probably will find another legal way to deal with what’s on your plate anyway.” Their professional relationship strengthened over the years. Anderson trusted in Meghan’s abilities more than he expected before their first contact regarding a case. Over the years, he saw her as his long-distance law enforcement partner. Though Meghan knew he liked the idea of it being a little more than that.

“Well, if you hear something, let us know,” she said.

“Yeah, good luck, Meg.”

“Thanks.”

She hung up the phone. Meghan had no intention of arresting Willie for not complying with court-ordered treatment. It wasn’t even in the back of her mind.

Meghan found the phone number to Linda Franks’ house. She dialed and waited for someone the answer.

“I’m sorry to call so late,” Meghan said. “This is Meghan. I need to talk to—”

“Hang on, and I’ll get Barbara.” Linda Franks wasn’t a fan of Meghan. She didn’t know if it had to do with her carrying a badge. Or that bad influences implicated her daughter in something unforgivable.

“Hello,” Barbara said.

“Listen, I’m sorry to call so late. We got a call that someone tried accessing your mother’s account on Saturday. It was an attempt, and they didn’t get anything. Did you get in touch with the credit union regarding your mother’s accounts?”

“Yes, they had me send the death certificate directly from the medical examiner’s office to the main branch in Anchorage.”

“You’re not obligated to tell me, Barbara, but did you find out how much money your mother had in her account?”

Barbara didn’t speak for a little while. Meghan heard a fussy baby crying in the background. She didn’t want to think the phone woke up the child.

“Mom has two accounts. The tellers used to deal with her over the phone because mom didn’t use online banking. If she wanted the money transferred from the savings account into the checking account, she called for the transactions. My mother had $3200 in her checking account. And $56000 in her savings account.”

“No one has access to that money except you now, right?”

“I guess so.”

“Do what you need to secure the account. Have the ATM cards canceled if the bank hasn’t already done it. Thank you, Barbara. If we find out anything more, I’ll let you know.” She