Final Act by Dianne Yetman (best free ebook reader .TXT) 📕

Andrew stood by the heavy drapes drawn across the window looking at Kate talking with the large women who spent most of her time standing by the food table.  He strolled over, introduced himself and joined the conversation.  He lucked out when Jeffrey’s son came to speak with the two preachers.  He was alone with Sgt. Kate.

“Would you like a cup of coffee (back rub, ear nibbled, sleep over)”, he asked.

“No, thanks”, Kate said.  “Excuse me; I was on my way to speak with Catherine.”

He sighed and feasted his eyes on the untouchable as she made her way to say good-bye to the widow.  Why the hell do I bother to torture myself, he wondered?  I’m a damn suspect and she’s a cop but, oh, such a delectable cop.

An hour later the room started to empty.  June helped the staggering Charlotte to James’ car.

“Thanks so much, June,” Charlotte said, “I do appreciate your assistance.  Rather appropriate, don’t you think, my hair and makeup assistant giving me assistance.” She laughed loud and long.  James rolled his eyes at June as Charlotte hoisted herself into the front seat.

Witnessing the impact Big Daddy and Big Mama made on the two front tires, June turned her head, waved to a departing mourner, then leaned in the window and gave the tee-totalling James a quick kiss, waved a good-bye to an oblivious Charlotte and walked to the nearest bus stop.

Kate and Hanya stood together on the front door step.  “So did you drop the net in hopes of catching a killer”, Kate asked.

“No, I decided it wasn’t appropriate.  Today was for paying tribute to Jeffrey Stone and his life.”

“Good choice.  Leave the rest to us.”

She gave Kate a kiss on the cheek, said goodbye, and promised to repent of her lie later.  She had dropped her bombshell in every ear except Kate’s and Catherine’s.

“Can I give you a lift”, Kate asked.

“No, I think I’ll head over to the office.  It’s only a ten minute walk from here.”

Kate stood and watched her friend leave.  She grabbed her keys out of her purse, lowered her head to hide the tears, and walked to the car.  Weaving her way in and out of traffic, she made her way to the precinct.  Having shied away from the buffet table and nothing in her tummy since breakfast this morning, she was ravenous.

Leaving her car in the underground parking lot, she headed for Toni’s Deli.  A place avoided by all on or off on duty police.  She had no choice.  After all, it’s impossible to screw up a ham and swiss cheese sandwich.

She was wrong.  She tossed the 3 day old sandwich in the garbage and reached for her stash of jelly beans.  Roger opened the office door, stuck his head in and asked her if she wanted anything to eat.  He and Withers were going downtown to Ernie’s Pizza.

Her response was a loud “yes”.

She pulled out the folder containing all the copies of interviews conducted to date.  There has to be something buried somewhere, some small clue that could break the case wide open.

She stopped reading long enough to eat her delivered pizza.  The thoughts of last night running through her head curbed her appetite.  She forced herself to keep eating.  The talk about their relationship had been painful for both her and David but she stuck to her guns.  They agreed to take a break, he hopeful of reconciliation that wasn’t going to happen.  He left as soon as they agreed on the temporary halt.  The sight of his bowed head as he walked out the door hurt her.  Life sucks, she thought, as she hurled the half eaten pizza in the garbage.

She refocused on the files.  Forty minutes later, she stumbled across an interesting piece of information.  Eleanor had mentioned the death of her teenage daughter but she didn’t mention that she may have been under the influence of drugs while driving the car.  She had been prescribed anti-depressants by a doctor and there had been no restriction against operating a motor vehicle while taking the drug. Still, Kate thought, youth, drugs, and car accident - a lethal combination.  Was it more than an accident? It was something to explore.

She looked over at Roger who had just hung up the phone. He spoke before she had a chance to.

“Report’s in from the taxi driver who had picked up the mysterious passenger outside the theatre.   The guy can’t say if it was a man or woman, hat pulled down to eyes, no hair visible, talked in a low, monotone voice, said it reminded him of an actor’s voice, whatever that’s supposed to mean.  The passenger asked to be dropped off by the bus terminal building in Dartmouth, didn’t say another word, threw a $20 bill at him, and left.  The last thing he saw was his passenger climbing the long hill up towards the intersection.”

“Is it a residential area?”

“Once you get past the intersection. We’re dealing with a very crafty mind, Kate.  We can’t be sure if the perp even lives in Dartmouth and we don’t know if it’s a he or she.”

“He or she will slip up and we’ll be waiting.”

She pulled out the sheet of information on Eleanor’s daughter but Roger was standing.  “I’m off to talk with the research scientist at the Darmouth hospital about hydrogen cyanide.  I want as much information about it as possible before speaking with Donald Sutton.  I’ll grab a bite then I’m off to turn the screw a little tighter on Henry Ward.  He’s hiding something and I need to pop him.  I’ll be back to the precinct tonight, not sure when.”

“Okay.  I’ve found something that needs looking into.  I’ll tell you about it tonight.  I’m meeting with one of the theatre’s Board members to look at his personnel record.  I’ve set up a time to speak with the New York Producer who worked closely with Jeffrey Stone for the past ten years