Letters in Time by Reiss Susan (i love reading books .txt) 📕

I tried to steady my voice. “Good evening, detective. Let’s go into the living room.”

As I sat down, I noticed TJ's look of concern. I nodded and braced to hear bad news. "What can we do for you, Detective?"

"Well, ma'am, you both know that I'm investigating the incident at the Lone Oak. I was wondering if either of you might know where Josh Collins is?"

“I’m not surprised to hear his name,” TJ said. “When there is trouble, Josh is usually right in the middle of it. A bad seed is a bad seed.”

Bad seed made me remember the man named Joshua of long ago. “Why would you say that?” I asked.

"It is what it is." He shrugged. "When families have been in the same area for a long time, they intermarry and the kids often act like they own the place. They strut around like the entitled elite. Isn't that right, Craig?"

The detective grimaced. “Well, I wouldn’t want to put it like that. But I have to admit, it is a problem. So, have either of you seen him?”

I shook my head. “The only time I saw him was here at the Cottage.”

TJ shot out of the chair. “What was he doing here?”

“He showed up one day,” I began hesitantly, not sure why TJ reacted so strongly. “He said he wanted to welcome me to the neighborhood and make sure I was okay. He thought it could be unnerving for a city girl to be living alone here at Uncle Jack’s Cottage in the middle of nowhere.” I casually added, “He knew that Stephani had come by the Cottage. His sister is the library intern I’m working with, remember?”

TJ narrowed his eyes. “Was she here too?”

His reaction, of course, triggered a defensive response. "Yes, as a matter of fact but they didn’t come together. And when was I supposed to give you a list of everyone who comes to the Cottage?"

Detective Mason stepped in. "Okay, okay. You two can discuss that later. Ma'am, when did you see Josh?"

"I don't know, yesterday maybe? Why don't you talk to Stephani?"

“I have and she claims that she doesn’t know anything.”

Claims? There was more going on than I thought.

The detective pressed. “Did he say anything about where he was hanging out or tell you if he was leaving the county?”

"No, nothing like that," I answered him while I kept my eyes on TJ. "It was nothing long and involved. He showed up to say hello, introduced his friends, and left. That was it."

The detective followed up. “What friends?”

I scratched my head, trying to recall the details. “I only remember their funny nicknames, Tin Man and Toad, I think.”

The detective made a note while TJ sat down again. His body language of legs crossed away from me showed he was closing me out of the conversation. And he did.

“Craig, what have you got?”

“TJ, you know Josh. He’s always interested in getting the most for the least amount of effort. If there’s a get-rich-quick scheme, Josh is on it.”

I wasn’t going to let them shut me out. “He struck me as a bully masquerading as a regular guy.

“I wish I could confirm the real names of these boys,” He looked at his notes. “Tin Man and Toad.”

I closed my eyes, trying to call up the memory of that afternoon. "Tin Man was a thin young man, really thin, who looked like his hips could barely hold up his pants. His blonde hair was cut with weird bangs. He seemed to hang on every word the bully said."

The detective looked at TJ. “This Tin Man sounds like Donnie Sawyer.” TJ nodded in agreement.

I continued. “And the other young man was tall, had brown hair and deep dimples. He was the best-looking guy in the group. Why would they give him the ugly nickname, Toad?”

“Edward Ray, Jr. We know about him,” said the detective.

“I swear that kid would do anything to be with the cool guys,” TJ declared.

"Do you think he's the one who murdered the young man?" I was so surprised. "He didn't look the type." I looked down at my hands. "I guess there isn't a type or you could sweep up all the offenders and put yourself out of a job."

"You're right about that. I don't think the boy did it." The detective sighed. "He is like that comical character in the movies. He talks tough. You know, says the words, but you don't believe him. When it comes to doing something illegal, like trespassing on somebody's land, he gets nervous."

“Sounds like he’s earned the name Toad. All bluster, but happy to sit on his pad,” TJ said with a chuckle.

“I think he’s our snitch,” the detective said softly as if revealing a secret.

“Snitch?” I asked.

“The caller on the Tip Line,” Craig said. “I’d bet money that whoever called was there when the attack went down. I listened to the recording. The male tried to disguise his voice, but now that I think about it, it sounded a lot like Toad. I could see him calling the Tip Line to get help for Kid Billy. Leaving a friend out there under the tree bleeding must have upset him. I need to talk to him again and push harder.”

“So, is he a good guy or a bad guy?” I asked.

“He was a good kid, but he has taken up with some bad company,” TJ chimed in. “Josh is a bad seed. He wouldn’t hesitate to trespass on somebody’s land or something worse. He had one run-in with the law while he was a minor.” TJ frowned. “I don’t think