The Silent Boy (Emma McPherson Book 1) by A.J. Flynn (people reading books txt) 📕

them later on, but with newborns and bills piling up, never quite get around to it. However, the whole room had a cozy, lived-in look that was often missing from handsomer homes.

Marla pushed open the swinging door, carrying a tray. Karl hopped to his feet and took it off her hands.

“Why didn’t you call for help, sweetums? I would have carried it for you.”

“It’s not too heavy,” she snapped, and turning to McPherson, said, “I thought so long as we were keeping you up so late, you might like some coffee.”

Her tone was a bit more restrained this time around, and she seemed to have gotten herself under control, but for some reason McPherson sensed that the woman’s control could be turned on or off at will.

“That’s very kind of you, Mrs. Fitts,” she answered, not seeing any polite way to refuse.

Marla poured her a cup of coffee and offered her some cream and sugar, both of which she refused. “Coffee is a night duty officer’s lifeblood. Over time we learn to take it without the trimmings.”

Marla smiled lightly and nodded, and the three of them sat together sipping from their steaming mugs. Then she set her cup down abruptly and spoke.

“I should apologize for my behavior earlier, but this whole thing has me on edge. I simply can’t see how any normal sane person could kill a small child, especially one as quiet and well-mannered as Charlie.” As she spoke, she stood up and began pacing around the room.

“That’s one of the things I’d like to ask you. How well did you know Charlie, and can you think of any reason why someone would dislike him?”

The woman didn’t answer, and McPherson was beginning to think she might pace back and forth for the remainder of the interview, but finally she returned to her seat next to her husband.

“That’s what makes it so unbelievable. Charlie of all people… Why him?”

Karl took his wife’s hand in his, and said, “Let the Lieutenant ask the questions, dear. She knows what’s important.”

Marla freed her hand and ran it through her neck-length hair. “Of course. Sorry, it’s just that if you’d ever met Charlie, you would see how unlikely it is that anyone would want to murder him. He was such a shy quiet boy, you hardly even noticed he was around.”

“Did you know him well?”

A quizzical frown crossed her face. “You know, now that you mention it, I don’t think I did. He was a bit too old to play with my Teddy. I’ve spoken to him many times, however, like when he would stop by trying to sell tickets for a scout event—things like that. But now that I think about it, all I really knew about him was that he liked music. I had to listen to him practicing that violin until I thought I might go crazy.”

“When you talked to him,” McPherson asked, “did you ever notice anything about his character that might have irritated someone?”

“Heavens, no! He was so reserved you hardly even noticed him. Now, his brother, Seth—he’s the one who’s the troublemaker. Ted and Seth are closer in age so they play together, but they’re always getting into fights. I’ve told Teddy to stay away from that boy, but you know how they are…boys will be boys.”

“Can you think of any reason why Charlie might climb out the window, when he was supposed to be sleeping?”

“Maybe he lost something and went out to look for it,” Karl offered. “Last night was his scout meeting so he might have lost something.”

“It’s possible,” McPherson agreed. “His body was discovered close to the path he would have taken to go to the clubhouse.”

“Who found him?” Karl asked.

“A man from the other side of the woods. He was out walking his dog, and the dog found him.”

Marla shivered. “I still can’t get over it. Whoever did it must be out of their mind. Do you think it’s possible our children are in danger?” She jumped like she just heard a starting gun. “I better make sure Jade and Teddy are okay,” she cried as she hurried out of the room.

McPherson’s expression was questioning as she watched her go. She couldn’t quite tell how much of this woman’s behavior was real concern and how much was simple acting. She turned back to Karl.

“We don’t feel that there’s any cause for alarm. Take adequate precaution until we catch him, of course, but judging from what we now know, it looks as though Charlie either witnessed or heard something somebody didn’t want known. We still can’t say exactly what possessed him to climb out the window in the middle of the night. If it was to meet someone, it had to have been someone he knew well, and boys of that age seldom have associations with people who would be out at that time of night.”

“You mean like us?” Karl asked in sharp disbelief.

“I doubt he’d go out to meet a stranger,” McPherson observed mildly.

Neither of them had noticed Marla had returned and was now standing in the doorway, so both were surprised when she said firmly, “If it’s anybody around here, it’s Robb Johnson. He’s a drunk, and a fiend, and I don’t see how poor Colleen puts up with him.”

Karl’s face lit up with amazement. “Marla!” he remonstrated, “You can’t accuse a man of murder just because you don’t like him!”

“Yeah, well I don’t care,” the woman insisted. “Robb’s just the sort of person who would do a sick thing like that. The man’s always frightened me.”

It was startling, McPherson thought regretfully. Point the finger at anybody, so long as it isn’t on me or mine.

“We’ll look into everyone, Mrs. Fitts. I suppose there isn’t any more reason for me to trouble you tonight.” She pulled her card from her pocket and handed it to Karl. “Here’s my number. If you can remember anything else, it would be appreciated if you called me.”

“Just one more thing, Lieutenant,” Marla said eagerly, “my mother