Free A Classic Case of Murder: Detective Crime Mystery Suspense (Ben and Mark Detective Investigator Mystery Series) by Melinda Parker

Chapter One
    Mark and Ben walked to the car quickly, both opening their doors at the same time.
    “How long has it been since we’ve had a murder here in town, sir?”
    Mark set one hand on the top of the car and looked at the Sargent. “How long have you been with us, Keyes?” He asked. “We have had one per year since you got here. Should I be suspicious?” He grinned at Ben and lowered himself into the driver’s seat. Ben grinned, too, and slid into the passenger seat.
    “The report says the victim is a local hero of sorts.” The Inspector said, turning the wheel to pull out onto Main street. “Some kind of writer or something.”
    “Yes, she was.” Ben nodded. “She had several books out in the sci-fi genre. You’re not an avid reader, are you, sir?”
    Mark laughed softly. “That’s what I have you for, Keyes. You are the reader in this department.”
    “I beg to differ, sir, there are several other…”
    “Just tell me what you know about her, Keyes.” Mark prompted the Sargent.
    “Well, she has three books out in the sci-fi industry but she was also known for a string of children’s books. The topic of the books was squirrels.”
    “Squirrels.” Mark repeated. “Okay. What else.”
    “Yes, the characters in the children’s books were squirrels. Anyway, there were, I think, seven in that series? She was published young, I believe she’s in her early thirties with her first book having come out when she was just nineteen years old.”
    “That is young.” Mark mumbled. “What else?”
    Ben Keyes took out his notebook and began flipping through it. “Looks like she lived alone, never married, has a sister who is married and several small dogs. If she had a boyfriend, we will have to find out from her sister.”
    “And they are the ones who found her?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “All right, Keyes, let’s see what we can find out about this murder.”
     
    They pulled off the side of the road when they were close to the scene of the discovery. There were flashing lights everywhere, as officers kept the flowing traffic from interfering with the scene. The ambulance was there, the back doors open, waiting to receive the body once it was extracted from the car.
    Mark stepped out of the car, his hand reaching back to extract his ID. He didn’t need to, the police officers that were on the scene knew who he was. He scanned the group, naming them off in his head. They were a good group and would be of use to him. He looked over at the Sargent. “First we will look in the car and the victim, then you can question the sister and brother-in-law.”
    “Me, sir?”
    Mark nodded. “Yes, I think that’s a good idea for this crime. You seem to know more about the victim than I do. Perhaps you’ll think of questions I don’t.”
    “All right, sir.”
    “That doesn’t mean I won’t be asking something if I think of it.”
    “I understand, sir.”
    They walked to the car, lifting the police tape and going under it. The officers that were there nodded at them and let them pass without question.
    Mark approached the car and leaned down to look inside. Forensics was already on scene, dusting for prints and taking pictures. “Pardon me.” Mark said quietly, not wanting to scare the coroner, who was staring at the body of the dead woman in the driver’s seat. He turned and looked up at Mark.
    “Hello, Mark.” He said, looking back at the body. He lifted one hand and pointed. “See these ligature marks? She’s been garroted.” He looked back at Mark. “Strangled. With a wire, I suspect, some kind of thin, metal wire.” He lifted his hands as he spoke and made motions as if he were strangling himself.
    “What time did it happen, John?”
    “I’d have to say she’s been here about…oh… fifteen to seventeen hours. I would place time of death to be around 2 to around 4 pm yesterday. Oh, and look at this.” John stood up and Mark backed away to give him room. John walked around the car and Mark