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

followed him. “Look at this.” John repeated, pointing at the side of the car and the ground. “This is what I would call a very poor attempt to get rid of evidence.”
    A rag had been placed in the gas tank and was hanging over the side of the car. Mark leaned over and smelled it, pulling back, nodding. “Yes, that’s gasoline. Why didn’t they light it, I wonder?”
    “I think he did.” He looked up at Mark. “Or she. I think they lit it and ran, look.” He touched the end of the rag with one gloved hand and lifted it. It had traces of burn marks lacing the edges with black. “This is one inexperienced murderer right here.” He said.
    Mark nodded and looked back at Ben. “Did you see anything of note, Keyes?”
    “No, sir. But I have a feeling about this.”
    Mark looked at him closely. Ben’s “feelings” were usually on target. “And what feeling would that be, Keyes?”
    “I believe we’re looking for a man.”
    “Do you?” Mark scanned the scene again and spotted the sister and brother in law. “Let’s go talk to the sister and her husband. Maybe they can shed some light on the situation. She may have a boyfriend we don’t know about.” He began walking to where the couple were standing with one of the patrol officers. Ben hurried to follow him, still writing in his notebook as he went.
    “This looks a lot like a crime of rage, sir.”
    “I agree.”
    “I would suspect a boyfriend first. And an old boyfriend or boy friends second.”
    Mark nodded. “Go on.”
    “We’ll need to investigate the house to see if there are pictures or letters. It could be an obsessed fan.”
    Mark smiled at Ben. “That’s what I was thinking! Good job, Ben!”
    Ben smiled back.
    They weren’t smiling when they approached Amber and Daniel Joiner. Amber was hunched over, crying, a small handcloth pressed against her eyes. Daniel was consoling her but had tears welled up in his own eyes and was blinking rapidly.
    “It’s gonna be okay, Amber. She’s in a better place. It’s gonna be okay.”
    Amber’s tears didn’t stop but lessened some as she sensed someone approaching. She looked up at the investigators through blood shot eyes. “Do…you… have any clues yet?”
    They both held up their IDs.
    “I’m Detective Sargent Keyes and this is Inspector Mark Bullard from the Clements Police Department, Investigation Unit. We do have a few questions for you, if that’s all right with you.”
    “Yes, that’s fine. Do you know anything?”
    Ben answered her. “Yes, ma’am, we are sorry to confirm that it looks as though your sister has been murdered.”
    Amber pressed her face into her husband’s shirt. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his cheek against her blond hair. “I’m sorry, honey. I’m sorry.”
    “Oh, who would do this, Danny? Who would do this to Carrie? She was so wonderful. She was so sweet.”
    “I know she was.” Danny whispered, kissing the top of his wife’s hair. “I know she was.” He looked up at the detectives. “She really was a great woman.” He continued, speaking to them. “She was well-liked by all who knew her, at least that I know of. And I’ve been with Amber for seven years now and we were friends for several years before that. Carrie was an amazing person, very friendly, giving, generous. She was always doing nice things for people. People loved her!”
    He shook his head and squeezed his wife.
    Ben nodded, looking over at Mark. “I read a short biography about her some years ago that described her charity work and generous behavior.” Mark nodded and looked back at the couple.
    “Do you know of anyone that you would suspect then? Anyone at all? A boyfriend perhaps?”
    Danny shook his head. “She was jilted pretty good by the last guy she was with. She vowed to be alone for a while. It’s been years since she’s been with a steady boyfriend.”
    “She didn’t date very much either.” Amber said. “There’s no way we could remember any of