Free Just Killing Time by Julianne Holmes Page A

details—weight, size, all of that. Give me your e-mail address before I leave. I do want to reiterate that I am treating this like a murder, since it is a death during a robbery. But according to the coroner, Thom had a fatal heart attack during the attack. He didn’t suffer.”
    I was grateful that Chief Paisley took such care to make me feel better. I wasn’t sure if he could really know that, but I didn’t push. I had to believe that G.T. didn’t suffer.
    â€œThere is some evidence that someone was in the shop with Thom that night. Pat confirms that he took out all the garbage before he left work that evening. We found two coffee cups in the trash the next morning. That alone means nothing.”
    â€œAnd DNA?” I asked. Too many crime show reruns had made me an expert.
    â€œDNA testing takes a long time and we’d need DNA to compare it to. And the person in the shop may not be the perpetrator. Pat says he doesn’t think any clocks are missing, but he can’t be one hundred percent sure. I haven’t sharedthe evidence about the pendulum with him yet. I’d appreciate your checking to see if one is missing.”
    â€œI will, as best I can.”
    â€œThank you. If the pendulum came from the shop . . .”
    â€œThen the killer was with G.T. in the shop before the murder,” I said, finishing his sentence. He nodded his head, and I felt a shudder.
    â€œDo you have any suspects?” I asked.
    â€œYes and no. There are a number of people who could have been in the shop. But someone who is also a murderer? I need to figure out the motive before I can find a suspect. And right now, that is challenging.”
    The shop phone rang.
    â€œGo ahead and take it,” the chief said. “I’ll just look around up here a bit. Do you mind?”
    â€œNo, of course not,” I said. I picked up the wall phone that hung to the right of the staircase.
    â€œHello?” I answered.
    â€œRuth, it’s Caroline Alder.”
    â€œHello, Caroline. Are you feeling better?” I asked. Her voice sounded raspy, but I couldn’t hear her breathing.
    â€œYes, thank you. Listen, I forgot to mention this. Your grandfather had an appointment with Stephanie Lincoln over at the Berkshire Real Estate Group. She’s been working on getting the shop appraised.”
    â€œWere you planning on selling?” I asked.
    â€œOrchard’s been changing. I’m sure you see that. Someone offered Thom a sum for the shop. Thom mentioned it to Ben, who said the shop was worth twice the amount.”
    â€œBen? Barber Ben?” I asked.
    â€œYes, that Ben. I’m glad you’ve met him. He and Thomhad become good friends. Of course, it’s hard not to like Ben. Anyway, Thom decided he’d see how much it was worth. And then he became a bit obsessed. He started to look into what Orchard property values were and to compare them to other towns.”
    â€œWhy?” I asked.
    â€œWhy.” Caroline sighed. “That’s a big question. Thom’s been restless this past year. Percolating ideas, most of which I didn’t know about. Stephanie Lincoln may know more. She specializes in historical properties.”
    â€œHistorical properties? Like the Cog & Sprocket?”
    â€œYes. And on the pros and cons of getting a home declared a historical landmark.” She paused, waiting for my reply. “Anyway, you may want to keep the appointment. Your choice of course. It’s at four o’clock, I think. The appointment card is in the corner of the desk calendar.”
    â€œGreat, I’ll check it.”
    â€œRuth, why don’t you plan on coming by for dinner this evening?”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry, I already promised I’d go to the Reeds for dinner.”
    She paused for a moment. Did she think I’d cancel the Reeds for her? Not a chance. “Well, how about lunch tomorrow then?” she