Free Dying for a Dance by Cindy Sample

“He probably wasn't too happy we rejected his loan application either.”
    I frowned. “You think the DA wants to prosecute Dana because we rejected his loan? The sheriff's department wouldn't consider arresting her unless they had sufficient evidence that she killed—”
    Mr. Chandler balled his hand into a fist and pounded the desk. “My wife did not kill that, that...gigolo.”
    Hmmm. I never would have thought of combining the words “bank president's wife” and “gigolo” in the same sentence. Was he implying that Dimitri and Dana not only tangoed together—they also tangled together? And even if they had moved their samba hip rolls off the floor and under the sheets, what did any of this have to do with me?
    Mr. Chandler's face had turned even redder than the dark cherry desk he continued to pound. If I didn't calm him down, Dana would become a widow as well as a murder suspect.
    “Maybe they've misinterpreted some of the evidence. Detectives suspect the wrong people all the time.”
    Now that was a subject I could discourse on at length.
    “Exactly. I knew you would be able to relate to their incompetency at investigating. Obviously, they don't know what they are doing. Dana is incapable of harming anyone. She's so compassionate she never even spanked our children.”
    “Do you have any idea what evidence they have against her?”
    “Two detectives showed up yesterday morning and interviewed her at our house. I gather her fingerprints were on the murder weapon and they found other incriminating evidence they were unwilling to share with me.” His hands trembled as he looked at me in disbelief. “I was afraid they were taking her down to the jail but when they left all they said was that she better not leave town.
    Geez. I couldn't imagine the stylish diamond-studded Dana Chandler wearing steel bracelets. But I was still mystified why Mr. Chandler requested my presence. He looked so miserable I reached out and rested my palm on top of his.
    Evidently he hadn't asked me up here for a little tea and sympathy because he yanked his hand out from under mine. So Mr. Chandler didn't want my sympathy and no one had offered me any Darjeeling. Why had he called me to his office?
    “I'm sorry about Dana's predicament but I'm sure it will be rectified in a few days.”
    “Her name must be cleared immediately. My standing in this community is critical to the soundness of this bank.”
    True. In a small town like ours, reputation was everything. I wondered how he planned to resolve this situation.
    “I certainly can't expect those bumbling county detectives to look for any other suspects,” he said, “especially when the DA is pushing them. This is an election year and he's going to make the most of it.
    “Someone needs to clear Dana's name. Someone with excellent analytical abilities. Someone who will give one hundred and ten percent to the bank.”
    His gaze drilled through my retinas.
    “Someone like you.”
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    FOURTEEN
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    Me? The woman with the knack for discovering dead bodies and getting the bank's name mentioned in the local newspaper's crime report? I was his number one choice for Nancy Drew? The first thought that filtered through my brain was what the heck did he put in his morning coffee?
    My response was not one of my most clever deductions. “Huh?”
    “Laurel, I need your help.” He swiveled in his chair and stared out the window as if pondering what to say next. When he turned back, fear shown in his gray eyes.
    “I'm terrified for my wife. And I admit I'm concerned how the bank will be impacted by this negative publicity. I realize I never gave you proper credit but you showed amazing tenacity when you solved our fraud problem.”
    “Thanks.” I was stunned and surprised by the compliment.
    “Dana mentioned you're friends with that detective. I think his name is Hunter?”
    I nodded warily.
    “Maybe you could put in a good word for her. She said