Free Death is Long Overdue (Phee Jefferson Book 1) by Amy Lilly Page A

my shoulder.  "Phee, it looks like someone is killing off anyone who mistreats you." Shocked, I looked up at him and saw that he was deadly serious.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
     
    “What happened to your fingers?” She’s referring to the Band-Aids that cover four of my ten digits.
    “Mushrooms. Spongy little bastards don’t appreciate being sliced.” - Emma Chase, Tangled
     
    "What are you two kids doing holed up in the corner?"  Sheriff Jaime Dawes sidled over to us.  A short man, he had his Hispanic mother's dark eyes and hair and his father's Irish features.  The swagger was all his own.
    "Sir," Clint nodded his head respectfully to his boss.  "This isn't the best time but after talking to Phee, I think I found one thing that Huey Long and Carla Karsen had in common."
    "What's that?" Sheriff Dawes inquired.
    "Her."  Clint pointed at me.  "Both victims had conflicts with her in the days leading up to their murders. Phee had an alibi for Mr. Long's murder, so she's in the clear, but it might be someone close to her."
    "I was at work Saturday when Carla was poisoned," I volunteered.
    "That's good to hear," Sheriff Dawes said jovially.  I wondered how many beers he and my father had already drank together.  "Come into the office tomorrow and we'll talk about this some more, but tonight...tonight we are here to celebrate my friend's birthday."  He raised his beer in a toast and began a tango across the patio to his wife, Sheila.
    "He's a little bit toasted already, I think," I smiled.  "Can we please forget about all this death and nastiness for tonight?"
    "I'm sorry," Clint frowned. "I wasn't thinking.  Of course we can.  I have a beautiful woman standing next to me, and all I can do is talk about work.  Let's go get something to eat."  He held out his arm to me. Not hesitating for a second, I reached out and took it.  We walked across to where the caterers had set up the food. Clint handed me a plate and took one for him. We filled our plates and then looked around for some empty chairs. We spotted two chairs next to Grant and his mother and wended our way through the dancers to sit next to them.
    "Thought I had lost you for the evening," Grant said a little sullenly when we sat down.
    "No.  Clint just had some news to share with me."  I was annoyed with Grant’s slightly possessive attitude.
    "This has turned out to be a wonderful evening," Shari chimed in.
    "It has," I agreed and smiled warmly at her.  "Clint, you were a senior when Grant and I were freshmen in high school.  I doubt you and Grant knew each other too well.”  I hoped my pitiful attempt at small talk would ease some of the tension.  Grant and I were going to have a talk about our friendship.  Clearly, he was becoming a bit too possessive.
    "You were a first class debate team captain if I recall."  Clint helped me to steer the conversation back to neutral ground.
    "Thanks.  I think I knew even then that I wanted to be a courtroom attorney." Grant puffed up a little.  "Phee, did you hear about Carla Karsen?"
    "Yes,” I said evasively.  "Terrible way to die.  She and I were definitely not friends, but I didn’t really want her dead."
    "Well, I can't say that I feel that bad. I actually saw her Saturday morning at the benefit breakfast at the fire department," Grant said. "She knows you and I are friends, Phee, yet she went on and on about how you were standing in the way of progress."
    "Well, I hope you defended me!" I tried to joke even though it wasn't really a joking matter.  "Did you know Huey Long?"  I tried to be nonchalant, but Clint rolled his eyes and made a cutting motion out of sight of the others to me.
    "I did,” Grant did not continue.
    "How did you know him?" I persisted.  If looks could kill, Clint had slain me and left me drawn and quartered on the floor.  I ignored him.  It wasn't him that was inciting violence and death. Clint needed information, and I was helping him get it.
    "I guess it wouldn't hurt to