Free Blue Moon Rising: A suspense thriller by Lillian Francken Page A

hearing the words come out of Alan’s mouth because that was something Dan always felt Allan thought about him. It was strange hearing Alan just then. Dan just stared at Alan intently before speaking.
    “I thought it odd the amount of rope you carry in the trunk,” Dan added.
    “You opened my trunk?” Alan asked with a puzzled look.
    “It was the same type used in the murder of the Ames boy.”
    “Go to Frank’s Hardware. Half the town buys the same rope. I picked it up for Mabel. You’re welcome to ask her why she needed so much. I opened the one because I was going to try and use it to get out of the ditch but then gave up on that idea. I had more important things to do at the time.”
    “I just thought it was odd.”
    Dan looked around the room. He stared at the black bear rug in front of the fireplace. Things were not looking good for Alan at that point.
    “That’s a big bear,” Dan said as he turned and walked over to it.
    Dan bent down and ran his hand across the fur with one hand while pulling out a few hairs with the other. He got up and put his hand in his pants pocket, and then turns to Alan.
    “Dad and I each took one down in ’89. You ever go hunting in Jackson Hole?”
    “That in Wyoming?” Dan asked.
    “Yeah.”
    “My old man was too busy working,” Dan said curtly.
    Alan looked curiously at Dan. “What are you really here for?”
    “I just stopped by to make sure you were okay?”
    “Thanks for your concern. I’ll see you out,” Alan said in a way that it was a clear invitation for Dan to leave.
    Alan walked to the door and motioned to Dan. It was a clear indication for Dan to follow and leave. Dan in turn obliged. He would give Alan this one, but once he had more information and if it pointed to Alan he would definitely be back, and it would be Alan leaving in handcuffs.

CHAPTER 12
     
    Dan walked into his living room. He took off his gun belt and put it along with his hat on the hat rack by the door, and quickly slipped off his shoes. Dan walked over to the mantel and stared at the pictures of Kay. He reached up and touched the cool glass that separated him from the one he loved. Kelly walked in from the kitchen.
    “You miss her, too.” Kelly said walking up to her father.
    “Not a day goes by that I don’t relive that day.”
    “I think about all the things I wanted to tell her, but never took the time to.”
    Dan turned to Kelly and forced a smile. “If only I could have been there. I should have. She called, but I was too busy,” Dan stopped.
    “Don’t go there,” Kelly replied and then tried to change the subject. “I made your favorite dinner.”
    “I should have called. I won’t be eating here tonight.”
    “But,” she said with a look of disappointment.
    “I’m sorry, honey.”
    Dan glanced over at the pictures of Kay and then he put his arms around Kelly and hugged her. He felt guilty but did not want to cancel his plans just then. For the past eighteen months he had always tried to be there for Kelly when she was having one of those down days.
    “I promise to make it up to you,”
    Kelly glanced up at her father. “Who are you having dinner with?” she finally asked.
    “Oh, it’s just business,” Dan quipped, trying to make light of the dinner.
    Dan let Kelly go and walked into the kitchen. Kelly just stared at her father curiously as she followed him.
    Dan walked up to the stove. The odor enticed him but not enough for him to change his mind. He lifted the cover, took the spoon off the plate, and tasted the dish that was cooking. It was Hamburger Helper, but had a good flavor. Dan turned to Kelly.
    “You’re a good cook.”
    “You didn’t answer me,” she said, not giving up.
    “It’s a dinner meeting with the medical examiner,” he finally replied after a long silence.
    “That Nancy who called?”
    “Yeah, the same one who called yesterday,” he said and then pointed at Kelly. “It isn’t what you think.”
    Dan put the cover back on the