Free Mint Chip Murder: A Donut Hole Cozy Mystery - Book 6 by Susan Gillard Page A

scrubs held the door open
for them.  “His name is Dave,” Ryan said.  “He was hit by a car.”
     
    Within another few minutes, they had
been shown into a small exam room.  The vet swiftly determined the extent of
Dave’s injuries and recommended surgery.  Heather agreed. 
     
    Almost before she knew it, she found
herself sitting in a hard plastic chair in the waiting room next to Ryan, her
head on his shoulder, his arm around her.
     
    There must have been a thousand
details Ryan had taken care of in order to handle the situation and make things
easier for her, she knew.  That was one thing she loved about him—his strength
and his competence.  Okay, make that two things.
     
    The outside door opened, and a
uniformed officer entered the waiting room.  “Detective Shepherd?” he said, and
Heather realized he must have been surprised to see Ryan’s arm around her.
     
    “This is my fiancée, Heather Janke,”
Ryan said.  “Heather, we need you to answer some questions.”
     
    Heather nodded and sat up straight. 
“Ask me anything you want,” she said.  “I want to help you find her.  She tried
to kill me, and she almost killed my dog.”
     
    “Actually, ma’am, she’s already been
taken into custody,” the officer said.
     
     “After she tried to hit you, she
swerved back into the street and hit a parked car.  A patrol unit saw a car
turning onto Bowen with its front bumper half hanging off and initiated a
traffic stop.  Turned out it was the woman who tried to assault you.”
     
    “Thank you,” Heather said.  “Thank you
for everything you guys have done.”
     
    “You’re welcome, ma’am,” the officer
said.  “There was an ambulance on scene near your residence.  I have it on the
way over here in case you would like them to check you out.”
    “No, thank you,” Heather said.  “I’m
fine.  Really.  I’m angry, but I’m fine.”
     
    “Are you sure?”
     
    “Yes, sir.  Nothing a few band-aids
and some rest won’t cure.  So go ahead.  Ask me anything you want to know.”
     
    “Heather, I’m going to step outside,”
Ryan said.  “This is a criminal case—not only the murder, but her attempt to
kill you.  I’m going to stay out of it as much as I can, but I’ll be right
outside.  Okay?”
     
    “Okay,” she said.  “I’ll be fine. 
Just—don’t go too far, okay?”
     
    “You got it,” Ryan said.  He pushed
through the same door through which the patrol officer had entered just moments
before and went outside.
     
    The officer sat down two chairs away
from her and turned to face her.  He withdrew a small notebook from a pocket in
his uniform shirt and flipped it open.  Clicking a ballpoint pen into
readiness, he asked, “What is your full name, ma’am?”
     
    ***
     
    Two hours later, Heather sat on her
sofa snuggled against Ryan’s side, their arms around each other.  Dave’s doggie
bed was empty; the vet had recommended that he remain under observation at the
clinic for 24 hours post-surgery.
     
    “I’m glad they got her,” Heather said.
     
    Ryan didn’t have to ask whom she was
talking about.  “Me, too.  Both for Kelly’s murder, and for the fact that she
tried to kill you.”
     
    “I don’t understand why she murdered
Kelly,” Heather said.  “I know she did it, but why?”
     
    “She’s not talking,” Ryan said.  “The
only thing she’ll tell us is ‘see my lawyer.’  But if I had to guess, based on
the evidence, I don’t think she intended to kill her.  I think she came back to
the shop to continue the argument they started earlier.  She got angry, grabbed
the flat iron, and swung it in a fit of rage.  The first blow probably knocked
Kelly out.  In any case, she fell to the floor.  And Lana just kept swinging.”
     
    Heather shuddered.  “Over hair, and coming
in second place.”  She paused.  “You know the person I feel sorry for in all
this — besides Kelly— is Emily Sturmer.  Lisa