Free Deadly Accusations by Debra Purdy Kong

to take him in for questioning at a funeral reception, were they?
    Roberto opened the door for Noel and two German shepherds charged out of the kitchen, followed by Jasmine’s cocker spaniel, Belle. The crowded room erupted with barks and surprised exclamations as guests struggled to keep their cups and paper plates upright.
    Roberto tried to grab one of the shepherds. “When’s the last time you fed them, Marie?”
    Marie’s face was filled with anguish as she watched the officers follow Noel into the kitchen. It took a couple of minutes for people to corral the excited shepherds. Casey tried to rescue Belle who was under the table and turning in circles. Huge brown eyes looked up at Casey as if pleading for help. Once she’d coaxed the dog out, she headed for the kitchen. If the cops didn’t like the intrusion, too bad.
    No one was in the kitchen, but Casey heard voices outside. Paval and the German shepherds entered the room, followed by Marie. Marie rushed to the back door and peered out the window while Paval left the room.
    When Marie turned to around her freckled cheeks were scarlet. “Can’t those idiots see he’s being framed?”
    Casey didn’t know what to say. “Aside from the van, what else do they have on your brother?”
    Tears filled Marie’s eyes as she shrugged. When she sat down, the shepherds padded up to her. One of them whimpered while the other nuzzled her hand. Belle curled up under the kitchen table.
    â€œMarie, does Noel own a gun?”
    â€œNo, he hates firearms. He does live less than ten minutes from Jasmine’s place.”
    Casey approached the window overlooking the yard. The officers were accompanying Noel to a police van.
    â€œAll the evidence is circumstantial.” Marie smacked the table. “They have to see that!”
    Casey turned around. “What do you mean by all?”
    Marie hesitated. “They found Jasmine’s blood on the driver’s door of his van.”
    Not good. “Where did they find the van?”
    â€œAt a park near Noel’s house.” She wiped away her tears with her hands.
    â€œI gather he has no alibi for the morning of the murder?”
    â€œIf he did, the cops wouldn’t bloody be here, would they?”
    Since Marie was upset, Casey overlooked the surliness. She wanted to ask what Noel was doing at the time of the murder, but the question wouldn’t be appreciated.
    Paval poked his head into the room. “Sorry to intrude, Marie, but I thought you should know that people are starting to leave.”
    â€œThanks.”
    Casey followed her into the living room, where subdued colleagues hugged Marie and murmured goodbye. Casey couldn’t help feeling sorry for her. She couldn’t make Marie feel better, but she could at least help clean up. Casey started with the food Birch had dumped on the floor.
    â€œYou don’t have to do that,” Marie said after the last person had left.
    â€œI don’t mind. Housework helps with stress; so does yoga, but I figured you’d rather see me clearing plates than doing strange poses. Besides, I want to hear how you plan to prove Birch’s guilt.”
    Marie picked up coffee cups. “I’ll figure something out.”
    Casey wiped food off the floor with serviettes. “What if he really is innocent?”
    â€œI’ll check out the names on those business cards Jasmine collected. It’s possible that one of her dance partners was some psycho who got the wrong idea about her. I should look into Eisler’s activities as well.” She headed for the kitchen. “I can’t believe Roberto or Wesley would kill her.”
    â€œMe neither.” Casey followed her. “Still, people are capable of anything, if provoked enough.”
    â€œJasmine wouldn’t provoke anyone to the point of murder, unless they were psychos to begin with.”
    Was she kidding? The day before Jasmine