Free ROMANCE: Mr. Mystery: (New Adult Bad Boy Romance) (Contemporary Mystery Short Stories) by Viva Fox

park.” 
    “Yeah, sure.” 
    “Ok.  So why don’t you tell me exactly what happened?”  The boy shrugged.  He looked like the athletic type. 
    “My friends and I have been hanging around up there.  Nothing crazy.  We just like to go.” 
    “Did you paint Satin Lives on the wall?” Laura hoped not.  He looked like a smart boy.  She didn’t want to think that he would make such a poor spelling error. 
    “No,” Dustin snorted, “that’s been there.  And it’s stupid.”  Laura nodded. 
    “Ok.  So you guys just decided to make up the troll?”  Dustin shrugged again, knitting his fingers together. 
    “It wasn’t supposed to be anything big.  It was just fun.  You know, there are bridges in the park.  Trolls live under bridges.”  Laura nodded.  She got his point.  “So we just started putting random stuff up there.  I brought one of my dad’s old clubs out there.” 
    “And you never saw anything weird?  Or anyone?”  Dustin shook his head. 
    “Nope.” 
    “Did you see the news about the woman’s body being found?” 
    “Yep.”  Dustin told her.  “I didn’t think I should come talk to you then because we didn’t know anything.  Ummm,” He looked around, “should I have?”
    “Well, we wouldn’t have minded hearing from you as soon as we found everything.”  Laura advised him gently. “But I’m glad you came in when you did.  Where did you find the note?”
    “In the thing where I kept the sign in book.” 
    “Just today?” 
    “Yep.” 
    “Why’d you go up today?”  Dustin leaned back in his chair.  He extended his hands, and then let them drop back into his lap. 
    “We just did.  We uh…. we….”  His voice trailed off awkwardly.  He looked down at the table top again.  “We uh…just wanted to uh…see if there was anything still there.”  Laura really hoped he meant his own stuff and not the murder. 
    “And the note was the only thing?” 
    “Yeah.” 
    “Did you see the news about the other murder?” 
    “Yeah.  That’s what made me go to the cops when I found the note.  They were still in the park.  It wasn’t hard to find them.”  Laura was certain it wasn’t.  Since the discovery of the other body, they were keeping a close eye on the local parks. 
    “Ok, Dustin,” Laura stood up.  “I’m going to go check with Detective Lewis about your parents.  Once they get here, we’ll have to get their consent to give you a handwriting test.” 
    “Huh?”  The boy looked confused.  “Why would you want to see my writing?” 
    “Just to make sure that you didn’t write the note.”  He looked startled.  Laura wasn’t entirely sure if it was fear or guilt.  Though she had a suspicion it was the former. 
    “I didn’t write it!  Why would I do that?” 
    “Dustin, I don’t think that you did.”  Laura advised him gently.  “But just in case anyone ever asks Detective Lewis or I if we checked with you, we have to be able to say that we made sure that you didn’t.  We just have to do our jobs.”  Dustin didn’t look convinced, but he nodded. 
    “Ok.” 
    Out in the hallway, Laura met Steve. 
    “His parents are on their way.  Did you find out anything?” 
    “I don’t think he really knows anything.”  Laura glanced back into the room.  “But we have to get the parental consent for a handwriting evaluation.  Just to make sure.”  Steve agreed. 
    “Boys will be boys.  You never know if they’re just out looking for attention.” 
    “Exactly.  Especially because he saw the news reports about the other body.” 
    “Oh hell.  Ok. I’ll stay here and wait for the parents.  Why don’t you head back to the hotel?  You’re looking a little…peaked.” 
    Laura lowered her head.  She had a sudden reminder of just why she looked like that.  She didn’t know what had gotten into her last night…besides tequila.  She was working a case.  She couldn’t believe that