Free Maximum Security (A Dog Park Mystery) by C. A. Newsome Page A

down the drive, arriving in the parking lot just in time to
see the woman approach Jim’s Dodge Caliber, where it was parked
behind her car. He rolled down the window.
    “Will you be moving soon? I need
to get out,” the woman said.
    “I can’t just yet.”
    “Can’t you just move over a bit so
I can squeeze out? There’s plenty of room.”
    Jim looked helplessly at Lia. His
shoulders sank in resignation. “Ma'am, we’d like you to wait here.
There’s someone who wants to talk to you, but they’re not here
yet.”
    “Is it George? Why didn’t you say
so!”
    “No, Ma’am, it’s not
George.”
    The woman looked perplexed. “I
don’t understand. Who needs to talk to me?”
    Jim looked pointedly at
Lia.
    “Excuse me,” Lia said. “Two
detectives are on their way. They think you might have seen
something when you were back in the woods.”
    “No, I haven’t seen anything. What
would I have seen? I really would rather not get involved with the
police. I have to leave. Please let me out.” She clutched her purse
in front of her chest. For protection? White knuckles betrayed
agitation despite her reasonable tone.
    Lia said nothing. She looked up and
saw Chewy, Honey, Kita and Viola, all lined up at the fence next to
Bailey. They chose that moment to start howling for attention. Max
barked in response and sat on the woman’s foot. Fleece and Chester
joined the hullabaloo.
    Cornered, the woman looked around
her, desperate for a way out. Tears began rolling down her face.
Grim faced, she got into her car and sat, facing forward as if it
would all go away if she couldn’t see it. Lia, Bailey and Jim
looked at each other and shrugged.
    Lia sighed in relief when Brent’s
Audi pulled into the lot. The car parked next to the trapped
Altima. The two detectives got out.
    “What part of ‘Don’t let her know
you’re watching her’ didn’t you understand?” Peter
asked.
    “Unfair, Dourson.”
    He walked up to the driver’s
window.
    “Smooth, Anderson,” Brent said.
“Jim, you can move your car.”
    “Good. I’m going home.”
    “Traitor,” Lia hissed. She stalked
back up the drive, dragging Max behind her.
~ ~ ~
    “ Kate Onstad?”
Peter asked.
    “Yes, what’s going on? Why am I
being prevented from leaving? I feel like a prisoner.”
    “I’m very sorry about that. I’m
Detective Dourson, and this is my partner, Detective Davis. We’d
like very much to talk to you. We can go back up to the park if
you’d be comfortable there, or we can go to the
station.”
    “I don’t want any of those crazy
people listening in. Isn’t blocking me in a form of
kidnapping?”
    “I’ll make sure they keep their
distance.” Peter ignored her question and hoped it would go
away.
    Kate got out of her car. “What’s
this about? Should I have a lawyer?”
    “We’re just looking for
information. If you feel the need for a lawyer, we can go back to
the station and you can contact one.”
    “That sounds like a lot of
trouble.“
    Peter and Brent escorted Kate back
up the drive and into the small dog park, where a lone picnic table
stood in the back.
    “Will this be private
enough?”
    “It’ll be fine. What’s this all
about, Detective?”
    “Before we get started, I’d like
your permission to record this conversation. This ensures that we
have an accurate record, and protects you as well as us. Is that
okay with you?”
    Kate looked apprehensive but nodded
her assent. Peter set up his little digital recorder and read in
the date, time, location and participants, as well as stating that
the taping was being done with Kate Onstad’s knowledge and consent.
After these preliminaries, he began.
    “Are you acquainted with George
Munce?” Peter noted her deer-in-headlights expression.
    “Yes,” she said
carefully.
    “When was the last time you saw
him?”
    “Why are you asking,
Detective?”
    “We’re very sorry to tell you
this, Ms. Onstad,” Brent said. “A body was found in the woods two
days