Free Prime Catch by Ilona Fridl Page B

look into him and his friends.”
    Sarah rose to pour herself a cup of coffee. She sat across the desk from Amos. “May I ask you why you traveled to Angoon?”
    Amos tugged on his mustache. “I told you why.”
    “You wouldn’t have done that for any of the other deputies.”
    Amos shifted uncomfortably. “I was worried you might get in over your head, and I was right.” He knew that wasn’t the whole truth and wondered if she could read that, too. “We should go to the cannery to see if Cusnoo was at work the day of the murder. Personnel should have a record of that.”
    Sarah rose. “I’m ready.”
    As Amos was driving to the cannery, he glanced at Sarah. “Your hair is very short.”
    She put her hand up and touched it. “Kata fixed it so I could comb it over into more of a bob, but it has to grow out a little.”
    “Good. I don’t like it that short.”
    Sarah smirked. “You’re giving fashion advice now?”
    “No.” He let it go there. So much for thinking out loud.
    Amos sat at the desk in the Personnel Department with Sarah peering over his shoulder. He thumbed through the pages of the ledger the timekeeper had given them until he found the date of the murder, and then he ran his finger down the column of names. “I don’t find an entry for Cusnoo. He doesn’t seem to have been here that day. Hmm, that could be significant.”
    Sarah patted his shoulder. “You mean he could have been free to commit the murder. Should we get a search warrant to look in his home?”
    Amos nodded. “I think now would be a good time. Let’s see if we can find anything that would link him to the crime. Got your notes, Lakat?”
    She pulled them out of her pocket and showed him. “Let’s go.”
    They made a stop at the courthouse to pick up the warrant before they arrived at the Cusnoo home. Bobby was coming off the porch in his work clothes. He saw Amos and scowled.
    “What do you want, Sheriff?” he spat out.
    “Cusnoo, I have a search warrant here for your house.”
    “What’s this all about?”
    Amos stepped in front of him. “This is about the murder of Mr. Thornton at the cannery.”
    “Since when am I under suspicion? I wasn’t even working that day.”
    “I know, but you are also the liaison for the Revenge Ravens at the Juneau camp.”
    “Who told you―?” He noticed Sarah. “Ah, our little turncoat.”
    Amos gripped his shoulder. “Never mind that. We’re going in.” Bobby continued to glare at Sarah as they went into the house. Amos pointed to Bobby’s room as he said to Sarah, “I’ll see if any of the clothes match the descriptions. Why don’t you check if you can find anything on that desk.”
    Amos yanked open the wardrobe and went through the clothes without finding a long coat or mukluks. Nothing looked blood-stained, but there had been time to clean up.
    Sarah rapped on the door frame. “I found something on this calendar.” She handed him a desk organizer and pointed to the day before the murder.
    Amos read it. “Meet R. R. at Millie’s for lunch?” He took the calendar outside and showed it to Bobby. “Who is R. R.?”
    Bobby frowned. “A friend of mine, why?”
    “Are you sure it doesn’t stand for Revenge Ravens?”
    “Ray Robertson. You didn’t find anything, did you, Sheriff?” A shade of triumph colored his face.
    “No. But I’d advise you to stay in Juneau.” Amos knew he was guilty of something, but Bobby seemed to have covered his tracks well. “One other thing. Have you been out of town for any reason in the past month?”
    “No. You can ask anyone. May I go to work now?”
    Amos nodded.
    As Bobby left, the sheriff glanced at Sarah. “Care for an early lunch? I want to check a few things with Millie.”
    Sarah smiled. “You want to check about Ray Robertson.”
    He glowed. “You know me too well.”
    Millie’s was warm and welcoming in its little niche by the street. A few men were lingering over coffee at the counter, but the tables were deserted