Free Death is a Bargain (A Kate Kennedy Mystery Book 3) by Noreen Wald Page B

meet her eyes. “No, ma’am, not everyone.”
    The thud in her heart sounded so loud, she wondered why the fireman didn’t jump. She’d heard that same thud when Charlie had dropped dead at her side after signing the Ocean Vista condo papers, his gold Mont Blanc pen, which the Homicide squad had given him when he’d retired, gleaming as it fell from his fingers when he crashed face-first onto the desk.
    Who had died? Surely this young African-American’s sad expression and warm tone signaled death.
    Kate glanced at the child kicking in frustration; he’d lost one of his sneakers. Please, God, not Donna. Not Billy’s mother.
    “Is it,” her words tumbled out in a hoarse whisper, “is it a young woman?” She felt Marlene’s arm arc around her shoulders. Then Marlene headed for Billy.
    The firefighter shook his head. “We do have a young lady with a broken leg, found her hobbling, leading the elephants out. She inhaled some smoke, but she’ll be fine. The ambulance is on its way.”
    Kate said another silent thank-you.
    The female firefighter put down her hose and, wiping soot off her nose, joined them. “I’ll tell the little boy his mother’s asking for him. He can’t go in there, but we’ll be bringing her out on a stretcher soon.”
    “Smoke bombs. The bastards planted smoke bombs all over the animal quarters.” Sean Cunningham’s booming voice preceded him out of the corridor door. He looked a fright. His dirty clown costume and streaked makeup reeked of smoke. “They all got out, but the big tiger will never be the same. Nothing will ever be the same.” Sean turned to the doll lady and sighed. “We have to close the corridor, Linda. Imagine that. Close down the whole damn circus while the fire department and the police muck around and investigate.”
    Sean sat on Marlene’s empty chair and tried his cell phone. “I couldn’t find Jocko. Where the hell is he?” Linda patted Sean’s arm, sort of cooing at him.
    “Some of my animals are tied up. Cops and firemen are holding them on ropes and chains, like they were dogs! The damn Miami Zoo has no room for the elephants and wants to know if the tigers’ shots are up to date before they’ll take them.”
    “It will work out, Sean.” Linda sounded like a nurse reassuring a dying man.
    “One of the cops said if they can clear out the smoke, even though the circus is a crime scene, the detective in charge would probably let the animals back in and assign some men to take care of them during the investigation.” Sean should have been glad about the cop’s suggestion, but he sounded angry.
    Kate figured the Palmetto Beach Police Department would draw straws for that fun duty, feeding and cleaning up after four elephants, three tigers, and God knows how many horses and monkeys. And snakes.
    “And Donna’s hurt, going off to the hospital. Nobody knows how long. Who’ll take care of Billy?” Sean whined. “Look at him down on the ground, throwing a fit. Marlene can’t control him. I always knew that kid would turn out to be as crazy as his mother and father.”
    As another siren grew louder, Kate calmly walked over and knocked the chair out from under Sean.
    “Have you gone mad, woman?” Sean picked himself up and glared at her.
    “Yes,” she snapped. “So why don’t you just shut up?” So much for her grandmother image.
    A second police car pulled up a few yards away, drowning out Sean’s protests.
    Kate watched a trimmer, firmer Nick Carbone get out. Humph…must be eating fewer Krispy Kreme doughnuts and working out. But Homicide on the scene meant that Donna Viera might not be the only victim.
    “Who died?” Kate asked the firefighter, speaking quickly. Once Carbone reached them, she’d be sent packing.
    “Some old weirdo wrapped in a swastika.” The young man shrugged. “Meaning no disrespect, ma’am.”
    “Smoke inhalation?” She asked, confident that hadn’t been the cause of Carl’s death.
    “Hell, ho, ma’am, this