Dying for a Dude (Laurel McKay Mysteries Book 4) by Cindy Sample Page B

detective, but I doubted Mayor Briggs had any of my R-rated scenarios in mind. Tom shot me a look indicating it was time for this civilian to trot down to her office while the police and politicos attended to business.
    Fine with me. I winked him a goodbye and headed down the street.
    I entered the lobby of the bank, which bustled with customers. Although crime scene tape blocked the sidewalk a few doors down, it had not impeded foot traffic. I returned to my supply closet turned office. I shoved my well-worn black Coach purse, a present from my mother, into my desk drawer and turned on my computer. Seconds later, Stan landed in my visitor chair.
    “Can you believe what happened?” he asked.
    I shook my head as I typed my password into my computer. “I saw photos of Spencer’s body hanging from the scaffolding, but I still can’t come to grips with it. Such a tragedy.”
    “And a pretty ballsy thing for the killer to do,” Stan said before adding, “volleyball-sized balls.”
    I nodded my agreement. “Was it someone with a huge ego, or someone who hated Spencer so much he wanted to make a grand statement?”
    Stan rested his chin on his palms. “Could one man have done it alone?”
    I pondered his question half wishing I’d seen the victim myself, half relieved I had not. “I’ll have to ask Hank if he thinks one person could have strung him up.”
    “Have you talked to him today?”
    “He called me this morning. Right after he found the body.”
    Stan’s mouth opened wide enough to swallow a mouse. The one resting next to my keyboard. “OMG. Your husband killed Spencer?”
    “Hank is not my husband and don’t be ridiculous. He wouldn’t kill a fly.”
    Well, my ex had eliminated a few hundred flies in his lifetime, and I’d personally witnessed him use a shovel to slice off the head of a rattlesnake. But we were talking about a man here, not a snake.
    So I thought.
    “Did you forget Hank punched Spencer at the Cornbread & Cowpokes soiree?” Stan reminded me.
    “He merely imbibed a little too much that evening. Remember, Spencer had just fired him. Well, temporarily, until Hank apologized for his idiocy. Besides that’s not a sufficient reason to kill someone.”
    “You never know what makes people snap.” Stan stood, smoothed his pressed trousers and snapped his own manicured fingers. “Let’s hope the police agree with you.”

 
     
     
CHAPTER TEN
     
     
    Stan departed my office, but his final remark lingered on. I’d expected Hank to call me back after he met with the police, and his lengthy silence began to unnerve me. I dialed his cell and was almost ready to hang up when he picked up and whispered a soft hello.
    “What’s going on?” I asked. “I’m worried about you.”
    “Thanks, hon. I appreciate that.”
    “Did you experience any problems explaining your situation to the cops?”
    Hank cleared his throat. “I decided they were busy enough without me interfering, so I left.”
    “You left the crime scene?” I could hear my voice growing shrill. “Without explaining you were there?”
    “After you and I hung up, I walked downstairs and went out the back door to drop off my tool box in the truck. Then I decided to drive home. I figured the cops would call me if they had any questions. You think I screwed up by not hanging around?” He chuckled. “Hey, that’s funny.”
    No, it wasn’t funny at all.
    “There’s not much you can do about it now,” I grumbled, “except wait until the gendarmes come banging on your door.”
    “The who? Oh, you really think they’ll want to talk to me? I’m only the contractor.”
    I ticked off all the reasons the police would want to interview him, beginning with his fingerprints covering every wall of the building, him punching Spencer Sunday night and concluding with his presence at the scene of the crime.
    “Laurel, I punched Spencer out of frustration combined with one too many beers. After I apologized to him, everything was