Evelyn David - Sullivan Investigations 02 - Murder Takes the Cake by Evelyn David Page A
Authors: Evelyn David
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under the collar all over again.
“You’re riding in the back, with the window open,” he told his hairy companion. “And when we get home, you’re getting a tomato juice bath.”
Whiskey whined in protest.
“Nobody told you to roll around in the barn. Don’t you ever look where you’re doing your business?”
Whiskey marched over to Bridget who immediately began scratching behind the dog ‘s ears.
“ Okay, listen up everybody. Here’s how it’s going to work.”
All eyes were trained on the pissed-off detective.
Mac opened the doors to the Jeep Commander. “Whiskey, get in the third seat. You too Bridget, since Whiskey’s smell doesn’t seem to bother you.”
The dog and reporter reluctantly hopped in the back of the car.
“Edgar and JJ are in the second seat.” Mac’s tone invited no discussion.
He continued, “Rachel–”
“ Owns the vehicle and is driving, thank you.”
Rachel Brenner primly climbed behind the wheel and stared pointedly at Mac. The detective scrambled into the passenger seat.
He shifted around, trying to find a comfortable spot. Even with all the windows open, Whiskey’s adventure with turkey droppings was pungent.
“ Usually you have to turn the key in the ignition if you want the Jeep to start,” Mac muttered.
Rachel stared at the detective, her keys dangling from her fingers. “I don’t drive unless everyone is belted in.”
“ Oh for crying out loud.” Mac snapped his seatbelt and stared out into the darkness as they bumped along the farm’s dirt driveway.
“ Edgar, stop leaning on me.” JJ’s voice echoed off the Jeep’s interior. “I’m drawing a line down the middle of the seat. Old man, you stay on your side.…”
“ Listen, Missy. You don’t get to draw no lines in this vehicle. Miz Brenner is my neighbor and I’ve known her a lot longer than you have. I can sit anywhere I want, ain’t that right, Miz Brenner?”
“ I don’t care if you live in a tree in her backyard and play with her squirrels; I’m telling you, in this Jeep, you have to stay on your side of–”
“ Hey, you two,” Mac snapped. “If I have to stop this vehicle…uh, have Rachel stop this vehicle, you’re going to regret it.”
Silence prevailed until a small voice from the back asked, “What are you going to do, Uncle Mac? Send them to their rooms with no supper. Cut their allowance?”
Bridget started giggling. Soon even JJ, Edgar, and finally Rachel were joining in.
“Ha, ha.” Mac settled down even further in his seat. He was finding very little about the day to laugh about. How had everything gotten so out of control? He’d spent all day on two cases that weren’t going to earn him a nickel. His employees had gone rogue on him. His best friend was going to hit the roof when he found out Bridget had brought her problem to him first. Speaking of Bridget, he needed to talk to her privately about what she’d seen in the Crager house; find out if she’d been able to log onto Crager’s computer. His dog needed to go to the groomers again and who the hell knew what they’d charge to get rid of the dead turkey odor. And there was the other thing he had to figure out and time was getting short. Rachel! Would Rachel let him walk her to her door when the evening was over? Or was he expected to go inside? It had been a long time since he’d dated anyone, and according to Jeff, the rules had changed. Of course, this evening might not even count as a date.
***
“Yeah, we’ll talk tomorrow, but for now, just say good night, Edgar.”
“ Good night, Edgar,” came the falsetto voice from the scooter.
The line would have been funnier if Edgar hadn ‘t laughed so hard that he started coughing. He wheezed like a cheap whistle. The old man was one slip away from a nursing home and really had no business trekking around on turkey farms. Mac wondered if he should stay with him awhile, make sure he was going to be alright.
“ I’m fine, I’m
“You’re riding in the back, with the window open,” he told his hairy companion. “And when we get home, you’re getting a tomato juice bath.”
Whiskey whined in protest.
“Nobody told you to roll around in the barn. Don’t you ever look where you’re doing your business?”
Whiskey marched over to Bridget who immediately began scratching behind the dog ‘s ears.
“ Okay, listen up everybody. Here’s how it’s going to work.”
All eyes were trained on the pissed-off detective.
Mac opened the doors to the Jeep Commander. “Whiskey, get in the third seat. You too Bridget, since Whiskey’s smell doesn’t seem to bother you.”
The dog and reporter reluctantly hopped in the back of the car.
“Edgar and JJ are in the second seat.” Mac’s tone invited no discussion.
He continued, “Rachel–”
“ Owns the vehicle and is driving, thank you.”
Rachel Brenner primly climbed behind the wheel and stared pointedly at Mac. The detective scrambled into the passenger seat.
He shifted around, trying to find a comfortable spot. Even with all the windows open, Whiskey’s adventure with turkey droppings was pungent.
“ Usually you have to turn the key in the ignition if you want the Jeep to start,” Mac muttered.
Rachel stared at the detective, her keys dangling from her fingers. “I don’t drive unless everyone is belted in.”
“ Oh for crying out loud.” Mac snapped his seatbelt and stared out into the darkness as they bumped along the farm’s dirt driveway.
“ Edgar, stop leaning on me.” JJ’s voice echoed off the Jeep’s interior. “I’m drawing a line down the middle of the seat. Old man, you stay on your side.…”
“ Listen, Missy. You don’t get to draw no lines in this vehicle. Miz Brenner is my neighbor and I’ve known her a lot longer than you have. I can sit anywhere I want, ain’t that right, Miz Brenner?”
“ I don’t care if you live in a tree in her backyard and play with her squirrels; I’m telling you, in this Jeep, you have to stay on your side of–”
“ Hey, you two,” Mac snapped. “If I have to stop this vehicle…uh, have Rachel stop this vehicle, you’re going to regret it.”
Silence prevailed until a small voice from the back asked, “What are you going to do, Uncle Mac? Send them to their rooms with no supper. Cut their allowance?”
Bridget started giggling. Soon even JJ, Edgar, and finally Rachel were joining in.
“Ha, ha.” Mac settled down even further in his seat. He was finding very little about the day to laugh about. How had everything gotten so out of control? He’d spent all day on two cases that weren’t going to earn him a nickel. His employees had gone rogue on him. His best friend was going to hit the roof when he found out Bridget had brought her problem to him first. Speaking of Bridget, he needed to talk to her privately about what she’d seen in the Crager house; find out if she’d been able to log onto Crager’s computer. His dog needed to go to the groomers again and who the hell knew what they’d charge to get rid of the dead turkey odor. And there was the other thing he had to figure out and time was getting short. Rachel! Would Rachel let him walk her to her door when the evening was over? Or was he expected to go inside? It had been a long time since he’d dated anyone, and according to Jeff, the rules had changed. Of course, this evening might not even count as a date.
***
“Yeah, we’ll talk tomorrow, but for now, just say good night, Edgar.”
“ Good night, Edgar,” came the falsetto voice from the scooter.
The line would have been funnier if Edgar hadn ‘t laughed so hard that he started coughing. He wheezed like a cheap whistle. The old man was one slip away from a nursing home and really had no business trekking around on turkey farms. Mac wondered if he should stay with him awhile, make sure he was going to be alright.
“ I’m fine, I’m