hand-painted paperweight that said Acapulco helped personalize the space. Susan wanted to start by saying how sorry she was that things hadn’t gone well at the doctor but she knew from experience that Lynette would just get more upset.
“Carolina and I went through some of Vicky’s things. We found out that she’d taken out a restraining order against Javier and that she’d filed for divorce.”
“We knew about the restraining order. The husband is always on the suspect list when the wife has been murdered. We also interviewed a neighbor who says she heard screaming coming from the house on more than one occasion. She says they fought a lot. No one saw Javier at the crime scene though. We have no reason to believe he was anywhere near the school that night.”
“Well, actually…” Susan wrung her hands in her lap. “Carolina and I found a receipt showing that he was at the gas station around the corner that night.”
“You found a receipt? How did you happen to find it and why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“I promised Carolina we’d look for more information first.”
“Go on,” said Lynette.
“Well.” Susan squirmed in her seat. “When we went through Vicky’s things, like I said, we found the restraining order and divorce papers.”
“Divorce papers?” said Lynette.
“Yes. I think you should dig a little deeper. At best, you can prove he’s innocent.”
“Thanks for telling me how to do my job, Mom. I’ll get on it. No more snooping though. How’s that scrap booking project coming along? “
Susan knew this was a good time to make her exit. She walked out of Lynette’s office. Jackson was sitting at the front desk.
“Thanks for stopping by Mrs. Wiles. What would we do without you?”
Susan wanted to wipe that sarcastic grin right off Jackson’s face but all she needed was to be locked up for assaulting a police officer. Instead, she said, “Bye Jackson, have a Merry Christmas.”
Chapter 15
On the way home, Susan decided to stop at Safeway to buy groceries for Christmas dinner. Let’s see, I’ll need a turkey, a small honey-glazed ham, potatoes, stuffing, and green beans, thought Susan. Maybe she would also buy some refrigerated cinnamon rolls and bacon to have for Christmas breakfast. The store wasn’t very crowded judging by the abundance of parking spaces. There was a display of fresh Christmas trees at the store entrance. Susan took a deliberate breath and drank in the aroma of fresh evergreens. She grabbed a grocery cart, wiped it down with the sanitary wipes the store now provided, and headed for the cinnamon rolls. Of course, she first had to stop and admire the poinsettias at the store entrance, rifle through the bin of colorful wrapping paper rolls, and check out the display of frosted Christmas cookies. She couldn’t help thinking that even grocery shopping was more fun during holiday time. Maybe she’d buy a tray of those cookies to send to Evan. He always did prefer store bought cookies to homemade. She wished that he could get away from med school for Christmas this year but it wasn’t possible.
Susan grabbed the cinnamon rolls and bacon. As she headed to the meat department, she saw a familiar face. At first she couldn’t place him, but then she realized that it was Blaze Conrad. He’d helped her set up the stage when Ryan was in the kindergarten program. Why is he grocery shopping in the middle of the day? Shouldn’t he be at work? Maybe he’d lost his job. Maybe he’d lost his job because he got angry and punched a coworker. See, there was that violent streak again. He probably did kill Vicky. And who’s that blond woman he’s with? I remember his wife and that isn’t her. I’ll bet Javier is innocent after all. That would be a huge relief for Carolina.
Susan decided to follow Blaze and the blond woman into the bakery section where an elderly woman in a Santa hat was handing out samples of fruit cake. Oh, my gosh, thought Susan. Did
“Carolina and I went through some of Vicky’s things. We found out that she’d taken out a restraining order against Javier and that she’d filed for divorce.”
“We knew about the restraining order. The husband is always on the suspect list when the wife has been murdered. We also interviewed a neighbor who says she heard screaming coming from the house on more than one occasion. She says they fought a lot. No one saw Javier at the crime scene though. We have no reason to believe he was anywhere near the school that night.”
“Well, actually…” Susan wrung her hands in her lap. “Carolina and I found a receipt showing that he was at the gas station around the corner that night.”
“You found a receipt? How did you happen to find it and why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“I promised Carolina we’d look for more information first.”
“Go on,” said Lynette.
“Well.” Susan squirmed in her seat. “When we went through Vicky’s things, like I said, we found the restraining order and divorce papers.”
“Divorce papers?” said Lynette.
“Yes. I think you should dig a little deeper. At best, you can prove he’s innocent.”
“Thanks for telling me how to do my job, Mom. I’ll get on it. No more snooping though. How’s that scrap booking project coming along? “
Susan knew this was a good time to make her exit. She walked out of Lynette’s office. Jackson was sitting at the front desk.
“Thanks for stopping by Mrs. Wiles. What would we do without you?”
Susan wanted to wipe that sarcastic grin right off Jackson’s face but all she needed was to be locked up for assaulting a police officer. Instead, she said, “Bye Jackson, have a Merry Christmas.”
Chapter 15
On the way home, Susan decided to stop at Safeway to buy groceries for Christmas dinner. Let’s see, I’ll need a turkey, a small honey-glazed ham, potatoes, stuffing, and green beans, thought Susan. Maybe she would also buy some refrigerated cinnamon rolls and bacon to have for Christmas breakfast. The store wasn’t very crowded judging by the abundance of parking spaces. There was a display of fresh Christmas trees at the store entrance. Susan took a deliberate breath and drank in the aroma of fresh evergreens. She grabbed a grocery cart, wiped it down with the sanitary wipes the store now provided, and headed for the cinnamon rolls. Of course, she first had to stop and admire the poinsettias at the store entrance, rifle through the bin of colorful wrapping paper rolls, and check out the display of frosted Christmas cookies. She couldn’t help thinking that even grocery shopping was more fun during holiday time. Maybe she’d buy a tray of those cookies to send to Evan. He always did prefer store bought cookies to homemade. She wished that he could get away from med school for Christmas this year but it wasn’t possible.
Susan grabbed the cinnamon rolls and bacon. As she headed to the meat department, she saw a familiar face. At first she couldn’t place him, but then she realized that it was Blaze Conrad. He’d helped her set up the stage when Ryan was in the kindergarten program. Why is he grocery shopping in the middle of the day? Shouldn’t he be at work? Maybe he’d lost his job. Maybe he’d lost his job because he got angry and punched a coworker. See, there was that violent streak again. He probably did kill Vicky. And who’s that blond woman he’s with? I remember his wife and that isn’t her. I’ll bet Javier is innocent after all. That would be a huge relief for Carolina.
Susan decided to follow Blaze and the blond woman into the bakery section where an elderly woman in a Santa hat was handing out samples of fruit cake. Oh, my gosh, thought Susan. Did
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