Shopping is Murder (McKinley Mysteries Book 6) by Carolyn Arnold Page B

expected one.

 

     
    Narrowing It Down
     
    THEY WERE BOTH IN THE main sitting room of their house when Sean ’s phone chimed, notifying him of a new email. Before he could check it out, it rang. He caught the caller ID and answered.   “Hey, Jimmy, you’re on speaker. Sara’s here too.”
    “Hello, Sara.”
    “Hey, were you able to find anything for us?”
    “I’ve taken care of everything. The autopsy and toxicology will be started today. As you know, the tox results will—”
    “Take about a week. It hasn’t been that long. I still remember.” Sean smiled. The delays inherent with the job weren’t something that he missed. In fact, the best parts he took with him. Being able to find true closure for a case was something that spoke to his soul.
    “I was also able to get what else you asked for, and I just sent you over a list.”
    “I believe I got it. Thanks, Jimmy.”
    “Don’t mention it. Just keep me informed if you find something, would you?”
    “Of course. Now remember—”
    Sean was smiling. “No one dies today.”
    “That’s right.” Jimmy clicked off without saying good-bye.
    “That man really was the best part of the job.” Sara settled back into the couch and crossed her arms. “I’m happy that he’s still a part of our life.”
    “That makes two of us, darling.” Sean kissed her forehead before going back to his phone and accessing the email. “There were eleven receipts in Jerrod Hill’s wallet.”
    She smiled. “It could be worse. There could be more.”
    “Always optimistic.” He felt warmth surge through him. He was truly blessed to have Sara by his side.
    She got to her feet. “Darling, it seems to me it’s time to go shopping.”

     
    Three receipts tied back to chain department stores, which they were able to cross off the list right away, having pre-existing knowledge of what their bags were like. That left them with eight more.
    The stores were spread throughout the mall, and even Sara had to admit the shopping venture would have been an exhausting one. Right now though, it wasn ’t the span the stores covered, it was the fact they were running out of time before closing.
    The good news was, for most of the stores, people were usually coming out and it made it easy to mark them off.
    Sara stopped outside of a poster store. “Let’s think this through a little more. Can I see the list again?”
    “Of course.” Sean brought up the emailed list and handed his phone to Sara.
    “So, we’ve crossed these off the list,” she spoke out loud as she mentally marked off another four. “This leaves us with four stores. The mall will be closing in a half an hour. We have to think about who would have the need for a small bag.” She glimpsed a nearby window display. “Dee-Dee’s Diamonds. Sean, they would—”
    Sean had his hands in his pockets and was swaying his upper torso. He avoided eye contact. The posture lent itself to her imagining he was about to whistle and made her think of the phrase the cat that ate the canary …
    “You know it’s not them.” She smiled and waited for his gaze to reach her, which it did, within a second of calling him out.
    “Maybe.” He dragged out the word, playfully.
    Her eye shot to her wrist, which was adorned with a diamond bracelet. It had been a gift from him over in Europe. She thought of the gems in her ears—another gift overseas. She truly was getting spoiled, and a good portion of her didn ’t mind at all. In fact, she soaked it in.
    “Can I see what it is, darling?” she asked, certain to flutter her lashes.
    “Yes. Christmas morning.”
    “Christmas morning? It’s still a month away.”
    “Come on, darling, I don’t make the rules.” He slipped his arms around her waist. She held up his phone between them. He leaned in for a kiss. She pulled back.
    “Oh no, we have a murder to solve first.” She smirked. “Darling, time is running out, and you know, I don’t make the rules.”
    He released her, but