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It was the perfect vacation for two good friends... until it wasn't. Death and jail would interfere.
Traveling from Bradford, Pennsylvania to Kalispell, Montana for two weeks of fishing and relaxation had all the earmarks of a great time. When things went awry, the local police were of little assistance. The body belonged to the Chief of Police of Bradford, PA. His associate was hustled into jail. Friends back home in Pennsylvania are furious and want answers. They are heading to Montana to get them.
EXCERPT
FROM ALMOST A TOUCH [Book three in the Klondike Mystery Series]:
As Hank kept
an eye on the trespasser, Alan continued with his questions. "Dave was
shot. Do you have any idea what happened? I know it's early–"
The new
deputy stuck his thumbs into his belt and scowled. "Who are you?"
"Sorry.
Deputy Smythe, this is Alan Baumann, a close personal friend of the
deceased."
Smythe's
glower deepened. "We need to wait for the crime scene techs but it looks
pretty straightforward. This was a suicide. Plain and simple." He crossed
his arms and challenged anyone to argue with his finding.
Alan was
speechless. His face turned red, and he sputtered out sounds, not words. Hank
walked up just as Alan spit out "The HELL you say!"
"What
did I miss?"
"This
arrogant bastard is trying to say Dave committed suicide." He turned back
to Smythe. "No way in hell would that ever happen."
The deputy
shrugged, but a smirk let his true sentiment show.
Hank studied
the deputy. "Don't I know you?" All he got in return was a shrug.
"Sure I do. You're related to Georgina, Smitty. The owner of The Wagging
Tail. Right?"
The deputy
laughed but his face wasn't smiling. "My ditzy cousin. Yeah, we're
related."
Hank nodded,
recalling several stories he'd heard from both Smitty and Sandy during their
high school years. He'd update Alan privately after they left.
But Alan
wasn't ready to be distracted by small talk. "Fine, you know him. He's
still a jerk. Dave would never kill himself and it ticks me off that any
officer would even consider that a possibility."
Alan was
close to a foot shorter than the deputy but that didn't deter him from getting
up in his face. "You'd better find out what really happened and
fast!"
"Are
you threatening me?"
"If you
don't do your job, then damn right I am!" Alan's face was scarlet and his
breath was coming in short, hard puffs.
Smythe
leaned down. "You think you're a tough little man, don't you? Your buddy
is dead by his own hand and nothing you can say or do will ever change that.
Capiche?"
Before he
could straighten, Alan cocked his fist and punched him, knocking him flat. Hank
chuckled while Deputy Finehorn outright laughed and muttered, "Serves him
right. He's overdue to be taken down a peg."
Deputy
Chasen sent a frown to Finehorn just as Smythe stood. Rubbing his face, he
reached back and grabbed his handcuffs. "You're under arrest for
assaulting an officer of the law." Alan took one step back as Smythe moved
towards him with the open cuffs.
The other
deputies protested. "It was just a gut reaction, Smythe. Give it a
break."
"Hey
man, he just lost a good friend. Chill."
"C'mon,
do the decent thing. Relax."
Smythe
ignored everyone, focussing in on his perceived enemy. Alan was nonplussed and
extended his hands, obviously realizing this wasn't the time to argue.
Chasen
sighed. "If you're determined to do this, skip the cuffs. Mr. Baumann
isn't resisting arrest. You don't have to treat him like a criminal."
Smythe
huffed, "But the truth is, he is. He sucker-punched me–"
Finehorn chimed
in. "Give it a break, Smythe. You're being a dick and we all know
it."
Hank was too
stunned to say anything while his head swiveled from man to man as they argued.
Stuffing his
cuffs away, Smythe motioned to Alan to walk ahead of him, asking Chasen,
"You need me anymore? I can lock him in the car–"
With another
large sigh, Chasen responded. "You're done here. Go do what you think you
have to." Under his breath, he muttered, "Asshole." Shaking his
head he turned to Hank. "I'm sorry about Mr. Baumann. Smythe can have a
bit of a temper."
Hank had to
laugh. "Evidently so does Alan."

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