Page 82 of M for Murder

Joel scowled at her and snatched the paper from her hand. ‘It’s my job to snoop,’ he told her, unfolding the letter and reading it to himself.

Lawrie,

I have to get away for a while and get my head together. I’ll call you in a couple of days and explain.

Love, Kylan

He reread the note, then folded it up and put it in his jacket pocket. Angell looked at him, her green eyes wide with interest. ‘So?’

‘So what?’

‘Don’t be a jerk, Hickok. What did the note say?’

He gave a nonchalant shrug. ‘Just that she’s decided to skip town for a while.’

‘You’re kidding?’

‘No kidding.’ Joel picked up the phone on the wall and called the precinct. It rang twice before it was answered.

‘It’s Hickok,’ he said brusquely. ‘Put me through to Agent Sutton.’

There was a pause while his call was transferred, then he heard Max’s gravelly voice.

‘Hey, buddy! How’d you get on? The little lady home?’

‘Nope,’ Joel told him. ‘Seems like the little lady decided to take a vacation.’

‘Say what?’

‘She’s skipped town, Max. Left a note on the kitchen table for Parker telling him she needed to get away and she’ll call in a couple of days.’

Max let out a low whistle. ‘Oh boy, is he up shit creek without a paddle. Boaz can give him an alibi for the early part of the evening, but for later on, you know that without her he doesn’t have any kind of alibi?’

‘I know.’

‘Do you have any idea where she went?’

‘Are you kidding? We don’t even know if she’s still in the country.’

‘Guess I’d better go break the news to him, huh?’ Max said, not sounding at all disappointed.

Joel wondered if perhaps he’d been having a hard time with Parker since he’d left.

‘I guess so,’ he muttered. ‘Well, I’ll lock up here and be back in a short while.’

‘Okay, pal. See you shortly.’

Joel hung up the phone.

‘What did he say?’ Angell asked, an expectant look on her face.

Ignoring her question, he pushed his way past her and out of the kitchen. All the doors leading off the hallway were closed, and he made his way along the wall, opening them one by one. Angell followed him.

‘What are you doing?’ she questioned, her tone suspicious.

‘Looking,’ Joel told her curtly.

‘Looking for what?’