Bad Samaritan by Aimée Thurlo Page B

Agatha said.
    â€œSlipping away with a bag of hot dogs from the cooler is a lot easier than drugging a hot dog on the production line. Everyone’s watching you there, giving you instructions on how much mustard they want, hold the onions, more ketchup, stuff like that. You couldn’t fiddle around with the food once it was on the counter, either. Half a dozen people would see you for sure.”
    â€œOkay, Cruzer, we believe you,” Sister Agatha said. “Will you keep an eye out for anyone who’s dealing and pass on any information you get?”
    â€œSure. I’ll do my best to get a name to you in a few days.”
    As they headed back to the newspaper office, the roar of the chopper would have made conversation impossible even if they hadn’t been wearing helmets.
    Sister Agatha parked a short time later, and Chuck climbed out of the sidecar. “Sister Agatha, I’ve been giving this some thought, and I’m going to stay away from you at the funeral tomorrow. Marquez is bound to be there, and it’ll be better if he doesn’t link us.”
    â€œGood thinking—and thanks for your help today, Chuck.”
    â€œNo problem.”
    â€œThank you, too, for not correcting Cruzer when he misinterpreted why we were interested in the drugs,” she added, revving up the engine. “Information like that is better off staying between us for the time being.”
    â€œI figured that,” he said, petting Pax one last time. “Where are you off to now?”
    She hesitated. “It’s better if you don’t know.”
    He gave her a somber nod. “Just be careful, Sister. You don’t want to end up becoming the killer’s next target.”
    â€œI’m pretty sure God has other plans for me, Chuck. Don’t worry.”

8
    S ISTER AGATHA DROVE DIRECTLY TO TOM’S HOUSE NEXT . It was time for them to speak privately. She was certain that he was holding something back, and that wouldn’t do him or his case any good.
    As she pulled up, Sister Agatha saw the living room curtain move back slightly and caught a glimpse of Tom standing to one side. Sister Agatha waved at him just as Gloria opened the front door and came out, purse in hand.
    â€œI’m off to the store, Sister, but I should warn you that Tom’s behaving like a caged bear today. We had a visit from Detective Marquez, and Tom’s mood went downhill after that,” she said, slipping inside her car. “One more thing—I heard Detective Marquez say that he’d hang your hide and habit to the wall if he caught you interfering with his investigation.”
    â€œThen I’ll have to make sure he doesn’t catch me,” Sister Agatha said with a quick smile.
    As Gloria drove away, Tom met Sister Agatha at the front door. “I hope you’ve brought me some good news,” he said, bending down to scratch Pax between the ears.
    â€œActually, I’ve come because you and I need to talk. I know you too well, Tom, not to notice you’re holding something back,” she said, following him into the kitchen side of the great room. “With Gloria out shopping, it’s just you and me, so let’s stop wasting each other’s time. What’s going on?”
    â€œI’ve told you everything that pertains to the murder. You have my word on that.”
    She leaned back in her chair and gave him a cold glare. “That’s not good enough, Tom. There’s something else going on beneath the surface, and in murder investigations, things like that often hold important clues. You know that as well as I do. Stop playing games.”
    She was about to say more when they both heard a car pulling into the driveway. It was followed immediately by the sound of a second approaching vehicle.
    Seconds later, Gloria came back into the house, empty-handed except for her purse. Officer Sanchez, a deputy with the sheriff’s department, was