Classic Revenge by Mitzi Kelly

definitely the wrong thing for him to say.
    Millie's eyes narrowed. "You can't allow it?"
    Larry tried another tactic. "What you're planning
on doing could interfere with a police investigation.
That's against the law. I'd hate to see any of you end up
in jail just because you think we're not doing our job,"
he said.
    Unfortunately, none of the ladies appeared frightened at the prospect of a night behind bars. He sighed,
running a hand across his face. "I'll make you a deal,"
he said resignedly. "I will do any investigating, and I
promise that I'll keep you informed with as much information as I can. You ladies keep on brainstorming, and
if you think you have an idea on a lead, you just tell me
and I'll do the follow up. So, are we agreed?"
    "Nope."
    Larry looked at Millie, but it soon became obvious
to him that she wasn't about to change her mind. He
quickly glanced at Edna, who just shrugged and shook
her head. With an imploring look, he turned to Trish.
    "I'm afraid we're not in agreement with you on that,
Larry. We're going to do whatever we can to help clear
Sam. From what we've seen so far, the authorities believe they have their man. I can't see them aggressively
pursuing other leads when they have so much else to do. People ignoring our speed trap are running rampant on
our streets"

    "It is absolutely unconscionable," Millie stated.
"And to think I used to feel safe in this community."
    Larry's look spoke volumes. The ladies' sarcasm
wasn't lost on him. "You honestly believe that we would
prefer to convict an innocent man of murder, instead of
the real criminal?"
    "I wouldn't say that," Edna said sweetly, reaching
over to pat Larry's hand. "We just feel that Chief Espinoza believes he already has the real criminal."
    "Why would he suggest I speak with you ladies, then?"
    "Isn't he up for re-election soon? We're all at the legal voting age, you know."
    Trish cleared her throat. "Millie, the Chief of Police is
appointed by the City Council. Henry won't be running
in an actual election. But she does have an interesting
point, Larry. Is he only trying to protect his reputation?"
    Larry sighed deeply, drumming his fingertips on the
table. "You're just going to have to trust me on this. Nobody has slammed the door shut on this case, but unless
somebody else confesses or new evidence is brought
forward, Sam Wiley will be standing trial for the murder of his wife. As I've said before, all the evidence
points directly at him."
    Millie slammed her hand down on the table. "Prove
it!"
    Larry looked at her warily. "Prove what?"
    "Prove we can trust you"
    "How do you propose I do that?"
    Millie didn't answer right away. Getting up, she
walked over to the counter and reached into her purse. Turning, she walked back and placed a folded piece of
paper in front of Larry. Edna's eyes widened, and she
looked at Trish. Millie was handing over their list of suspects !

    "What's this?" Larry asked as he unfolded the paper
and laid it flat on the table.
    "We believe the killer is on that list," Millie said
dramatically.
    Trish groaned and dropped her head in her hand.
"Millie ... "
    After he had skimmed the twenty-odd names on the
list, Larry leaned back in his chair and very slowly let
his gaze fall on each woman. He would have made a
great school principal, Trish thought as she squirmed in
her chair. Edna very wisely kept her own eyes directed
at her hands in her lap. Millie, naturally, appeared totally unfazed as she stared right back at him.
    Larry flicked the edge of the paper with his finger.
"Where did you get this?"
    Millie shrugged. "We asked Sam who he had associated with in the last few years, and we came up with
that list of names"
    "And what makes you think one of these people
killed Susan?"
    "Because," Millie blurted impatiently, "whoever did
this intentionally made Sam look like the guilty party.
That means it was someone who knows Sam."
    "What motive would someone have to murder