Deadly Accusations by Debra Purdy Kong Page A

11:00 AM , right around the time Jasmine was shot. Two seniors had even greeted him, and both were adamant this was the same man who delivered their mail every day. The information had been a little depressing, yet she still wasn’t convinced of Noel’s guilt.
    Casey stepped out of the pickup, raised the hood on her jacket, and put on a pair of glasses. It wasn’t much of a disguise, but it was dark outside and no one would see her clearly. As long as she didn’t get close to Birch, she’d be safe. She tucked the binoculars under her arm and patted the dog.
    â€œOkay, Cheyenne, act like you belong here, honey.” With any luck, no one would pay attention to a couple walking their dog.
    The entrance was wide enough for one vehicle to pass through. Evergreens flanked each side of the entrance. An asphalt lane divided the trailer park into two rows, with twelve units on each side. Casey shivered in the cool October air. Thankfully, it wouldn’t take long to find Birch’s place.
    â€œWhat number is his trailer?” Lou murmured.
    â€œNineteen. Marie said he drives an old brown Dodge Dart.”
    Floodlights on either side of the entrance provided more light than Casey wanted. She pulled her hood farther down, then taking Lou’s arm, strolled down the middle of the lane. Even in mobile home parks, trailers were not created equal. Two were double-wides. Some had tiny porches on the side. One enterprising soul had installed fancy pane windows with shutters and flower boxes. The place was quiet; no loud music anywhere.
    Casey said, “Judging from the numbers, Birch’s place must be near the end on the left side.”
    â€œThen let’s stick to the right.”
    â€œThere it is,” she whispered. “Single-wide three from the end.”
    Light came from a small window on the side nearest them. Open blinds covered the larger window overlooking the lane.
    â€œThere’s his car.” Lou nodded toward the Dart in the carport next to the side door.
    â€œI don’t see anyone . . . Whoa.” Casey stopped. “Who’s that?”
    A woman in a white T-shirt strolled past the large window at the end of the trailer. Casey could see her profile and dark braided hair, and then the woman moved out of view.
    â€œShe wasn’t wearing anything under her shirt,” Lou whispered.
    â€œYou noticed the double D-cup, huh?”
    â€œHard not to.”
    True. Strolling past the trailer, she glanced at the windows. All were too high to see if Jeremy was up and about. They reached the end of the lane and turned around. A gust of wind rustled Casey’s open jacket. Leaves fluttered in the trees behind them. Buttoning up, she looked at the ravine on the other side of the fence.
    â€œLet’s see if I can spot Birch or his guest.” She focused the binoculars on the smaller side window. “She’s back in view and Birch is with her. Oh, he’s kissing her.”
    Cheyenne gave a loud bark and took off down the lane.
    â€œShe’s after a raccoon!” Lou started running.
    Casey raced after him. “I thought you had her leash.”
    â€œI did, loosely.”
    Afraid of attracting attention by yelling the dog’s name, Casey kept quiet. Cheyenne disappeared between two single-wides. They caught up with her whimpering in front of the chain-link fence bordering the ravine. Casey grabbed her leash. Movement on the other side of the fence made Cheyenne bark. Crap. Everyone in the park would know they were here.
    Casey knelt beside her. “Hush, Cheyenne.”
    â€œThe raccoon must have escaped through that hole.” Lou pointed to a small opening at the base of the fence.
    Casey glanced at various trailer windows and froze. “We’re being watched.”
    Across the lane, a man stood in front of his window. Fighting the urge to dash for Lou’s pickup, Casey strolled toward the exit. If they were lucky,