Devils Among Us (Devin Dushane Series Book 1) by Chastity Harris Page A

back to get a better look at Beth’s face to see
if she was pulling her leg. Apparently not, because her face was still serene
as she relived the memories.
    “That is creepy.”
    “Hmm, you would think, but Laney loved it.” For the briefest
second Devin heard something in Beth’s voice slip. Bitterness? She remained
quiet and continued to watch Beth’s face as she spoke, but it gave away
nothing. “If I remember correctly it was a thank you. Devin had pushed Eloise
into trying out for the Science Bowl Team and she made it. Although Michael
hadn’t been too happy, apparently Eloise was very good, and he almost lost his
spot on the team.”
    The cousins talked their way through the morning like old friends,
catching up on years of births, deaths and achievements of all kinds. Devin was
especially thrilled with stories of her father’s childhood. They ended their
visit with Devin promising to come back the following night for dinner and to
meet Beth’s husband, Peter.
    “Oh, and when you come back tomorrow, I can show you my
photo album. I had a new camera the night…” Her voice faltered and softened. “That
night. And I took all kinds of pictures.”
    “Thank you Beth, but I’ve already seen them. There’s a set
in the case files.” Devin set her glass down on the tray and stood up to leave.
    “I had forgotten that. The police made a copy of all the
pictures on the roll in hopes of finding a clue. I guess that never worked
out.”
    Devin once again thanked Beth for her hospitality and
promised to come back the next day as she headed off the porch. Halfway down
the steps she stopped and turned back to Beth.
    “Could I ask you one more question?”
    Beth smiled the smile that turned her eyes into liquid
honey. “As long as it’s not my age or weight.”
    Devin grinned back at her. “No, nothing like that. I was
just wondering…lots of people lose siblings in horrific ways. Why do you think
Laney’s murder affected my father so profoundly?”
    Beth’s expression became serious, and Devin thought she saw
pity in her eyes. “Guilt. Bobby has always felt responsible for his sister’s
death.”

Chapter 9
    When Devin was back in her car, she fished her cell phone
out of the glove box. As she headed back across town to her Grandmother’s house,
she dialed the number for the sheriff’s office and crossed her fingers. It paid
off.
    “Sheriff’s Office, Detective Lentz speaking.”
    “Adam! Thank goodness. It’s Devin. I was sure Shane would
answer the phone.” She breathed her relief into the phone. She needed
information right now, not bad pick-up lines.
    “Hey, Devin. It’s always nice when a pretty lady wants to
talk to you.”
    Devin groaned internally. Not you, too! But her despair was
short-lived. Adam cut right to the chase.
    “What can the Fenton Sheriff’s Department do for you today?”
    “I need a last-known address for an individual I believe has
a record.”
    “Hang on one second Devin, let me get this computer going.”
She heard him feverishly hitting keys in the background as she waited. “Okay,
what’s the name?”
    “It’s Dean Delluca. I don’t have a middle name…” Adam’s bark
of laughter cut her off.
    “Oh yeah, he’s got a record.” She heard a flurry of key
strokes again. “Okay, here it is, Delluca, Dean Allen, 201 Eagle Street. I’ve
also got the current employer listed as Wilsons Tire and Auto on North Street. What else do you need?”
    As Devin pulled up to a stop sign she scribbled the
information onto the legal pad she kept on the seat beside her, then she tapped
her pen on her leg as she thought. She glanced in her rearview mirror to make
sure no cars were behind her, she needed to sit a little longer at this intersection.
    “What’s his sheet look like?”
    “Oh, where to begin? He’s got half a dozen misdemeanors, a
couple of felonies ranging from grand theft auto to armed robbery. He’s even
got a charge in here for transporting illegal alcohol