One Chance: A Thrilling Christian Fiction Mystery Romance by Daniel Patterson Page A

Doug being there the last time she'd asked.
    This was the part of police work that didn't get shown a lot on the television shows. Hard leg work, asking questions of people and coming up dry time and again before you found what you were looking for. At the third house one block behind Ricky's Pub, Mrs. Betsy Isaacs suggested that the man across the street, Dan Hughes, may know something because, as she stated it, "He walks that snotty little Pomeranian of his at a quarter 'til seven every evening. Mouthy little mutt."
    Thanking her for her help and cooperation, Penelope turned to leave. "He's not at home right now," she said. "He goes to Jacksonville every Sunday to visit his mother. Still gone."
    "Did you see him leave yesterday?"
    "No, I didn't," Mrs. Isaacs replied with a small shrug, "and I haven't seen him come back either. Sometimes he stays until the next day. He should be back by suppertime, though. He's gotta walk that dog, you know."
    Penelope thanked her again and went back to her car. She had a feeling her neighbor with his noisy dog might have the information she was looking for so she planned to come back later in the evening. The feeling that she was on the right track lingered She took it as a good sign.

CHAPTER 20
    Returning to the police station, Penelope went directly to Sheriff Jackson's office. She knocked, heard the Sheriff tell her to come in. Closing the door behind her, she sat down in the same chair she'd been in that morning. "We've got a problem," she started to say.
    Sheriff Jackson waved her to silence. "Go ahead, Detective Greene," he said, and it was then that Penelope realized the Sheriff was on a conference call.
    "Who's that there with you?" the voice over the line said. Penelope recognized the booming bass tone immediately.
    "Donny Greene," Penelope said, a little louder so the phone would pick up her voice. "Haven't seen you in a dog's age."
    "Penelope Chance!" Donny said cheerfully. "I haven't seen or heard from you since you got engaged to that handsome Doctor Jacob Gordon. When's the first little Penelope due?"
    Penelope laughed at her old friend. "I'm not even married yet, Donny. I'll be doing that in a few more months. Jacob said he's willing to have ten kids, but I think two or three would be more than enough. I'll be sure to send you an invitation to the wedding, though. So what's up? Why the call?"
    The Sheriff was the one who answered him. "Michael Findley."
    The hair on the back of Penelope's neck stood up.
    "We can't find him over here," Donny explained. "Anywhere. But, we confirmed that the victim...uh, sorry Penelope, that Camille was living with him. A lot of his things are still in their house. The Sheriff was telling us that her son is over there with you?"
    "Yeah, that's right. Camille dropped him off to her ex-husband before going back to Gainesville and ending up dead. Her ex is in a lot of trouble now as it is, Donny. But put all that aside for a minute. I know why you can't find this Findley character."
    "Why's that?"
    The Sheriff looked at her, waiting.
    "Because he's here," Penelope explained. "That's what I was coming in to tell you, Sheriff. I've got at least two people who can identify him positively, and two others who probably could if I showed them a picture."
    There was silence in the room and on the phone line too.
    Then the Sheriff asked, "Do we know where he is now?"
    Penelope shook her head. "No. We don't. I'm looking into a few things and I'll know more soon. Donny, do you have time of death yet?"
    "Nope, not yet. The Medical Examiner's pretty backed up." the Detective answered.
    "Sheriff, I've buttoned down the timeline for Doug on Friday, at least for the early part of the evening."
    "And after that?" the Sheriff asked her.
    "I don't know yet," Penelope had to admit.
    The Sheriff nodded. "Detective Greene, we'll get back to you when we know more. Do the same for us, all right?"
    "Will do, Sheriff. Penelope, you still there?"
    "I'm here Donny."
    "You