“Yes.”
“According to Ms. Williford, you jumped over the counter and tackled her. Is that correct?”
“Yes. It is.”
“Well, I must say she is a lucky girl to still be alive.”
“Yes, but she still got injured,” sighed Larkin compassionately, trying to hide the contempt he held for her. “If only—”
Not being able to hold back any longer, Wyler interrupted, “Wait a second, could someone please tell me what is going on around here?”
Although Larkin knew the whole story, he could not relate it without bringing up further questions, so he said, “I am not exactly sure myself.”
Chief Ellison gave them a puzzled look and said, “Oh! I am sorry I thought Rex had filled you in. Come with me.” They sauntered over to the front near the door where Jezalyn sat on the stretcher all bandaged up.
The paramedic remarked, “She doesn’t actually need to go to the hospital; it’s only a mild flesh wound. I gave her a sedative to help her relax. I must say whoever bandaged her before I got here did a good job. The injury had already begun to clot by the time I came on the scene.” With no further injury to attend to, he announced his departure. “Well, I have to get going; my wife called, and she thinks one of the girls twisted an ankle.” Turning directly to the Ellison, he said, “By the way, Chief, my wife said for me to invite you to Sunday dinner.”
The chief raised his hand and with a smile said, “Thanks, Ray. Tell Olive and the girls that I said hi, and I would love to come over for Sunday dinner.”
Ray waved his hand backward as he exited the bookstore with the stretcher, “Sure will, Lloyd. See ya Sunday.”
Now that Ray was gone, Chief Ellison’s expression turned serious. “I usually don’t tell anyone the particulars of an ongoing investigation, but I think I have this one pretty much wrapped up, so I will tell y’all what we are going to do about this situation.”
Jezalyn stood quietly with a red spotted bandage where blood had seeped through in certain spots on her neck and thought, What happened? It all happened so fast. Does he know Larkin attacked me? She scowled at Larkin, Of course he knows. I am being ridiculous. I told him Larkin jumped over the counter and attacked me, but why would he attack me? And why has he not been arrested yet? She took a deep breath trying to calm down as she contemplated his motive for attacking her.
Everyone else stared at Lloyd waiting for him to go on, but he did not. He simply peered out of the window until Wyler finally broke the silence and said, “I still don’t know what is going on.” He thought to himself, Please don’t say you are going to have to take Larkin in.
He slowly turned around toward them. “Here is what happened and what is going to happen,” he said as all eyes were upon him. Even Jezalyn had abandoned her pondering to listen, but another thought instinctively crossed her mind, I hope he arrests Larkin so that he won’t be able to try attacking me again.
Lloyd asked, “Do you know the Petersons?”
All except for Wyler shook their heads no. Wyler said, “Don’t the Petersons own the general store?”
“Yes, and since it will be local news instead of standard gossip tomorrow morning, I might as well go ahead and mention that Mr. Peterson was having an affair with Greta from over at the post office.”
“Oh, I hadn’t heard about that,” said Wyler as the others attentively listened to the conversation.
The chief continued, “I received a dispatch of domestic dispute. My deputy was the first on scene; he heard it from his parked car at the tire shop next door. It seems Mrs. Peterson found out about her husband and Greta. Distraught by her husband’s actions, she grabbed one of the store’s pistols, loaded it, and unloaded a few rounds at her husband. She claims she only intended to scare him.”
Wyler directly responded, “Was anyone hurt over there?”
“No. When we arrived, she was sitting in
“According to Ms. Williford, you jumped over the counter and tackled her. Is that correct?”
“Yes. It is.”
“Well, I must say she is a lucky girl to still be alive.”
“Yes, but she still got injured,” sighed Larkin compassionately, trying to hide the contempt he held for her. “If only—”
Not being able to hold back any longer, Wyler interrupted, “Wait a second, could someone please tell me what is going on around here?”
Although Larkin knew the whole story, he could not relate it without bringing up further questions, so he said, “I am not exactly sure myself.”
Chief Ellison gave them a puzzled look and said, “Oh! I am sorry I thought Rex had filled you in. Come with me.” They sauntered over to the front near the door where Jezalyn sat on the stretcher all bandaged up.
The paramedic remarked, “She doesn’t actually need to go to the hospital; it’s only a mild flesh wound. I gave her a sedative to help her relax. I must say whoever bandaged her before I got here did a good job. The injury had already begun to clot by the time I came on the scene.” With no further injury to attend to, he announced his departure. “Well, I have to get going; my wife called, and she thinks one of the girls twisted an ankle.” Turning directly to the Ellison, he said, “By the way, Chief, my wife said for me to invite you to Sunday dinner.”
The chief raised his hand and with a smile said, “Thanks, Ray. Tell Olive and the girls that I said hi, and I would love to come over for Sunday dinner.”
Ray waved his hand backward as he exited the bookstore with the stretcher, “Sure will, Lloyd. See ya Sunday.”
Now that Ray was gone, Chief Ellison’s expression turned serious. “I usually don’t tell anyone the particulars of an ongoing investigation, but I think I have this one pretty much wrapped up, so I will tell y’all what we are going to do about this situation.”
Jezalyn stood quietly with a red spotted bandage where blood had seeped through in certain spots on her neck and thought, What happened? It all happened so fast. Does he know Larkin attacked me? She scowled at Larkin, Of course he knows. I am being ridiculous. I told him Larkin jumped over the counter and attacked me, but why would he attack me? And why has he not been arrested yet? She took a deep breath trying to calm down as she contemplated his motive for attacking her.
Everyone else stared at Lloyd waiting for him to go on, but he did not. He simply peered out of the window until Wyler finally broke the silence and said, “I still don’t know what is going on.” He thought to himself, Please don’t say you are going to have to take Larkin in.
He slowly turned around toward them. “Here is what happened and what is going to happen,” he said as all eyes were upon him. Even Jezalyn had abandoned her pondering to listen, but another thought instinctively crossed her mind, I hope he arrests Larkin so that he won’t be able to try attacking me again.
Lloyd asked, “Do you know the Petersons?”
All except for Wyler shook their heads no. Wyler said, “Don’t the Petersons own the general store?”
“Yes, and since it will be local news instead of standard gossip tomorrow morning, I might as well go ahead and mention that Mr. Peterson was having an affair with Greta from over at the post office.”
“Oh, I hadn’t heard about that,” said Wyler as the others attentively listened to the conversation.
The chief continued, “I received a dispatch of domestic dispute. My deputy was the first on scene; he heard it from his parked car at the tire shop next door. It seems Mrs. Peterson found out about her husband and Greta. Distraught by her husband’s actions, she grabbed one of the store’s pistols, loaded it, and unloaded a few rounds at her husband. She claims she only intended to scare him.”
Wyler directly responded, “Was anyone hurt over there?”
“No. When we arrived, she was sitting in
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