Death on a Deadline

to bring the cavalry, but the desk sergeant said they were already here. Betty felt sorry for me and told me what happened.”
    “You’re in your pajamas.” She surely knew it, but I just couldn’t grasp the fact that she’d rushed out without getting dressed. I was the sister who did that kind of thing.
    “Surely you didn’t think I’d take time to dress when the alarm went off at seven and you weren’t there.”
    “I’m sorry,” I groaned. “Did Betty tell you that Brendan’s dead?”
    “Yes.” She lowered her voice. “And that he’s the murderer. She could probably get fired for that, but like I said, I guess she felt sorry for me.”
    “That part we’ll talk about later. John’s got some harebrained idea that Brendan meant to kill me this morning, but if that’s the case why did he kill himself and burn his house down?”
    She shrugged. “Who knows?”
    “Who all did you call while you were driving over here?” I waved weakly at Daddy who was walking toward us.
    “Everyone on speed dial.”
    A familiar truck squealed to a stop in the driveway just as Daddy got to us. “Is Alex on your speed dial?”
    She twisted around and watched as he jumped out of the truck. “ ’Fraid so.”
    Daddy hugged us both quickly. “You all right?”
    We nodded.
    “Let me find out what’s going on, girls,” he said and strode across the lawn to where John stood.
    “That’s Daddy. Take-Charge Stafford. Get answers and get ’em now,” I said quietly.
    “Humph.” Carly looked from him to me. “Looks like someone’s a chip off the old block.”
    “You make a habit of slipping out before daylight to go meet murderers?”
    I spun around.
    Alex’s face was a study of puzzlement and pain.
    “Only when they invite me.”
    He pulled me close. “You scared me to death.”
    “I’m sorry. It made perfect sense at the time.” I relaxed for a minute against him, then pushed back and looked at him. “Besides, I don’t think he’s the murderer.”
    “Then maybe you need to take a look at this.” John’s gruff voice cut into our conversation. He held out a note sealed in a ziplock bag. “We found this taped to the mailbox,” he said, grimly.
    Alex took it and read aloud, “ ‘I’m sorry about Hank. It wasn’t supposed to happen that way. And tell Jenna I’m sorry for what I almost did to her.’ ” He looked up at me bleakly. “It’s signed ‘Brendan Stiles.’ ”
    John looked at the four of us. “This information isn’t to leave this circle. Are we clear on that?”
    We all nodded.
    “The way we figure it, Hank got wind that Brendan was dealing drugs illegally. Hank’s autopsy results came in a week or so ago. Turns out a drug overdose was the real cause of his death. The golf club was just an added bonus.”
    “So naturally that means the pharmacist did it.”
    John glared at me and waved the plastic bag at me. “When you have a signed confession, it does.”
    “Well, that’s certainly convenient, isn’t it?” I asked and they all turned as one to look at me. “Brendan’s dead. And he’s the murderer. Oh, and he ran me off the road.”
    John nodded. “That about sums it up, the best we can figure it.”
    “Well maybe you need to start refiguring. Mama always told me that when something looked too good to be true, it probably was.” I picked up my bike and sat it up on its wheels. “Murderers don’t normally tie themselves up in a neat little bow.” I rolled the bicycle over to Alex’s truck, leaving them to think whatever they wanted.
    “You want a hand with that?” Alex asked.
    I scrutinized his face. “You on my side? Or you think I’m crazy?”
    “I tend to agree with you, but I think maybe you should use a bit more discretion. Try a little harder not to get yourself killed.” He took the bike and put his hand over mine with the same motion. “There are people who’d be extremely disappointed if that happened.”
    “Like you?” I said, and relinquished the bike as he lifted it effortlessly into the bed of the truck.
    His eyes flickered back to where Daddy and Carly were locked in a deep conversation, no doubt debating my sanity. “Among others. But yes, definitely me.”
    I could see the concern in his eyes. Underneath the banter, Alex needed me to reassure him. He was worried about me. That should have annoyed me, but it didn’t.
    “I promise, Alex, from now on discretion is my middle name.”
    “Good.” He pulled me gently into his arms. I