Here are selected excerpts from my current work-in-progress, the fourth Ned McNeil moonlight mystery. I hope you enjoy it.
My dog nosed Tom’s leg, then flopped onto the floor at my feet. At least, Ulysses hadn’t growled. That was a good sign.
Tom ran his hand through his hair and drew a deep breath. “I’ve heard about the part you’ve had in solving a couple of past murders here. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you’re interested in the Saunders case.” His voice lightened. “You sounded sort of a like a detective. You asked a lot of questions, things I don’t know the answer to.”
I nodded. “ I’m sorry I caused you to think about something I know you’d rather forget.”
He bit his lip. “You’re right. I wish I could forget it, but more than that, I wish it hadn’t happened. Since it did, and since I’m sure my dad is not a murderer, I’d like to know what really went on at the farm that night.”
“I wonder, Miss Ned, if you’d sort of take a look at old newspaper accounts, which I’ve already done, but you might see something I missed, maybe talk to people, or see if there’s anything that would throw some doubt about my dad being a murderer.”
In all the surprising events of this day, this was the most surprising of all. I thought Tom wanted the whole thing forgotten and buried; now, he was asking me to start digging into it.
“I’m not sure what I can do,” I said. “It was a long time ago, and, actually, I wouldn’t know where to start. Daisy plans to tear the house down.”
He was silent, staring at me. Finally, he said, “That may be the best thing that could happen. I don’t know why she bought it in the first place. Only one thing wrong with that. If there’s something in the house that might point to my dad’s innocence, it’ll be destroyed too.”
Ulysses sighed and rested his chin on my foot. I reached down and patted his head. “I’m going to be blunt, Tom. If you don’t think your dad killed Saunders and then ran off, who do you think did kill him and where is your father?”
Tom rose from his chair and stood looking down at me. “That, Miss Ned, is what I hope you’ll find out.”
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