Away in a Murder by Tina Anne Page A

down at the table and got back to my breakfast. I invited Marlowe to help himself to the box of cereal that was on the table. He filled his bowl high and dug in. Did he not eat since our date last night? It didn’t look like it. And again, did he even taste his food?
    “Chocolate?” he said through a mouth full of cereal.
    “It’s healthy. It’s got fiber. The little chocolate bars just make is palatable.”
    I waited until he was done swallowing but not really tasting his second bowl before I asked him any questions. Then I just said, “So, what’s new?”
    He pushed the bowl aside and looked at me. “Thank you for breakfast.”
    “You’re welcome. What’s new? What’s happening with Al’s murder?”
    He looked at me and sighed. “You’re suspect number one.”
    This was no surprise. “I know. Frankie and I already made a list of suspects. He and I are on it. We both hated the guy and we were both embarrassed on national TV by him. Plus I have touched that knife several times while in Nigel’s office because I think it’s so cool.”
    “That’s the only reason your prints are on that knife? Right?” He looked at me kind of suspiciously.
    “Yes, it is. And by the way, my prints are out in cyber space or wherever prints go because we print everyone at the park and search national data bases for the background checks. I’ve never been arrested.”
    “I know. And I’m sure Frank would have loved it if you were.” He smiled at that. He had such a great smile.
    “So, for what time do I need to provide an alibi?” I asked.
    “We’re still tracking Mr. Learner’s whereabouts. We can’t pinpoint the exact time of death, yet.”
    So now that he was dead he was Mr. Learner. Funny how that happens.
    “Ok, well, I know we saw him the day before yesterday at the interview. I have not seen or heard from him since. And I spent a lot of time at home alone. So that doesn’t help you.”
    Marlowe reached over and gently grabbed my arm. “Where did you get those scratches?”
    “What scratches?” I turned my arm and looked at it. Yep, there were scratches there. I looked at my other arm just to make sure I didn’t have a matched set. But I did.
    “I have no idea,” I said honestly. I looked at the scratches. I tried to think back and remember where they could have come from.
    Marlowe just gave me one of those sideways looks. I wasn’t sure he believed me, but I was sure he wanted to.
    “You don’t know where those scratched came from?” he asked.
    “I don’t. I get scratches and little bruises all the time and have no clue where they come from. I was working in the gift shops yesterday. I probably got them while I was moving stock.  However, if you want to test them for Al’s DNA or something feel free.”
    “It’s probably too late, I assume you’ve showered already?” Marlowe asked.
    “I did.”
    “And besides I don’t think you are strong enough to carry Al’s body from the crime scene to the field where he was found. Frankly, if you had killed him, I think you’d be smart enough to dispose of the body properly and not put it on display for all to see. No, you’d have disposed of it.”
    “I will accept that as a complement,” I said. “But how do you know I didn’t panic?”
    “You don’t panic. Well, except for that one day in Nigel’s office. Are you ever going to tell me what that was all about?”
    “Maybe someday. I don’t think we’re close enough to share deep secrets yet.”
    “I can accept that. You’re still on my suspect list. Low on the list because I know you, but you’re still there. Lucky for you the hairs we found on his shirt weren’t yours.”
    “How do you know without my DNA?”
    “Because you’re hair is blonde and those were brown.”
    There was a knock at my door. I got up and let Frankie and Pete in. They both stopped at the sight of Marlowe sitting at my breakfast table. I could see they had the wrong impression.
    “Ooooh,” Pete said