Murder by Numbers by Kaye Morgan Page A

with petty vandalism to keep the film crew around longer?”
    â€œThat might make sense, but I don’t see how it necessarily ties in with the current sabotage—unless they were planning to film a big scene on Main Street,” Ava cut her off. “It certainly doesn’t tie in with today’s bigger local story, where you were an eyewitness. So when can you talk to the paper about what you found?”
    â€œI’ll talk to the sheriff and see what he says,” Liza promised. “Meantime, maybe he’d appreciate a little help from a professional publicist.”
    Clements had already lived through one media circus generated by a high-profile, Hollywood-related murder case. And that case had already been solved. Liza was willing to bet the guy certainly wasn’t looking forward to daily press briefings for newspaper reporters from all over, local and network TV crews, and what Liza had already heard him call “the scumsuckers”—the tabloid press and television people eager for some scrap of celebrity dirt.
    â€œJust make sure you get the okay for a story—” The call-waiting tone cut in on Ava’s orders. Liza begged off, hit the flash button, and heard an equally ornery voice.
    â€œI’d have expected you to be down here by now, ready to help us get out.” Michelle Markson was definitely not in a good mood. “The media is assembling, and there are too many familiar faces out there already.”
    â€œWorking on it.”
    â€œWork faster then.”
    â€œI’m on my way.” Liza hung up on Michelle, said good-bye to Ava, and explained that she had to head back down to City Hall.
    â€œI still want that story,” Ava insisted.
    â€œI’ll do what I can.” Liza hung up, shook her head at the unfinished puzzle on her computer screen, then looked down at the disreputable sweats she was wearing and shook her head again. No time to change.
    She let Rusty out into the backyard and grabbed her purse.
    Traffic on Main Street was backed up almost to her neighborhood.
    Sure, there’s probably a battalion of television vans parked outside City Hall already , Liza thought. She took a circuitous route that brought her around the rear of the civic building, taking the side entrance that led to the mayor’s office. As she passed through the central lobby, Liza got a rear view of Sheriff Clements standing on the front steps, addressing the assembled media.
    â€œNot the time to ask about Ava’s article,” Liza murmured to herself as she entered the police side of the building.
    The same deputy as earlier manned the front desk, but the benches were empty. However, a knot of people stood gathered in a corner out of the direct view from any door.
    â€œFinally!” Michelle Markson growled. She stood at Jenny’s left elbow, while Michael stood at the right. From behind them emerged Alvin Hunzinger.
    Alvin had been bestowed the title “lawyer to the stars” due to his usually successful representation of Hollywood’s finest in various drunken misdemeanors and felony assaults, not to mention the occasional wrongful death or murder. Michelle had dispatched him to Santa Barbara when Liza had discovered Derrick Robbins’s dead body hanging head-down from a tree.
    This time around, Liza had thought her partner was taking things more in stride. But clearly that wasn’t Michelle’s way. She didn’t merely subscribe to the old Boy Scout motto, “Be prepared.” She operated more on the maxim, “In trying situations, always have overwhelming offensive firepower on hand at all times. And don’t be afraid to use it.”
    Apparently, Michelle’s call had dragged Alvin off the golf course.
    That was the only reason that Liza could think of to explain what he was wearing. Now, it was easy enough to discount Alvin’s legal smarts due to his laughably Elmer Fudd–like face and physique.