Santa Sleuth by Kathi Daley Page A

large bowls and began to sort them into a pile. “Maybe you can talk her into taking Madeline over to your place to hang out with your animals and then coming into town for some food.”
    “That’s a good idea. We can close Madeline into one of the bedrooms if we need to. I’m not sure how well she’ll like all our dogs. Not only are my three at the house but Ellie brought Shep over and Levi dropped Karloff off on his way into town as well. I’ll text Zak to suggest it, although he hasn’t answered the last two texts I’ve sent him,” I continued. “I imagine cell reception could be sketchy in some of the more isolated areas.”
    I grabbed as many bowls as I could carry and Jeremy picked up his stack and we headed back up the stairs.
    “Maybe we can stop by to pick her up after we check on the animals at the Zoo,” Jeremy suggested.
    “Good idea. I won’t even bother Zak with it. I’m sure he has his hands full rescuing stranded motorists.”
    We told Ellie what we were doing and promised Phyllis we would stop off to check on the two cats who lived in her house, then Jeremy and I set off into the storm. Living in the mountains, I was used to winter storms, and even somewhat used to blizzards, but the snow had to be falling at the rate of several inches an hour. The main roads were passable, but it was going to be hard to navigate the side roads even with my big truck.
    We arrived at the Zoo to find the generators pumping and Tank and his brother Gunnar warm and toasty, sharing a night cap and playing a game of cards. They assured us they’d checked the fuel for the generators and had plenty, and both planned to sleep on the cots we provided for just that purpose.
    When we were satisfied that things were under control at the Zoo, Jeremy and I went by to check on the cats at Phyllis’s and then headed toward Mrs. Broomsfield’s house. It was slow going with all the snow, so we passed the time catching each other up on the events of the past few days. I began by filling him in on the investigation into Jason Overland’s death and the progress, or perhaps I should say lack of progress, that I’d made.
    “Who have you definitely eliminated by confirming an alibi?” Jeremy asked as I struggled to find the road markers.
    “Bram Willard said he was working. I didn’t actually speak to the clerks he assured me would vouch for him, but it doesn’t make sense he would provide me with an alibi if he was lying. I’m pretty sure I can cross him off the list, though he was pretty open about his desire to do away with the man. I suppose he could have hired someone to do it.”
    “True, but by that logic anyone could have hired someone. For now, let’s just assume that a firm alibi will eliminate a suspect. Watch out for that tree.”
    I swerved to avoid a tree that was down in the middle of the road. Luckily, I was going slowly because I hadn’t seen it until I was almost upon it.
    “The bartender at Lucky’s confirmed that Riley was there until midnight, so we can eliminate her,” I continued. “I didn’t think to ask Tina about an alibi, but I’ll work it into the conversation when I see her next. Kelly was passed out on the floor when I blacked out, but Salinger pointed out that she could have woken up and stabbed Jason, then passed out again. Still, someone set the fire and I really doubt it was her, so I’m inclined to believe she didn’t do it. Besides, she was pretty beaten up; it’s unlikely she would have been able to overpower Jason to stab him.”
    “I don’t know. Rage has a way of making you stronger than you normally would be,” Jeremy pointed out. “I wouldn’t totally discount the idea that Kelly could have regained consciousness, stabbed Jason, and then passed out again, but you’re correct in thinking she most likely wouldn’t have started the fire.”
    “I guess I can move Kelly to the maybe list. She seems an unlikely suspect, but the more we discuss this the more I can see