Blood Bath

Chapter 27

The alarm rang and Colton rolled out of bed. As he got dressed for his route, he kept thinking about yesterday's visit with Doyle. Questions filled his mind. I wonder what information they have on Jenny's family? Could the killer be a family member? I wonder if the video has anything of use on it? Will the fingerprints clear me? I wonder if Luke knows who killed Jenny. He stopped worrying to concentrate on his work. Tomorrow I might find the answers, he concluded.

When he stepped outside he was hit with a strong wind and snow. Over three inches of snow covered the Jeep and driveway. He knew the forecast called for a possibility of snow, but this was reality. I hate snow; he thought.

Upon arriving at the Pigeon storage locker, he saw the other two drivers waiting for the truck. Colton got out to talk with Rob and Joey.

"Any idea when the truck will get here?" Colton asked.

Rob said, "I called, and they said the printing press broke. They don't know when it will be fixed, so we have to wait."

Joey laughed, coughed, and had another drag on his cigarette. "It's two-thirty now. The last time they broke the press, they were five hours late. We could be here all night and then we still have to get the papers delivered."

Rob suggested a game of cards, Joey said he would take a nap, and Colton said, "I'll listen to my audiobook."

They each walked to their vehicle and waited. Colton grabbed the heavy coat and blanket he kept in the jeep for emergencies. He considered running the Jeep for heat but decided to save gas.

Listening to the Baldacci novel made the hours tick by faster. His book was interrupted by a honking horn and Colton turned around to see the company truck pulling up next to the storage shed. According to his watch, the truck was three hours late. It was four o'clock by the time he had the Jeep loaded.

Rob yelled, "Good luck with your deliveries and have a good Thanksgiving. At least the snow stopped!"

"Thanks Rob. Can you believe how big these newspapers are?" Colton yelled back. "My Jeep will never be the same."

The deliveries went slow, at first. It took Colton a while to figure out how fast he could drive, and how to avoid slipping into the ditch when he stopped to deliver a paper. After an hour of deliveries he was at The Point Market. He turned into the driveway when he noticed two police cars. There were several other people standing around the newspaper rack.

Colton drove up and stopped. He got out and walked over to talk with Deputy Ned who was walking toward him.

"What happened, Ned?" he asked.

"Colton. We've been waiting for you," Ned said. "Luke Hadderton was killed this morning. Can you tell me what happened?"

"What? How would I know what happened? I just got here."

Trooper Steve walked up to Colton and said, "Well kid, you did it now. I wouldn't have taken you for a killer, but we never know, do we?"

"Killer? What the hell are you two saying. I didn't kill Luke. Jesus, why would you say anything like that?" Colton was livid. His route was tiring and he was on-edge from listening to the killings in the Baldacci novel. The whole moment seemed like it came straight from the novel, but it was real.

Ned told Steve to back off and asked Colton where he was at two thirty this morning?

"Is that when the coroner thinks Luke died?" Colton asked.

"Yes, give or take, that's the time. Now tell me everything that happened," said Ned. He was trying to make it as easy as he could for Colton to tell the truth. He didn't think Colton would kill anyone, but Luke is a hot head. If there was a fight, it may have been self-defense.