The Murders in the Reed Moore Library (5 page)

Sully had nearly reached the gate. Penny
backed away towards the car. Dupin's fur stood up and he growled
deep in his throat. Maddy laughed.

"Run, if you like, but if you're here the
police haven't linked any of that evidence to us. Not yet, at
least. We'll disappear and find you another time, dear."

Sully leered at Penny. "By a route obscure
and lonely, haunted by ill angels only."

Penny shoved the letter back in her pocket
and pulled out the cell phone. Dupin heard the sirens coming
towards them. Penny said, "Detective? Did you hear all that?"

"Yes, Ms. Copper." Dupin heard David's voice
coming from two directions and turned to see the detective step
around the trees along the front into the driveway. He had a gun in
his hand. "Mr. and Mrs. Winters, put the tools down and come out
here with your hands up."

Penny slipped her phone in her pocket and
moved back over to her car as David walked up and several squad
cars pulled up in front of the drive.

"I'm glad you called, but you should have
waited. We'll confirm the evidence, but with her confession that'll
be icing."

Penny shook her head. "I didn't call. Dupin
stepped on the phone in the car. He redialed the last number."

"Huh, his timing couldn't be better if he did
it on purpose." David held out his hand. "And I'll need that letter
as well as a statement on finding it."

"Dupin found it. I think he figured it all
out before any of us."

Officers came up and took the couple into
custody. Dupin purred against Penny's chest. Of course he figured
it out first, and why would David think he hadn't made the call on
purpose? Nevermore would this couple kill.

I like mysteries, but I don't often write
mysteries. When I do it tends to be other-worldly, like in my novel
Dark Matters
with a genetically modified private detective.
But when the Timberland Regional Library's "Timberland Reads
Together" was going to focus on Edgar Allan Poe it got me thinking.
We've got this entire genre of detective stories that springs from
Poe's
The Murders in the Rue Morgue.
Including cat cozy
murder mysteries.

Well, that did it. Once I thought of that the
title came to me (I often start from a title) and the rest went
pretty easily. References to Poe's work appears throughout, and of
course the cat had to be named for Poe's famous detective.

I used the story as a written program,
releasing it in four parts to encourage folks to come back to the
library. Folks enjoyed the story and now I'm releasing it to a
wider audience. I hope you've enjoyed it!

I tend to write science fiction, fantasy,
urban fantasy and horror stories and novels, but there may be other
mysteries in my future! For the latest news or releases check out
my blog at
www.ryanmwelch.com
or my
publisher's site at
www.glitteringthrongpress.com
.
You can also find me on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/ryanmwilliams

If you've enjoyed this story please share
that with others! Rate, review, tweet or blog about it. Your
support is appreciated.

Thanks for reading!

Ryan M. Williams, aka Ryan M. Welch

2010