Mountain Ice (David Dean Mysteries)

Dean stared back at him. "And you think I did it?"

Weller squirmed his large frame around, reaching into his pocket, retrieving first a handkerchief, then a set of keys and eventually a red Swiss Army knife. "This look familiar?" he asked holding it out for Dean's inspection.

Dean took it from him. "Yeah," he answered. "It's mine. At least it looks like mine. They're not exactly unique." He examined it closer. "It's mine. It has a chip in the handle."

"Got any booze around here?" Weller asked. "I think I'm gonna need it."

"A couple of bottles of cheap wine, and half a jug of Tequila some guest left," Dean answered as he fingered the knife. Fred rose to get the liquor.

"Bring me the south-of-the-border stuff. No ice-just the bottle." Then he muttered, "I've seen enough ice already today."

"Does your boozing it up make this little meeting unofficial?"

Weller just snorted. "I don't suppose you happen to know how this knife got up in the ice park, next to the cut end of a rope?"

It was Dean's turn to ignore a question. "Any fingerprints?" he asked.

The sheriff just shook his head. "You been outside lately? It was five above at my place this morning. Folks around here tend to wear gloves in the winter when it gets that nippy." Once again, Weller had found a way to make Dean feel stupid.

"You can't seriously think I'm a suspect."

Weller smiled and began counting off on his fingers. "Let's see. It was your knife. You tried to beat the shit out of Shipton only hours before and instead he damned near beat the shit out of you. You were practically the last person to see him before he fell. He was trying to toot Cynthia. You were seen running from the scene. You used to be a big city detective. What do you think?"

"'Toot' Cynthia? Don't be silly! Cynthia didn't give the bastard the time of day!"

"No offence sport, but when is the last time you looked in the mirror? If you were in a beauty contest with Shipton, it wouldn't be you taking home the medals. That guy was a mighty handsome stud. The ladies were crawling all over the ice park for a peek at him."

"He was an egotistical wife beater. Cynthia couldn't stand the guy. She could hardly keep from sticking a butcher knife in his belly the other night in the kitchen!" If Dean had given any thought to how that statement sounded before he opened his big fat mouth, he would have practiced a little restraint and kept it shut.