
Olivia poured a glass of iced tea from a pitcher in the refrigerator, added a few ice cubes and a wedge of lemon, and handed it to Del. “Any news about the break-in next door?”
“Thanks.” Del swallowed a large gulp of tea. “We do have a suspect, but no real proof. When Charlene called the family attorney, we had to release him.”
“Charlene called the family attorney? You mean the suspect is—?”
“Charlie Critch, Charlene’s younger brother,” Del said. “It would be great if you could get a look at him, Livie. He works as a mechanic at the garage,” Del said. “Does your brother still work there?”
“Wow, the plot thickens.” Maddie eased an unbaked cut-out cookie onto a length of parchment paper. “Livie, did you know Charlene had a brother?”
“I did not,” Olivia said. “Why didn’t we know that? My brother must work with him.”
“He moved here a couple months ago and keeps pretty much to himself,” Del said. “He rents a room from Gwen Tucker’s aunt Agnes, over on the east side of town. So far we haven’t been able to get a lot of background on him. Doesn’t seem to have much of a history, but Cody is scouring the Internet.” If there was anything to find, Del’s eager deputy, Cody Furlow, would hunt it down.
Olivia raised an eyebrow. “I’ll drop by the garage with some cookies and see if I can get a look at—what was his name? Charlie? Charlene and Charlie. . . . Are they twins?”
“Charlie is at least five years younger,” Del said. “No record, adult anyway. Charlene might not want to press charges but vandalism is still a crime. I’m real interested in that kid. He and his sister had a public falling out two days ago at the Chatterley Heights Café.
