The Deceased in the Dumpster

by Linda Norlander

About the Author: Linda Norlander is the author of the Cabin by the Lake Mysteries including Death of an Editor, Death of a Starling, Death of a Snow Ghost and Death of a Fox. She has also published award winning short stories and humor.

Excerpt

When I read the story in The Times I had to chuckle. Criminals aren’t always the brightest bulbs. The police had arrested a 55-year-old man after his neighbor called them from the Sunset Mobile Park. The neighbor, a man named Dexter Darling said he had been awakened by a knocking at his door. “The guy next door wanted me to help him move his trash barrel to the curb. He said it was too heavy because of the body. As soon as I saw the dead guy rolled up in a blanket, I called the cops.”

The death was being investigated as “suspicious.”

“Suspicious? No kidding!” I commented to my cat. She licked her paws, stretched and sauntered away.

Two days later Cyrus called me. He’s an attorney specializing in corporate fraud. He uses me from time to time as a consultant. “Well Greta, are you up for another job?”

“That depends. What have you got?”

He told me he’d been hired as a favor to a wealthy client to investigate the trash barrel incident. “Turns out Maynard, the guy who allegedly put the body in the dumpster, is a nephew of my client. He claims Maynard is harmless, not too bright and was drunk when he asked the neighbor for help. Says he can’t believe Maynard would hurt anybody.”

I had to admit the situation piqued my curiosity. “What do you need?”

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