Detective Wade Jackson Mystery - 02 - Secrets to Die For by L. J. Sellers Page B
Book: Detective Wade Jackson Mystery - 02 - Secrets to Die For by L. J. Sellers
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Authors: L. J. Sellers
Tags: detective, thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Police Procedural, Murder, eugene, homicide, hate crime
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inconsequential. He made no attempt to gather DNA samples. The abundance of dog hair and other unknown fibers was a jumbled mess that the evidence techs would have to sort through under the klieg lights in the big evidence bay.
No cell phone. Nothing that might have belonged to Raina.
Jackson hurried into the trailer. Parker was in the kitchen, Schak had the living room couch dumped over and was sorting through its spilled contents, and Evans was in the bathroom. Jackson headed back to the Gormans’ bedroom. He thought about the vibrator that had been used on Raina and hoped to find some link. But what? Vibrators didn’t come in matching pairs like shoes. Even if the Gormans had a collection of sex toys, it didn’t mean they owned the one he’d found in Raina’s car.
The carpet was barely visible under the scattered dirty clothes. The stink annoyed him as he picked up every item and looked under it. The dark-paneled room was only ten foot by twelve, but it still took most of an hour to search all the drawers, shelves, and pants pockets. Jackson found a stash of white powdered crystals in a plastic bag under the nightstand by the bed. Perfect. Now he had a reason to book Gorman into jail and hold him…for a while. In Oregon, although possession of a Schedule 2 drug was a Class C felony, the typical sentence was thirty days. The DA wouldn’t file rape and murder charges until Jackson had some solid physical evidence.
The meth was the only thing of significance they found. Parker discovered a bowl of dog food in the refrigerator, and Evans found a douche bag that smelled like beer, but just because the Gormans were peculiar, it didn’t prove they’d killed anyone. A DNA analysis of hair and fiber might eventually prove that Raina had been inside this house, but for now, they had nothing.
The first rays of sunlight trickled through the trees as Jackson stood in front of the trailer, feeling disappointed and wondering if he could grab an hour of sleep. Evans was yawning again, and Parker’s eyes were bloodshot.
He looked at Parker. “Go home and don’t answer your phone for six hours.”
“Me too?” Evans looked hopeful.
“We’ll meet in the conference room at noon. I should have already talked with Josh by then.”
A low-pitched growl came from the edge of the trees. In unison, they turned to see a dirt-colored Boxer crouching and easing toward the strangers in its territory. It continued to growl, but the sound was muted by the large bone in its mouth.
For a long moment, they stared in silence.
Finally, Parker said, “That looks like a human tibia.”
Chapter 7
After an animal control officer manhandled the Boxer into a cage in his truck, Parker was able to examine the bone close up. “This tibia has been degenerating for a year or so. And it likely belongs to a child.”
“Let’s run the DNA against the missing persons database,” Jackson said. “Maybe we’ll resolve an old case. Give some long-suffering parents closure.” To himself, he wondered if Gorman was a serial killer.
Two patrol cars arrived soon after the dogcatcher left. Jackson instructed the officers to search the parking area, then spread out from there. “I’ll buy dinner for whoever finds Raina’s cell phone or laptop.” The officers nodded but were not impressed with his offer. Schak and Evans had already headed home to sleep for a few hours, and Jackson decided he would do the same. Even an hour of rest would help pull his brain back into focus.
After a shower and a nap, Jackson bought a breakfast burrito and ate it with one hand while driving to headquarters. When he saw citizens doing that kind of thing, it irritated him. At least he had a better excuse. He called Katie as he walked from the underground parking lot into the building.
“What do you have going on today?”
“Being bored at school, what else?”
“Everything okay with
No cell phone. Nothing that might have belonged to Raina.
Jackson hurried into the trailer. Parker was in the kitchen, Schak had the living room couch dumped over and was sorting through its spilled contents, and Evans was in the bathroom. Jackson headed back to the Gormans’ bedroom. He thought about the vibrator that had been used on Raina and hoped to find some link. But what? Vibrators didn’t come in matching pairs like shoes. Even if the Gormans had a collection of sex toys, it didn’t mean they owned the one he’d found in Raina’s car.
The carpet was barely visible under the scattered dirty clothes. The stink annoyed him as he picked up every item and looked under it. The dark-paneled room was only ten foot by twelve, but it still took most of an hour to search all the drawers, shelves, and pants pockets. Jackson found a stash of white powdered crystals in a plastic bag under the nightstand by the bed. Perfect. Now he had a reason to book Gorman into jail and hold him…for a while. In Oregon, although possession of a Schedule 2 drug was a Class C felony, the typical sentence was thirty days. The DA wouldn’t file rape and murder charges until Jackson had some solid physical evidence.
The meth was the only thing of significance they found. Parker discovered a bowl of dog food in the refrigerator, and Evans found a douche bag that smelled like beer, but just because the Gormans were peculiar, it didn’t prove they’d killed anyone. A DNA analysis of hair and fiber might eventually prove that Raina had been inside this house, but for now, they had nothing.
The first rays of sunlight trickled through the trees as Jackson stood in front of the trailer, feeling disappointed and wondering if he could grab an hour of sleep. Evans was yawning again, and Parker’s eyes were bloodshot.
He looked at Parker. “Go home and don’t answer your phone for six hours.”
“Me too?” Evans looked hopeful.
“We’ll meet in the conference room at noon. I should have already talked with Josh by then.”
A low-pitched growl came from the edge of the trees. In unison, they turned to see a dirt-colored Boxer crouching and easing toward the strangers in its territory. It continued to growl, but the sound was muted by the large bone in its mouth.
For a long moment, they stared in silence.
Finally, Parker said, “That looks like a human tibia.”
Chapter 7
After an animal control officer manhandled the Boxer into a cage in his truck, Parker was able to examine the bone close up. “This tibia has been degenerating for a year or so. And it likely belongs to a child.”
“Let’s run the DNA against the missing persons database,” Jackson said. “Maybe we’ll resolve an old case. Give some long-suffering parents closure.” To himself, he wondered if Gorman was a serial killer.
Two patrol cars arrived soon after the dogcatcher left. Jackson instructed the officers to search the parking area, then spread out from there. “I’ll buy dinner for whoever finds Raina’s cell phone or laptop.” The officers nodded but were not impressed with his offer. Schak and Evans had already headed home to sleep for a few hours, and Jackson decided he would do the same. Even an hour of rest would help pull his brain back into focus.
After a shower and a nap, Jackson bought a breakfast burrito and ate it with one hand while driving to headquarters. When he saw citizens doing that kind of thing, it irritated him. At least he had a better excuse. He called Katie as he walked from the underground parking lot into the building.
“What do you have going on today?”
“Being bored at school, what else?”
“Everything okay with
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