and knew his stuff. What Charlie didn't know was where the box might be.
He suggested a bank. The wheels were turning and Connor had accepted the
challenge of finding out which banks used that kind of key. Another big red
check.
Stomach contents. Charlotte had reported
the stomach contents analysis, but there was nothing unusual enough to give
them a lead. Why hadn't the guy dined on some exotic dish that was the special
in only one restaurant in the county? No, the vic had eaten an iceberg lettuce
salad and spaghetti with meatballs. About as generic a meal as one could find.
Check.
He sighed and pictured the next items on
his list. Tox screen. Tire treads. Shoe prints. Trace from under the victim's
fingernails. His body sank deeper into the mattress. Bloody Xs and red check
marks danced through his dreams and then even the dreams receded into an
all-encompassing nothingness.
* * * * *
Randy's stride carried him through the
doors of the Municipal Building at six fifty-five the next morning, in time for
the seven a.m. meeting. Kovak met him in the lobby, two large lattes in hand.
He extended one in Randy's general direction, then joined him as they made
their way to the staff entrance of the police department.
"I know black is your thing, but I
figured you'd want the extra sugar, and the milk should kill the acid. Besides,
I'm willing to bet you didn't have breakfast." Kovak held the door for
him.
Randy lifted his eyebrows, but accepted
the cup. "I'm beginning to think we've been working together too long."
"You trained me, big guy."
"After eight years I think we're
equals. Two years' seniority is meaningless at this point."
They arrived at Laughlin's outer office.
His secretary motioned them to sit. "He's on the phone."
Randy sank into a chair and eyed his
partner. "You're looking well-rested. I trust you got some sleep."
"Crashed when I got home. Janie woke
me for dinner, then…well, she does have a way of relieving stress. I slept like
a baby the rest of the night."
Chief Laughlin called them in. "Sit."
Kovak flipped one of the wooden chairs
around and straddled it. Randy took the second, perching on the edge.
"Report," Laughlin said.
After they related what they had
learned—or hadn't learned—yesterday, Laughlin leaned forward. "I don't
mean this as a slight. I trust your work and I know you two have skills to
match any detective on any force in the country. What we don't have in Pine
Hills are the resources. The county has the lab, the equipment and a hell of a
lot more financial support." He paused.
An icicle stabbed Randy in the gut. "Are
you pulling us from the case?"
Laughlin searched the ceiling. "Not
in so many words."
"Damn it, Chief, what's that
supposed to mean?" Randy said. "How many words does it take? Are we
on the case or not? The body was found in our jurisdiction."
"Cool your jets, Detweiler. You were
glad for county's help yesterday."
"For their help , yes. But it
sounds to me as if you're saying now we're helping them . Unless I'm
mistaken, the sheriff is up for election and he's going to want to take the
limelight on this one. We'll be cut out."
Laughlin's eyes narrowed to ice-blue
slits. "I thought our goal was to solve crimes and apprehend criminals.
Stand for the victims. Or is getting credit for the collar all that matters?
Don't tell me you're still stewing about the Gracious Gertie case."
Randy curled his fingers in to fists and
took a slow, steadying breath. "You know I didn't give a damn about who
got Gertie. And, if you'll remember, I didn't attach my name to the
Westmoreland case when he was brought up on murder charges, either here or in
Jersey. I'm not in this for the glory and if you don't know that after ten
years, maybe I'm in the wrong job."
"You're tired, Detweiler and I'm
going to pretend you didn't use that tone with me." He sat back in his
chair and folded his hands on his desk. "Kovak, you have anything to say?"
Kovak's gaze moved from the chief
He suggested a bank. The wheels were turning and Connor had accepted the
challenge of finding out which banks used that kind of key. Another big red
check.
Stomach contents. Charlotte had reported
the stomach contents analysis, but there was nothing unusual enough to give
them a lead. Why hadn't the guy dined on some exotic dish that was the special
in only one restaurant in the county? No, the vic had eaten an iceberg lettuce
salad and spaghetti with meatballs. About as generic a meal as one could find.
Check.
He sighed and pictured the next items on
his list. Tox screen. Tire treads. Shoe prints. Trace from under the victim's
fingernails. His body sank deeper into the mattress. Bloody Xs and red check
marks danced through his dreams and then even the dreams receded into an
all-encompassing nothingness.
* * * * *
Randy's stride carried him through the
doors of the Municipal Building at six fifty-five the next morning, in time for
the seven a.m. meeting. Kovak met him in the lobby, two large lattes in hand.
He extended one in Randy's general direction, then joined him as they made
their way to the staff entrance of the police department.
"I know black is your thing, but I
figured you'd want the extra sugar, and the milk should kill the acid. Besides,
I'm willing to bet you didn't have breakfast." Kovak held the door for
him.
Randy lifted his eyebrows, but accepted
the cup. "I'm beginning to think we've been working together too long."
"You trained me, big guy."
"After eight years I think we're
equals. Two years' seniority is meaningless at this point."
They arrived at Laughlin's outer office.
His secretary motioned them to sit. "He's on the phone."
Randy sank into a chair and eyed his
partner. "You're looking well-rested. I trust you got some sleep."
"Crashed when I got home. Janie woke
me for dinner, then…well, she does have a way of relieving stress. I slept like
a baby the rest of the night."
Chief Laughlin called them in. "Sit."
Kovak flipped one of the wooden chairs
around and straddled it. Randy took the second, perching on the edge.
"Report," Laughlin said.
After they related what they had
learned—or hadn't learned—yesterday, Laughlin leaned forward. "I don't
mean this as a slight. I trust your work and I know you two have skills to
match any detective on any force in the country. What we don't have in Pine
Hills are the resources. The county has the lab, the equipment and a hell of a
lot more financial support." He paused.
An icicle stabbed Randy in the gut. "Are
you pulling us from the case?"
Laughlin searched the ceiling. "Not
in so many words."
"Damn it, Chief, what's that
supposed to mean?" Randy said. "How many words does it take? Are we
on the case or not? The body was found in our jurisdiction."
"Cool your jets, Detweiler. You were
glad for county's help yesterday."
"For their help , yes. But it
sounds to me as if you're saying now we're helping them . Unless I'm
mistaken, the sheriff is up for election and he's going to want to take the
limelight on this one. We'll be cut out."
Laughlin's eyes narrowed to ice-blue
slits. "I thought our goal was to solve crimes and apprehend criminals.
Stand for the victims. Or is getting credit for the collar all that matters?
Don't tell me you're still stewing about the Gracious Gertie case."
Randy curled his fingers in to fists and
took a slow, steadying breath. "You know I didn't give a damn about who
got Gertie. And, if you'll remember, I didn't attach my name to the
Westmoreland case when he was brought up on murder charges, either here or in
Jersey. I'm not in this for the glory and if you don't know that after ten
years, maybe I'm in the wrong job."
"You're tired, Detweiler and I'm
going to pretend you didn't use that tone with me." He sat back in his
chair and folded his hands on his desk. "Kovak, you have anything to say?"
Kovak's gaze moved from the chief
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