On a Killer's Trail by Susan Page Davis Page B

major story. Was this some kind of a test? Until last weekend, she had produced one news story a day and several short local briefs. It seemed she had paid her dues and was now considered a full-fledged reporter; the schedule Cleeves had just handed her proved that. She’d be lucky to have time todo her laundry. The scent of the beautiful roses seemed to mock her. This is what you wanted, isn’t it?
    Her cell phone rang, and she dug it out of her purse. She didn’t recognize the number.
    “Hello, this is Kate.”
    “Hi, Kate. Connor gave me your number. I hope you don’t mind.”
    Neil. She felt a prickle of anticipation at the sound of his deep voice. “I don’t mind. Thanks for calling.”
    “Connor asked me to tell you that our public liaison will hold a press conference at four this afternoon.”
    “About the Riley case? I mean…I heard there was another murder.”
    “Wow. Word travels fast. They’ll probably discuss both cases.”
    “I’ll be there. The editor just told me I’m covering the new case, too.”
    “Great,” Neil said. “Connor has put me in charge of the new case while he and some of the other detectives continue on the Riley murder. I’m headed for Deering now.”
    “Will you be at the press conference?” she asked.
    “I’ll probably be busy. But you can call me if you need anything. I can tell you that the medical examiner sent the bullet that killed Edna Riley over here for testing.”
    “Thanks. That will give me a start for my update story. Can I call you later to see what the tests show, or will that come out in the press conference?”
    “It depends on what we find out. Why don’t you give me a call?”
    She hesitated. “I could come to the new crime scene.”
    “I don’t know, Kate. Reporters kind of get in the way at a crime scene.”
    “I’ll wait, like I did Saturday. I don’t want to miss anything, Neil.”
    “Well…okay. I expect some other journalists have heard about it, too.”
    He gave her the address, and she hung up feeling more confident. With hard work, she could get the basics of the new murder case this afternoon, and she could finish the Riley update on her laptop while she waited for Neil to brief her. And Neil was now her contact at the police department. A few days ago, that would have disturbed her, but now she smiled as she headed for her car.
     
    Neil wasn’t used to supervising an entire team, but Connor assigned Tony Carlisle and Jimmy Cook to go to the new crime scene in the Deering neighborhood with him.
    “You’ll also have four uniformed officers and a crime scene tech at your command,” Connor said.
    “Okay.” Neil opened his bottom desk drawer and pulled out a necktie. “Tell me again why we got this case, not the detective squad?” He looped the tie around his neck and flipped his collar down over it.
    “The chief saw similarities to the Riley case, so he called me upstairs. I agree with him—it looks like the same M.O. A neighbor found your victim dead in his home, and the first responders indicated the cause of death looked like a gunshot wound.”
    “Got it.” Neil patted his pockets to make sure he had all his equipment. “Tony, Jimmy, let’s go.”
    The three men left the Priority Unit office and headed for the scene. The next hour passed in a whirl. The first responders had secured the scene, but it was up to Neil and his men to find and process any evidence. Fifteen minutes after he arrived, Neil went to his truck for extra gloves and saw Kate Richards’s car parked at the curb beyond the lawn. She waved. He nodded and quickly went inside. Now he knew how Connor had felt on Saturday.
    The run-down house wasn’t exactly spotless, and the four cats’ litter box needed changing. They hovered about the kitchen yowling while the men took blood samples and dusted the door frame for fingerprints. Neil turned to get his camera and steppedon a cat’s paw. It screeched, and he jumped back, slamming into Jimmy. “Get