Patricia Dusenbury - Claire Marshall 01 - A Perfect Victim by Patricia Dusenbury Page A
Authors: Patricia Dusenbury
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ride. Moments after he entered
the vehicle, it exploded. Yesterday he died. So, there's one less juvenile delinquent in Lafourche
Parish."
Corlette's words were flippant, but a tightness around his mouth revealed anger. He could
have known the victim, known his family. This was personal, and no kid should get the death
penalty for a joyride. Mike agreed. He signaled Breton to sit back and shut up, let Corlette tell the
story at his own pace.
"The driver was in the restroom when the explosions occurred. He ran out, saw his vehicle
on fire and made a call from the outside pay phone. He was gone when the fire trucks arrived, no
one noticed his departure, and he hasn't been seen since." Corlette slid one last piece of paper
across the desk. "We asked TV news to show this sketch of the driver. Claire responded. She said it
looked like a man named Hatch, who is Frank Palmer's driver. She couldn't tell me anything else
about him. Maybe you can."
"His full name is Ronald Hatch," Mike said. "We were under the impression he'd driven
Palmer to the cabin early last week and that they planned to go fishing together. After you called
this morning, we sent a patrol car to his apartment. He wasn't home."
"Lafourche Parish would like to talk to Mr. Hatch about both fires."
"It's possible he's a link." Breton conceded.
"The vehicle he's driving blows up, and he disappears," Corlette said. "He's guilty or he's
scared. Either way, he's a link."
Mike began laying the groundwork for a cooperative effort. "Have you considered the
possibility that Palmer died in New Orleans and the body was transported to Lafourche
Parish?"
"The sheriff's department agrees the motive is most likely to be found in New
Orleans."
The door opened and a pretty young woman placed another manila folder and two tape
cassettes on the desk. "Two of each. As fast as we could, Jason."
"Thank you, darlin'." The deputy returned her smile and then slid one of the tapes across
the desk. "Claire Marshall's interview. I didn't probe her relationship with the deceased," he
admitted. "She said he was a client, and I left it at that. But listen to the tape. She was rocked when I
told her Palmer was dead."
He picked up the folder. "The tire track analysis just came in. I haven't seen it yet." He
passed one copy across the desk and scanned the other. "No surprises. We've identified three of the
four sets found at the scene: Claire's Miata, Austin's Suburban and Palmer's Jaguar. Recovered
pieces of the Jeep tires are being analyzed to see if it was vehicle number four."
"Who's Austin?" Was he Palmer's "well-connected friend"?
"Bobby Austin and Paul Gilbert both called us about the cabin fire several hours after Claire
did." The deputy gave him a quizzical look. "They said your department told them the cabin had
burned."
"I didn't know their names. Did you talk to them?" Mike wondered why Gilbert hadn't
mentioned his involvement when they discussed notifying next of kin.
"They met us at the cabin. Preliminary identification of the body was based on the
circumstances and the general description they provided. It's in the reports." Corlette nodded
toward the stack of papers. "Can you get us the victim's dental records? We want to be
certain."
"Palmer's cabin, his car, a body that matches his description, and the guy's missing."
Breton's elbows were all over Corlette's desk again.
"Lieutenant Breton will contact Palmer's dentist first thing tomorrow." Mike said. "We'll
step up the search for Hatch. We'll ask Palmer's friends about the man and what he was doing in the
days before his death. Is there anything else we should be covering on our end?"
"The phone company has promised a list of numbers called from the payphone Hatch used.
If any are in New Orleans, we'll pass them on. Who do I call?"
"Me." Mike had intended to assign Breton lead responsibility, but his role was in doubt
after this afternoon's performance.
"I'm the contact here," Corlette said. "My first priority is
the vehicle, it exploded. Yesterday he died. So, there's one less juvenile delinquent in Lafourche
Parish."
Corlette's words were flippant, but a tightness around his mouth revealed anger. He could
have known the victim, known his family. This was personal, and no kid should get the death
penalty for a joyride. Mike agreed. He signaled Breton to sit back and shut up, let Corlette tell the
story at his own pace.
"The driver was in the restroom when the explosions occurred. He ran out, saw his vehicle
on fire and made a call from the outside pay phone. He was gone when the fire trucks arrived, no
one noticed his departure, and he hasn't been seen since." Corlette slid one last piece of paper
across the desk. "We asked TV news to show this sketch of the driver. Claire responded. She said it
looked like a man named Hatch, who is Frank Palmer's driver. She couldn't tell me anything else
about him. Maybe you can."
"His full name is Ronald Hatch," Mike said. "We were under the impression he'd driven
Palmer to the cabin early last week and that they planned to go fishing together. After you called
this morning, we sent a patrol car to his apartment. He wasn't home."
"Lafourche Parish would like to talk to Mr. Hatch about both fires."
"It's possible he's a link." Breton conceded.
"The vehicle he's driving blows up, and he disappears," Corlette said. "He's guilty or he's
scared. Either way, he's a link."
Mike began laying the groundwork for a cooperative effort. "Have you considered the
possibility that Palmer died in New Orleans and the body was transported to Lafourche
Parish?"
"The sheriff's department agrees the motive is most likely to be found in New
Orleans."
The door opened and a pretty young woman placed another manila folder and two tape
cassettes on the desk. "Two of each. As fast as we could, Jason."
"Thank you, darlin'." The deputy returned her smile and then slid one of the tapes across
the desk. "Claire Marshall's interview. I didn't probe her relationship with the deceased," he
admitted. "She said he was a client, and I left it at that. But listen to the tape. She was rocked when I
told her Palmer was dead."
He picked up the folder. "The tire track analysis just came in. I haven't seen it yet." He
passed one copy across the desk and scanned the other. "No surprises. We've identified three of the
four sets found at the scene: Claire's Miata, Austin's Suburban and Palmer's Jaguar. Recovered
pieces of the Jeep tires are being analyzed to see if it was vehicle number four."
"Who's Austin?" Was he Palmer's "well-connected friend"?
"Bobby Austin and Paul Gilbert both called us about the cabin fire several hours after Claire
did." The deputy gave him a quizzical look. "They said your department told them the cabin had
burned."
"I didn't know their names. Did you talk to them?" Mike wondered why Gilbert hadn't
mentioned his involvement when they discussed notifying next of kin.
"They met us at the cabin. Preliminary identification of the body was based on the
circumstances and the general description they provided. It's in the reports." Corlette nodded
toward the stack of papers. "Can you get us the victim's dental records? We want to be
certain."
"Palmer's cabin, his car, a body that matches his description, and the guy's missing."
Breton's elbows were all over Corlette's desk again.
"Lieutenant Breton will contact Palmer's dentist first thing tomorrow." Mike said. "We'll
step up the search for Hatch. We'll ask Palmer's friends about the man and what he was doing in the
days before his death. Is there anything else we should be covering on our end?"
"The phone company has promised a list of numbers called from the payphone Hatch used.
If any are in New Orleans, we'll pass them on. Who do I call?"
"Me." Mike had intended to assign Breton lead responsibility, but his role was in doubt
after this afternoon's performance.
"I'm the contact here," Corlette said. "My first priority is
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