Patricia Dusenbury - Claire Marshall 01 - A Perfect Victim by Patricia Dusenbury Page B
Authors: Patricia Dusenbury
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looking for a witness. The cabin
was isolated, and anyone out there was probably up to no good. So we'll check with the usual
suspects--small time smugglers, poachers, burglars." He grinned and added, "Lovers."
"Do you think it's possible Palmer was just in the wrong place at the wrong time?"
"I don't think so. Smugglers would have taken the boat, at least the electronics. Thieves
would have taken the car. Poachers and lovers just want to be left alone."
"And none of those explain the Jeep," Mike said. "When will you know more about
that?"
"We've called in the state crime lab, but they're backed up as usual."
"We can encourage them to make this a priority." He'd ask Vernon to make the call. "Mr.
Palmer was a prominent citizen. Our department is under pressure to get this cleared up
quickly."
"Lafourche Parish is treating both deaths as potential homicides. We consider every
homicide high priority."
"Has it occurred to you that Palmer might have committed suicide?" Breton said.
"If you believe that a corpse can start a fire." Corlette leaned back and crossed his arms
over his chest.
The meeting ended soon afterwards. Until they knew otherwise, both departments would
proceed as if they were dealing with a homicide.
Breton started bitching before they left the parking lot. "Say Palmer wanted to kill himself
and make it look like an accident. There's no reason he couldn't pour gasoline on the floor and run a
wick, wash a handful of pills down with a big glass of vodka and strike a match. Shit, he could use a
candle. We're not talking rocket science."
"We'll see what the autopsy says, but if he was dead before the fire, your scenario doesn't
work. He'd be unconscious, not dead. And there's a bigger problem. Suicides don't make plans for
the future. Palmer was about to get married."
"To Claire Marshall. Did you notice Corlette talked about her like they was old friends? One
interview and she's got him wrapped him around her little finger." A snort of disgust. "And okay,
maybe it wasn't suicide, but don't tell me Boy Wonder isn't enjoying his fifteen minutes of fame. I've
been a cop for thirty years, and I don't need a wet rookie explaining the facts of life."
The old cop approaching retirement resented the young cop making his first big case, and
Corlette's breezy manner could be perceived as cocky. Mike understood, but he wasn't going to
tolerate unprofessional behavior.
"You did us no favors in there. Corlette is doing a solid job, and he went the extra mile. If
you can't work with him, let me know. I'll assign someone else. If you want to retire tomorrow and
not in two months, let me know." He didn't have to mention two months walking a beat. Breton
would know that option was out there.
Breton got the message. "I need two more months for full pension," he said, "and I intend to
give the Department two months of my best work. What would you like me to do, sir?"
"Get Palmer's dental records to Corlette ASAP. Find out if the Jeep was kept at the cabin or
elsewhere. See if anyone knows when Palmer and Hatch drove down there and if they went in
separate vehicles or together. Schedule interviews with Austin, Gilbert, and Claire Marshall for
tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
"We can meet at their offices or ours. Allow an hour for each. If possible, start with
Gilbert."
"Yes, sir."
"We'll do these first three as a team." He didn't trust Breton with anything sensitive, and
Vernon had ordered him to stay on top of this investigation. "Next, I want you to talk to Rose Taylor
and to Palmer's secretary. Ask who else was close to the victim and set up interviews with those
people, again ASAP. Palmer's death will be news. I want to question his friends before they start
confusing what they've read in the paper with what they already know."
"Yes, sir."
"Vernon wants Palmer's associates treated with kid gloves. I'm passing that on, but don't
let anyone push you around."
"Yes, sir."
Mike ignored the sarcasm behind Breton's stream of
was isolated, and anyone out there was probably up to no good. So we'll check with the usual
suspects--small time smugglers, poachers, burglars." He grinned and added, "Lovers."
"Do you think it's possible Palmer was just in the wrong place at the wrong time?"
"I don't think so. Smugglers would have taken the boat, at least the electronics. Thieves
would have taken the car. Poachers and lovers just want to be left alone."
"And none of those explain the Jeep," Mike said. "When will you know more about
that?"
"We've called in the state crime lab, but they're backed up as usual."
"We can encourage them to make this a priority." He'd ask Vernon to make the call. "Mr.
Palmer was a prominent citizen. Our department is under pressure to get this cleared up
quickly."
"Lafourche Parish is treating both deaths as potential homicides. We consider every
homicide high priority."
"Has it occurred to you that Palmer might have committed suicide?" Breton said.
"If you believe that a corpse can start a fire." Corlette leaned back and crossed his arms
over his chest.
The meeting ended soon afterwards. Until they knew otherwise, both departments would
proceed as if they were dealing with a homicide.
Breton started bitching before they left the parking lot. "Say Palmer wanted to kill himself
and make it look like an accident. There's no reason he couldn't pour gasoline on the floor and run a
wick, wash a handful of pills down with a big glass of vodka and strike a match. Shit, he could use a
candle. We're not talking rocket science."
"We'll see what the autopsy says, but if he was dead before the fire, your scenario doesn't
work. He'd be unconscious, not dead. And there's a bigger problem. Suicides don't make plans for
the future. Palmer was about to get married."
"To Claire Marshall. Did you notice Corlette talked about her like they was old friends? One
interview and she's got him wrapped him around her little finger." A snort of disgust. "And okay,
maybe it wasn't suicide, but don't tell me Boy Wonder isn't enjoying his fifteen minutes of fame. I've
been a cop for thirty years, and I don't need a wet rookie explaining the facts of life."
The old cop approaching retirement resented the young cop making his first big case, and
Corlette's breezy manner could be perceived as cocky. Mike understood, but he wasn't going to
tolerate unprofessional behavior.
"You did us no favors in there. Corlette is doing a solid job, and he went the extra mile. If
you can't work with him, let me know. I'll assign someone else. If you want to retire tomorrow and
not in two months, let me know." He didn't have to mention two months walking a beat. Breton
would know that option was out there.
Breton got the message. "I need two more months for full pension," he said, "and I intend to
give the Department two months of my best work. What would you like me to do, sir?"
"Get Palmer's dental records to Corlette ASAP. Find out if the Jeep was kept at the cabin or
elsewhere. See if anyone knows when Palmer and Hatch drove down there and if they went in
separate vehicles or together. Schedule interviews with Austin, Gilbert, and Claire Marshall for
tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
"We can meet at their offices or ours. Allow an hour for each. If possible, start with
Gilbert."
"Yes, sir."
"We'll do these first three as a team." He didn't trust Breton with anything sensitive, and
Vernon had ordered him to stay on top of this investigation. "Next, I want you to talk to Rose Taylor
and to Palmer's secretary. Ask who else was close to the victim and set up interviews with those
people, again ASAP. Palmer's death will be news. I want to question his friends before they start
confusing what they've read in the paper with what they already know."
"Yes, sir."
"Vernon wants Palmer's associates treated with kid gloves. I'm passing that on, but don't
let anyone push you around."
"Yes, sir."
Mike ignored the sarcasm behind Breton's stream of
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