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  Jake gave her a pointed look. “You can’t seriously think that’s what this is. A culling? You and I both know that these people were targeted for a reason, and if he wants to speak to me, then I’m sure it’s only to taunt me.”

  “Do you want a soda? Coffee? Mineral water? I’m about to go find a vending machine.”

  “Nah, I’m good. I just want them to hurry.” He tapped on the window, and Kevin, who didn’t bother turning around, held up his index finger as if telling Jake to give him a minute.

  “Jesus,” Jake mumbled. “What’s taking so freaking long?”

  Footsteps from down the hall brought his head around, and Jake didn’t know whether to be glad to see Chief O’Connor or not. The man’s face was creased with hard lines from deep thought, and the set of his jaw told Jake he’d had a bad time back at the scene.

  “Anything yet on the letter?” O’Connor asked.

  “No. They keep saying another minute, just to pacify me apparently.”

  Jo walked over and stopped her pacing. “I’m sure they just want to make sure they don’t miss anything.”

  “It’s a fucking letter,” Jake said. “What’s so hard about that?”

  O’Connor cleared his throat. “Give them time, Thomas. What I want to know is what the killer is doing leaving you notes in the first place.”

  “Probably because I’m the only detective you have in your department.” He heard Jo clear her throat. “Well, I was.”

  Jake turned his attention back to the chief. “So, how are things going back at the scene?”

  “Two officers had to bail out from puking. I wonder sometimes what this department is made of. At least you and Jo here have iron guts. I have to admit, it was pretty brutal though.”

  Jake looked at Jo, and for a brief second, she shook her head side to side as if he might tell the chief about her own vomiting episode.

  But he figured they were on the same team, and he would never rat out his partner. “Yeah, we can handle anything.”

  “I don’t know how people do those things to each other.”

  Suddenly, from the other side of the window, Kevin turned and met Jake’s eyes, giving him a nod. He came right out without the letter, which still sat on his desk. “I hate to tell you this because I know you’ve been patiently waiting, but I’m afraid it’s going to take a little longer, considering all I have to work on. But I can tell you that the letter is clean. There are no prints.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me,” said Jo. “He’s very thorough. The last crime didn’t have any prints found either.”

  “I just want to read the letter,” said Jake.

  Kevin shook his head. “No. I haven’t even opened it yet. There is glue, and if that glue was licked, it could have DNA. I want to make sure we handle it with care, and then once it’s opened, I’ll call you back down, and you can read it.”

  “I want to read it before anyone else. This letter stays with you, Kevin. I don’t want anyone else looking it over.” Jake didn’t really have the authority to say how it was handled as he didn’t run the forensics department.

  “I’m already ahead of you. I’ve taken it on myself, and I opted out of having my assistant help.” Kevin’s tone was reassuring.

  “I appreciate that,” said Jake.

  “I’ll get back at it and call you when I’m ready. It could take hours going through the glue.”

  Jake knew he would do all he could, so there was no sense in arguing. “Okay, thanks.” He watched as Kevin walked away. “Dammit.”

  O’Connor put his hand on Jake’s shoulder. “I know it’s frustrating. I wanted to ask you if you know of anyone who might be doing this crime to get to you. You do have some strong opinions, and maybe there is someone taking a stand against you.”

  “No. In spite of the fact that I don’t have many friends, I also don’t have many enemies.” That was what happened you tried to avoid people.

  “I see. But if you did know anyone who might have strong opinions against the department, other than yourself, of course, then you’d let me know, right? I don’t like being kept in the dark. I’ve come in and tried to clean this city up.”

  Jake tried really hard not to take offense. “I know you have, and of course, I’d let you know. I don’t always see eye to eye around here about the way things are done, but I try my damnedest for the department. I always have.”

  Chief O’Connor gave a nod, and then without another word, he walked away.

  “Great,” muttered Jake as soon as the chief was too far away to hear.

  “So, you seem to have problems with the force? I have heard that before now. Is that why you’re leaving?”

  Jake started down the hall, not wanting to tell Jo all about his problems.

  “Hey, wait up. Am I not supposed to ask that?” She stepped up quickly beside him. “It’s not a secret, right?”

  “It’s also not public knowledge, or at least, I didn’t think it was.” Jake had kept his opinions to himself when necessary. He didn’t need any trouble at work, not even if he only had a few days left. “I learned a long time ago to keep my mouth shut and do my job.”

  As he reached the exit, she pulled him to a stop, her cool fingers giving him a chill. “But that’s why you’re leaving, isn’t it?”

  “The corruption? You could say it plays a big role. You’ll learn soon enough how things work around here.”

  “So, maybe the killer thinks he’s doing you a favor. If others know, then maybe it got around to him.”

  Curiosity had Jake wondering. “Where did you hear it bothered me?”

  She got a wide-eyed look like he had just asked her to rat out a friend. “Promise you won’t say I said anything?”

  “Sure.” He lifted a shoulder as if it were no big deal. He wasn’t likely to say anything to anyone anyway, unless it could help him solve the case.

  She took a deep breath like it was hard for her to snitch. “Officer Finch. He said that he thought that’s why you were leaving.”

  Jake shook his head. “Sam should keep his mouth shut. He’s probably just trying to make conversation with you and had nothing better to talk about since he has no life and no girlfriend. Maybe he likes you.”

  Her cheeks turned red. “Sam? No thanks. He’s not really my type.”

  Jake didn’t bother asking what her type was. He didn’t really care. She would never like someone like him, and that was well and fine too. Although he couldn’t help looking at her and wondering what it would be like to hear her scream his name in a fit of passion.

  “So, what are we going to do now?” she asked as Jake pushed the door open.

  “We’re going back to the office where we can look over those photos and see if anything else might ring a bell. You still have those pictures, right?”

  “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

  Jake led her down the sidewalk over to the station, which shared the same parking lot. “I don’t know. I’m just pissed about the letter, I guess.”

  “The killer certainly has put you in a bad mood.” She looked away toward the street where the busy traffic of midday passed by.

  “No, what the killer has done is put a target on my back. Now, because of that letter, everything I’ve ever said and done regarding my opinions of the station and the local courts and government is going to come back to haunt me.”

  Jo nodded. “I’ve always lived by the old belief that it’s not good to talk about those things unless you want trouble.”

  “Trust me. Trouble is the last thing I want. I just want this case out of the way so I can leave you in a good place.”

  “That’s thoughtful of you.”

  “I can be a thoughtful guy.” His defensive tone was making him want to punch himself in the face. “I’m not a barbarian, despite what you’ve heard or think.”

  “I don’t think you are.”

  He could tell by her tone of assurance that she was sincere. “Thanks.” He pushed the front door to the st
ation open and walked into the lobby. As Jo followed him in, he turned his attention to the front desk, where Sam stood holding on to Dannie, delivering the bad news.

  “I thought something was funny when I didn’t hear from him,” she said as they walked by. “I just thought that he lost interest.”

  “He’d be crazy to lose interest in you,” said Sam.

  Jake glanced back to see Jo had slowed down to take her phone out of her pocket. “Come on, would you?”

  He wanted to keep his mind busy while the lab processed his letter. He hoped they could figure it out, and the letter wasn’t anything damning. He’d already noticed O’Connor’s scrutinizing looks outside of the lab. The last thing he needed was the killer casting suspicion his way.

  She hurried behind him as he went toward the office. “Were you eavesdropping?” he asked.

  “I had to look at my phone,” she said, not convincing enough to be believable. Jake stared at her a moment longer than was comfortable, a trick he’d used to get the truth from people for years. She shrank back. “Okay, fine. So, I was listening. I feel horrible for her, and I hope that she and Sam find happiness. Is that so bad to wish for someone?”

  Jake stopped to unlock his office door. “No, as long as your wishing doesn’t slow you down, I’m all for it. Now, I wish we could go in here and get to work without any further speculation on Sam and Dannie.”

  Jo gave him a pointed look. “Fine, Mr. Serious. I think we need to look at them too.” She walked past him into the office and took his chair.

  But he wasn’t about to act like it bothered him.

  Instead, he walked around and stood at the whiteboard. “Okay, so we’re looking over the other evidence. Let’s not forget that we’re looking for a nine-letter word that starts with E.” He wrote the letter and eight empty spaces beneath the word misrepresentation. “If you think of anything else, jot it down.”

  He wrote the words they’d guessed earlier; eliminate, eradicate, exonerate, and elaborate. And just to show her that he wasn’t without a sense of humor, the last word he wrote was Elephants.

  Chapter 15

  Judge Ray Mathews

  Judge Ray Thomas left his courtroom. Another hearing was out of the way, and good old justice had prevailed once again. These days, he didn’t have many cases that didn’t involve some kind of backroom deal or favor, but this one had been clean, cut and dry with no one having a side agenda.

  Handling cases like that made him feel pretty great, like he could still do some good in the world without having to hold his hand out, but it didn’t give him the rush the dirty dealings did.

  Nothing made him feel more alive than that power and knowing that he had control of other men’s fate.

  He took his time heading home. Along the way, he took out the burner phone he liked to use to talk to Kami and found her number. “Hey, doll,” he said when she answered.

  “Mm, baby. How was work?”

  “I didn’t call to talk about work. How’s my baby girl today?”

  “Busy, but I’m glad you called. I got a strange call today, and I’m not sure, but I thought it might be your wife. They didn’t say anything at first. Then they called me a bitch and hung up.”

  “I don’t think so, but who else have you been a bitch to lately?” he asked, chuckling. “I wouldn’t let it get to you. None of that will matter soon. I’m going to ask for the divorce soon, and with any luck, she won’t get her hands on much of my money.”

  “Good,” said Kami. “More for me.” She gave a little laugh, and while Ray knew that she meant every bit of what she joked about, it didn’t matter to him. He’d use her up and cut her loose too if she didn’t watch her step.

  “That’s my greedy girl,” he said to humor himself. “When can I see you again?”

  “Later tonight if you play your cards right.”

  “I think I can swing it,” he said. “I’ll be in touch. And speaking of touch, have you thought about me today?” She had said she often liked to think of him and touch herself, and nothing turned him on more than knowing she’d done it.

  “Maybe,” she said with a giggle.

  “You say maybe, but your giggle says yes.” He had figured her out in their time together.

  “Call me later? I can’t wait to see you.” She blew kisses into the phone, the smooching noises loud enough to sting his ear.

  “Will do. Bye, baby.” He hung up the phone and tucked it back into his coat pocket, wondering if Marlo had seen it before and had the audacity to look at it. It was his private phone, for his private dealings and nothing else, and she knew that. Unless she had grown suspicious, there would be no reason she’d have peeked at it. Well, other than the fact that she was a fat, nosy bitch.

  He tried not to let it bother him and knew he would have to figure it out without making a scene. The last thing he wanted was to give himself away before his ducks were in a row and he could really stick it to the bitch. He’d make sure and take care of Dax, but Marlo’s lazy ass could go to work to support herself.

  As he pulled up at his house, he got out of the car, still in a good mood considering he had no idea what he was walking into. He wanted to change clothes and go down to the basement to work on his latest project without anyone disturbing him.

  He could hear Dax playing video games when he walked inside. The kid had formed a habit of screaming at the tv over the past few weeks, probably hoping to get some attention out of his mom. What he would get from his father was a good swift kick in the ass if he didn’t shut up. He loved the boy, but he was never cut out to be a father. He had nothing in common with his son anyway.

  Finding Marlo in the kitchen was amusing, especially since she was standing at the stove. But instead of cooking, she was trying to read a nutrition label on a bottle of corn syrup. “Do you know if this is the same as high-fructose corn syrup?”

  Ray rolled his eyes and didn’t dignify her with a response. “And here I thought you might have something on the stove for dinner.”

  “Why? You’re just going to throw it in the trash, yell at me, and then call in something to be delivered to you either in front of the tv or down in your scary basement.”

  “Don’t act like your feelings are hurt, Marlo. You know I’m really doing you a favor by ordering out and being down in the basement. Don’t pretend you care either. You can be lazy all day and night and not worry about anything coming between you and whatever it is you do.”

  “I do plenty. I go online, I shop, I tend to Dax and his schoolwork and all of the other crap that comes up around here.” She opened the bottle and stuck her finger around the rim, tasting the syrup.

  “Like what? Making sure the laundry is done? Oh wait, I pay someone to do that too.” She was totally useless to him. He looked over to see Dax standing in the doorway. “Hey, buddy. How’s it going?”

  “I just defeated another level, and now it’s time to refuel.” He went right for the fridge.

  “Don’t you ever get tired of playing those games? You know you could be outside hanging out with friends. Talking to actual people.”

  “I play live with my friends. They are a lot cooler than the chumps in this neighborhood.” He gave a shrug and then headed back to his game room with a string cheese and a pudding cup.

  Marlo let out a sigh. “You don’t even know what your kid does all day. He doesn’t like any of the kids in this neighborhood. They are all older and don’t include him, or too young and still need babysitters.” She still had a hard tone, and he couldn’t remember when she’d said anything to him in a different one.

  “So, did anything interesting happen today then? Did you do anything special?” He meant anything at all, but then she gave him the side eye and turned away to put her bottle back in the cabinet.

  “Maybe I did. Maybe I talked to one of your friends.” She let out a soft laugh like she had him right where she wanted him.

  “Oh yeah?”

  Marlo turned to look at him. “Don�
�t act like you don’t know who I’m talking about. The little bitch you’ve been fucking around—”

  He knocked the words right out of her mouth as he slapped her across the face. “That’s an ugly accusation and an even uglier habit of spying. Why were you on my private phone?”

  She held her face, her breathing ragged as if she held back tears. “I am your wife. I should be able to look at anything I please.”

  “It’s an invasion of privacy,” he said, stepping closer as she cowered away. “I suggest that you stop prying into my private life before you discover something that changes yours.” He didn’t think she would want to lose all of her material things.

  “I’m not afraid of you,” she said with enough acid in her voice to give him chills. “You might control everything else in your life, but you’re done controlling me!”

  But he wasn’t afraid of her either. “Marlo, do yourself a favor and stay out of my way.”

  “Is that a threat? Is that what you do now, physically hurt people? You sit on that bench of yours all high and mighty, but you can’t fool me. I know you’re just as low as a snake, just like everyone else in this city. The whispers about you are true too, and I didn’t have to go into your stupid phone to find that slut’s number. Someone gave it to me. They left it on our doorstep, telling me that I ought to know.”

  “Don’t call Kami again.” He didn’t want her to ruin what he had with the other woman.

  “Is that all you have to say? Well, listen up, asshole. I’m not staying here another day with you. And if you think you’re going to walk all over me, you’re wrong. I’m leaving, and I’m taking you for everything I can.” She turned and screamed for Dax, who slowly walked down the hall. “Pack your things. We’re leaving.” She went to her room, and Ray gave her space to do what she needed.

  He didn’t bother saying anything to Dax. The kid had seen enough of his parents’ cold exchanges and heated arguments to know that they were better off apart. Since the first thing he packed was his gaming system, Ray knew the kid was going to be all right.