A Cold, Hard Case (A Luca Mystery Book 5) by DAN PETROSINI

Author:DAN PETROSINI [PETROSINI, DAN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

I was sitting behind my desk, taking another departmental survey, when Derrick swung into the office.

“Wheeler’s wife said both of his parents died of cancer, and his doctor said to avoid radiation if he could.”

What about the sun? Wheeler didn’t have a tan, but most people who lived here didn’t. It was only the tourists and part-timers who couldn’t get enough rays.

“No surprise. I’ll bet Wheeler told his wife, and she’s covering for him.”

“She couldn’t make up both his parents getting cancer. Besides, she said Wheeler had an MRI about fifteen years ago.”

“He did?”

“She said Wheeler was working on a ladder and took a fall. He banged his head and was taken to the hospital.”

“Where’d they take him?”

“NCH Baker, downtown.”

I got up. “Let’s go.”

“Hold on. I called them, and they have to retrieve the records from storage.”

“It’s not digital?”

“No, that was in 2003, before they started storing everything in the cloud.”

“How long until they dig it out?”

“They said it wouldn’t be till after the holidays. They keep them off-site at a temperature-controlled storage place, and it closes between Christmas and New Year’s.”

“But Christmas isn’t till next week.”

“I’ll call them again, but that’s what they told me.”

“Tell them it’s urgent.”

“I did.”

“Tell them again. Look, I gotta run out and pick something up.”

Talking about Christmas reminded me I had to get something to put under the tree for Mary Ann. My big gift was the trip. But that was for both of us, even though it was for her. I had to get another thing or two for her.

Mary Ann being into yoga, and Lululemon having a sale made it easy. I circled Waterside Shops' parking lot twice before sticking the police sticker on the dashboard. The mall was jammed with shoppers, most holding two bags or more. How much did this place do on a day like today?

Passing De Beers Jewelers I saw a couple entering the store. I froze. Was it one of the handbag couples? Pretending to look at De Beers window display, I saw the couple being helped at a counter. I surveyed the interior of the shop and my heart raced. At the back counter was another familiar couple.

The male had on the same blue sport jacket and designer sunglasses one of the bag thieves wore. Was this gang elevating their game? I checked the reflections in the window for any accomplices who might be spotting for them.

Over my right shoulder was a suspicious-looking man holding up a newspaper but not reading it. I shifted my attention to the first couple and my stomach dropped. The male was slipping a piece of jewelry into his jacket.

Approaching the entrance, a De Beers salesman opened the door for me. I stepped in, pulled the door closed, and slapped handcuffs on its handles. I drew my gun and shouted, “Put your hands in the air. It’s the police.”

* * *

Derrick shoved the Naples Daily News into his drawer as I entered the office. I said, “It’s okay, I saw it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.