At Risk by Patricia Cornwell

Author:Patricia Cornwell [Cornwell, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780425214763
Amazon: 0425214761
Barnesnoble: 0425214761
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2006-05-23T05:00:00+00:00

WIN FEELS a little guilty walking into the state police crime laboratory with his sealed envelope, knowing it really isn’t fair to bypass backlogs and protocols when he wants evidence analyzed right away.

He doesn’t feel the least bit guilty for not showing up at the Globe to further Lamont’s relentless political aspirations, to participate in behavior that is inappropriate, outrageous, and, in his opinion, self-destructive. Sammy says her exclusive tell-all is already being talked about in cyberspace, on TV and the radio, getting everybody primed to read her prurient and pitiful interview. He has decided she’s reckless and irrational, and that’s not a good thing if the person is your boss.

The modern brick building with its heavy steel front doors is a haven for Win, a place to go when he wants to unload on Captain Jessie Huber, discuss cases, complain, confide, ask for advice, maybe a favor or two. Win walks through the green and blue glass-block lobby, heads down a long hallway, and helps himself to the familiar open door where he finds his friend and mentor, typically dapper in a conservative dark suit and a gray silk cravat, typically on the phone. Huber is tall and thin, bald as a full moon, and women find him sexy, maybe because he is formidable and a good listener. Three years ago he was the senior investigator in Win’s unit, then was appointed to take over the labs.

He hangs up when he sees Win, bolts up from his desk, blurts out, “Dammit, boy!” and hugs him the way men hug, more backslapping than anything else. “Sit, sit! I can’t believe it. Tell me what the hell’s going on.” He shuts the door, pulls a chair close. “I send you to Tennessee, best damn forensic training facility on the planet, right up your alley. Then what? What the hell you doing back up here and what the hell have you gotten yourself into?”

“You sent me?” Win sits, puzzled. “Thought it was Lamont. Thought it was her brilliant brainstorm to send me to the Academy, maybe so she could have me handy to work a small-town case, as she views it, that would make all us big-city folks up here look good.”

Huber pauses, as if considering what he’s going to say next, then, “You just killed somebody, Win. Let’s don’t talk politics.”

“I killed somebody because of politics. Politics are why I was ordered back up here to have dinner with her, Jessie.”

“I understand.”

“I’m glad somebody does.”

“You’re very angry.”

“I’m being used. Given nothing to work with. Can’t even find the damn case file.”

“Looks like you and me share the same opinion of this At Risk mess she’s gotten us into,” Huber says.

“I thought it was the governor’s initiative, that she’s just the quarterback. That’s how it was explained. . . .”

“Yes and no,” Huber interrupts, leaning forward in his chair, lowering his voice. “This is all about her. She cooked it up, suggested it to Crawley, convinced him it would make the Commonwealth, make him look good.

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