Crescent City Detective by Vito Zuppardo

Author:Vito Zuppardo [Zuppardo, Vito]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vito Zuppardo
Published: 2017-12-05T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 31

The crime scene was investigated for hours before traffic was allowed again down Saint Charles Avenue. The four suspects were taken to police headquarters and booked on kidnapping charges. Even a botched attempt like this would carry the same twenty-years-to-life sentence. Once Kate was in the truck, it was kidnapping, and the prosecutor would push for the maximum sentence.

Mario started his car just as he saw the New Orleans Forensic logo on the side of a black SUV pull up. They would go over the truck carefully before towing it to the police evidence yard. To his liking, he saw Olivia Johansson step out the SUV and walk to his car.

“I heard about the terrible incident. I called the captain and asked for this case,” Olivia said, patting Mario’s arm resting on the car door. “We’re going to nail these assholes.”

“I appreciate your help. You’re the best,” Mario said.

Olivia walked away, stepping under the yellow crime tape fencing off the area.

Mario hit the siren button in short beeps so the officer at the corner would open the barricade, letting him turn onto the avenue.

Arriving at police headquarters, Mario went straight to Chief Gretchen Parks’s office. The elevator door opened to the floor she occupied, and the not so pleasant receptionist greeted him.

“May I help you?”

“Is the chief in?”

“Do you have an appointment, Detective Mario?”

“No—let’s cut the bullshit. If the chief is available, I need to speak to her.”

The receptionist picked up the phone as the chief’s door opened, and a lady walked out. He could see the chief at her desk and made eye contact. She waved Mario in, and he winked at the receptionist as he walked around her desk.

“Thanks for nothing.”

Mario closed the chief’s door behind him and sat on a chair near her desk.

“I was expecting you. Not in person. Maybe just a phone call,” she said.

“You were?”

“Let me guess. You want to be lead detective on Kate’s kidnapping attempt?”

“You’re way ahead of me.”

“The answer is no.”

“Madam Chief, with all due respect, I’m the best person to spearhead this case.”

“I know, but I’m putting Truman as lead detective.”

“But—he’s my partner,” Mario said with confusion in his voice.

“Correct,” she said. “The other detective teams are overloaded right now. Truman is in charge. If I put you in charge, the mayor would raise holy hell—that it’s too personal for you to handle. But I put Truman in charge. Do you understand?” she said with a wink of her eye.

“Loud and clear, Madam. Truman is in charge,” Mario said with a slight grin. “Thank you,” he said as he opened the door to leave.

“And don’t ever barge in my office again,” the chief shouted, making sure the people in the outer office heard her outburst.

“Mario,” she whispered before he closed the door. “Get the bastards.”

“You can count on it, Chief.”

Putting Truman in charge was nothing more than paperwork to appease the higher-ups. Chief Gretchen Parks was smart and knew how to work the system.

Mario’s first stop was his office,

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