Ghost Walking (A Maggie York Paranormal Mystery Book 1) by Ally Shields

Author:Ally Shields [Shields, Ally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: paranormal fantasy
ISBN: 9781944138431
Publisher: Etopia Press
Published: 2016-04-19T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Brandt arrived at District 13 around seven the next morning. A message already waited from Cory stating the Pardson evidence had been gathered and was waiting. Brandt grabbed a mug of coffee, checked out the sealed lab box, and went through the contents. Just as Cory had said, there was no fingerprint report or log of print collection from the scene. Brandt picked up the personnel sheet and began calling the techs involved.

The first two knew nothing, and the third was on sick leave. Brandt’s suspicion meter spiked…until he tracked the woman down at a local hospital where she’d undergone an emergency appendectomy the night of Pardson’s death. Couldn’t fake that. But had her absence made it easy for someone to tamper with the fingerprints?

Fifteen minutes later he stood beside her hospital bed, explaining his concern. The brunette frowned at him. “I don’t understand, detective. I handled everything like normal. I found at least a dozen latent prints on the door, but only a few were sufficient for ID. I preserved everything, labeled and recorded.”

“We can’t find it now. Where did you put it?”

“In the locked evidence room, ready to be logged in the computer and analyzed. I swear, it was there. I left as soon as I turned it in, because I wasn’t feeling good.”

“No one’s doubting you,” Brandt said. “Someone’s just made a mistake. Don’t worry about it. We’ll find it. And take care of yourself. The lab will be eager to have you back.” He smiled. “I’m sure the backlog hasn’t improved a bit in your absence.”

“That’s probably true,” she said, leaning back against the pillows. “Makes me want a nap just thinking about it.”

By the time Brandt returned to the squad room, his three partners had gathered for the morning briefing. Although he mentioned the lack of fingerprints on the Parson case, he didn’t point out the lab glitch. For now, he’d keep his suspicions quiet until he had a chance to approach the captain. Whether sloppy or deliberate, the lab had a serious problem.

Just as the meeting broke up, vice detective Justin Wernier called and asked to meet him at a local cafe down the street.

“What’s this about?”

“I’ll explain when you get here. We may be able to help one another.” The other cop hung up.

Brandt stared at the phone. He didn’t like the cloak and dagger feel of this, but his curiosity was piqued. He grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and headed out the door.

The Corner Cafe was only four blocks away. When he walked in the door, he spotted the vice cop immediately. They’d never spoken, but he’d seen Wernier around the station. Who could miss the tall, skinny blond with the shaggy hair? Brandt hadn’t known the man worked vice and almost smiled at the idea of this lanky kid confronting thugs from the city’s gangs. When Wernier lifted his gaze, Brandt knew he’d made a bad assumption. The vice detective had the best cop eyes Brandt had seen in a long time.

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