Goldberg, Lee - Movieland by Goldberg Lee

Author:Goldberg, Lee [Goldberg, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2022-06-20T16:00:00+00:00

Eve found Duncan in their Explorer, typing on the dash-mounted laptop computer. The driver’s side window was rolled down and she leaned on the sill to talk with him.

“It’s definitely Netter,” she said. “And a shotgun was involved.”

“I did a quick check on him online. He’s married with two children, both in college. In his day job, outside of politics, he works as a financial manager in Beverly Hills,” Duncan said. Eve knew that the elected Calabasas City Council positions were not full-time work and paid only about $6,000. “He must have been on his way home.”

“From an out-of-town trip,” Eve said. “There are suitcases scattered on the hillside and there’s money blowing around that we need to collect.”

Duncan looked up at her. “Cash?”

She held out an evidence baggie containing the hundred-dollar bill that she’d picked up. “From what I could see, all hundred-dollar bills. We need to make sure none of the first responders pocketed any. Is there a way to broach it that won’t offend all of them?”

“Nope, so I’ll handle it,” he said.

“Why you?”

Duncan got out of the car with a groan, clutching his right knee. “Because I’m lovable and retiring and you’re abrasive and sticking around. I’ll do that and coordinate things here. You go visit Netter’s house and tell them about his death before his family learns about this from somebody else. His wife’s name is Hallie.”

“Someone lovable should really be the one to tell her. How about we swap?”

“I’ve done my last death notification,” Duncan said and walked away before she could present an argument.

Eve got in the Explorer and drove up to the house. She didn’t have to go far. It was the first home past the curve, about a half mile away. The nearest neighbor was perhaps a quarter mile farther east.

There was an elaborate wrought-iron front gate, with lots of curls and swirls in the design, set between two high brick pillars. A speaker was mounted outside, with a ringer button and an embedded camera. Eve pressed the button and a woman answered.

“Yes?” The woman was out of breath and sounded a bit harried, as if she’d been interrupted in the middle of doing a dozen other things. Eve thought it was amazing how much could be conveyed in a single word.

Eve held up her badge to the camera. “I’m Eve Ronin, a detective with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Are you Mrs. Netter?”

“Yes, I am. What is this about?”

Definitely harried, Eve thought. Even irritable.

“I need to talk with you, face-to-face.”

The gate opened. Eve drove up the very short driveway to the large two-story home, a prime example of an architectural style that she’d heard described as “modern farmhouse hacienda.” The house looked to her like the ugly offspring from a drunken one-night stand between a farmhouse and a Quonset hut.

Eve got out and went to the door, which looked like it was sheathed in aluminum and was as welcoming as a meat locker or morgue drawer. It underscored for her the grim reason for her visit.

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.