Silent Confessions by Julie Kenner

Author:Julie Kenner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2014-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

chapter ten

“Page one,” Donovan said. “Metro.” He tossed the morning paper on Jack’s desk.

“Any leaks?” Jack asked, thumbing through the newspaper.

“Nope. Clean as a whistle.”

The night before, the investigative team had decided to withhold the information about the erotic note that had been found at the scene of Marina Stephenson’s murder. A common enough tactic, the downside was that they might miss out on stalking victims who so far hadn’t reported the crime, but might be scared enough to do so after reading about a murder.

“You still cool with the plan?” Donovan asked.

Jack nodded. “If we’re at a dead end in a few days, I think we should leak it. But right now, I think this is the way to play it.”

Donovan pointed at the ceiling, his eyes wide. “Look,” he said. “There goes one.”

Jack spun around, his gaze up, trying to find what his partner was pointing toward. “What?”

“A flying pig,” Donovan said, managing to keep a straight face. “I knew when you and Spinelli finally agreed on something pigs would fly.”

Spinelli lumbered over. “And monkeys will fly out of your butt, Donovan,” he said. His gaze shifted from Donovan to Jack. “An accident,” he said.

“Stephenson?” Jack asked, trying to keep track of the conversation.

“That’s what the forensic guys tell me.” He tossed a preliminary report onto Jack’s desk. Jack skimmed it, then passed it to Donovan.

“So our stalker comes in and leaves his little present,” Jack said, running through the scenario. “He’s on his way out—”

“But Marina comes home,” Donovan put in.

“Right,” Jack said. “So our guy rushes to the fire escape, figuring he’ll go down that way. But the ladder’s gone.”

“He panics,” Spinelli said. “Rushes her.”

“And when she screams, he grabs the handiest thing and swings it, wanting to shut her up.”

The three men looked at one another. “Could be,” Donovan said.

“It’s still murder,” Jack said.

Spinelli cracked a smile. “Which makes it my case.”

Jack’s phone rang and Spinelli turned away, chuckling to himself. Jack rolled his eyes and yanked up the handset. “Parker,” he said, realizing it was a staffer from National Geographic who was returning his call.

The staffer knew nothing about the Galápagos shoot but gave him the home number of the editor who would have handled the assignment. The guy wasn’t home, so Jack left his cell phone number and asked for a call back.

“Nothing on the brother?” Donovan asked.

“Nothing yet.”

“Still think he’s a suspect?”

Jack nodded. “Afraid so.”

“Motive?”

“Don’t have a clue. Scandal, maybe? Push Ronnie into selling the store?”

“Seems far-fetched,” Donovan said.

Jack agreed. “Maybe we’re simply dealing with a perv.”

“Could be.” Donovan kicked his feet up onto the desk. “So how are your lessons going?” he asked. “Does she know you’re investigating her brother?”

Jack scowled. “You know me better than that. I’m not going to compromise an investigation by letting my suspect’s sister in on my suspicions.” And that was true no matter how hurt Ronnie was going to be when she found out. Jack only hoped she’d understand he had no choice.

“Makes sense,” Donovan said.

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.