Spirited 1 by Mary Behre

Author:Mary Behre [Mary Behre]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Adult, Ghosts, Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9780425268612
Google: ucgAAQAAQBAJ
Amazon: 0425268616
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2014-03-03T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

“SHE WAS PREGNANT?” Seth shifted his weight on the squeaky leather chair and leaned forward. Why were they just receiving this information now? “Her mother didn’t tell me that.”

The captain nodded and held a hand in the air as the ME’s voice filled the room through the speakerphone. “No doubt about it. She was about five months along when she was murdered. The fetus appeared to be healthy at the time of its mother’s demise.”

“Thank you, Clark,” the captain said. “Anything else you can tell us?”

“Yes, the victim had a rare disorder called antiphospholipid syndrome, sometimes called sticky blood syndrome. If left untreated, it can produce blood clots. It’s especially of a concern when the patient is pregnant, as ours was.

“When the body was stripped, my assistant discovered a syringe in her pocket. Tests confirmed it contained heparin, a common treatment for someone with this syndrome. The injection would have needed to have occurred once daily, but why she chose to do it at three in the morning made little sense to me. Most pregnant women require rest. Shouldn’t she have been sleeping around that time?” Clark continued to talk about the victim’s exact illness, but Seth tuned him out.

Except our victim was also a jewel thief who spent most of her nights awake.

Seth scrubbed a hand down his face and glanced at his captain. What a waste of two lives. Damn, when he’d thought the victim had been killed for her role in the burglaries he’d felt little pity. No honor among thieves, no matter what people claimed. But what kind of sick bastard kills a pregnant woman?

Seth rose, crossed to the coffeepot Peterson kept full in his office, and poured himself a cup. The captain raised his empty mug in the air. Bringing the coffeepot to him, Seth filled his boss’s mug then returned the pot to its stand.

“Thanks, Clark.” The captain ended the call and disconnected the line. After taking a sip from his mug, he turned a steely gaze to Seth. “This case has changed. The dead woman wasn’t some random vic. Do you know who her mother is?”

“Iris Masters,” O’Dell said, straightening his tie. “The Tidewater Parker Foundation’s biggest contributor.”

O’Dell and Reynolds had been so quiet, Seth had almost forgotten they were there, lurking. Waiting for a chance to snake his case away from him.

“I’m not surprised you remember her, O’Dell. She’s the woman you told to wait before filing a missing person’s case on her daughter Saturday morning,” Peterson said, jabbing a finger in O’Dell’s direction.

“In my defense, Captain . . .” O’Dell’s normal smirk was replaced with a look of genuine concern. “It’s standard procedure.”

“Not the point.” Peterson growled the words.

Seth shouldn’t be relieved to learn that O’Dell had failed to help the victim’s mother. And in truth, he wasn’t. He was disgusted, but it did alleviate some of his concern about his ex-partners stealing his case.

“I don’t get it,” Reynolds said. “This chick was from a wealthy, influential family. Why would she turn jewel thief?”

“Good question,” O’Dell said.

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