Joanne Pence_Angie Amalfi 13 by Red Hot Murder

Author:Red Hot Murder [Murder, Red Hot]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781585477654
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2006-01-31T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

“Boomer can’t lift any prints off the gas can.” Merry Belle stood to make her pronouncement as soon as Paavo entered the office. “He tried, but said they were all smudged. I think he made things worse by trying, if that’s possible.”

“Take it away from him and send it to Phoenix.” Paavo had had it with the incompetence in the sheriff’s department. “If there’s any evidence on it, we need to know.”

“You’re right.” Her round face scrunched into a frown. She hesitated, then dropped back into her chair as her entire demeanor took on a weary, almost defeated air. “Smith, can we start over?” Her voice was uncertain.

“What do you mean?”

“Sit down and listen.” The words were bossy as ever, but the tone softer. Something in her eyes made him curious enough to do as she requested. “I know I come on strong. I’m not big on outside cops interfering with my work.”

“I understand,” he said. No cop likes outsiders poaching, not even if they are other cops.

She nodded, and continued in what was for her a muted manner. “I got two people dead, and now an old woman got knocked around. Too much old nasty stuff is coming to the surface.”

Paavo waited.

“This isn’t easy to say, San Francisco.” This time, there was no sarcasm in the nickname. She took a deep breath then added, “I could use help. Another professional. You’re a good homicide cop. I checked.”

Merry Belle’s look of embarrassment almost made Paavo smile. It figured she had vetted him, but for the first time, she did something right. She needed help. The question was, could he trust her?

“I’d like to help, but …”

“I know, I know,” Merry Belle interrupted. “You think I’m corrupt.” The sheriff allowed herself a sly smile. “I may do favors for campaign contributors—as a courtesy, you understand—but that’s all.” She went on in a firm voice. “I’m not bought and paid for. Don’t ever think that.”

To his surprise, Paavo believed her. This bellicose woman seemed to have her own goofy set of ethics.

“Look, I took this job because I needed work and nobody else wanted it. Besides, I knew more about being a cop than any ten men in town put together. I watch every police procedure show on TV, including the ones from the BBC, and every episode of CSI no matter where it takes place—New York, Miami, Las Vegas, Nome. Hell, I even wrote and told them they should put a show right here in Jackpot.” Her plain features softened, her voice lowered. “I can roust drunks and testosterone-laden teenagers with the best of them, but I never expected to deal with murders in Jackpot.”

Paavo relented, although a part of him enjoyed Merry Belle’s discomfort. Doc would probably say she was eating huge slices of humble pie. “I’ll be glad to work with you.”

“I appreciate that,” Merry Belle said, hastily adding, “it’ll be purely unofficial.”

“However you want to play it. And I’ve got something here for us to start with.”

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