(Sinclair Connection, #3) Capturing Cleo by Linda Winstead Jones

Author:Linda Winstead Jones [Jones, Linda Winstead]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 10

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Crime scene tape and well-positioned patrol cars with flashing lights kept the public away from the area. Good thing they'd gotten to the victim before the television stations and newspaper arrived. This was not a picture anyone wanted on the front page or the noon news.

Luther stood back and studied what was left of Willie Lee Webb, while crime scene photographs were made. Webb had been draped around the plastic clown and tied in place with sturdy rope. His legs and arms were in unnatural positions, so he'd most likely been unconscious or already dead when he'd been placed here. A few fries peeked out from Webb's mouth, just a hint of the bizarre murder method.

Most murders were cut and dried. Robbery, crime of passion, execution. This … was different. He thought he'd seen everything, but this gave him a serious case of the creeps.

Russell stepped up beside him. "Sorry I lost my cool earlier," the kid said, calmer than he'd been when he'd come to Cleo's door.

"You had good reason," Luther said, his eyes never leaving Webb.

"I was just surprised, that's all," Russell explained. "I always thought of you as a strictly by-the-book cop."

"I am," Luther muttered. "Usually." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a peppermint, played with it a moment and then dropped it back into the pocket. "It's not what you think."

Russell sighed. And Luther turned his head to look at his young, optimistic, gung-ho partner. Yeah, Mikey was just a kid.

"It's never happened before," Luther said. "I don't make a habit of getting involved with women who are a part of a murder investigation." It was the cardinal rule, the one he had never thought he'd even be tempted to break. What was happening with Cleo was not casual or careless. It was so much more than that.

The kid scoffed. "You're gonna marry her?" he said sarcastically.

Luther returned his attention to the body. The crime scene techs were almost finished. Married? He hadn't thought that far ahead. He hadn't been able to think past the fact that Cleo was somehow different. That she'd crept beneath his skin and would be there always. It wasn't like him to be so sentimental, to think about a woman when he had work to do. Webb had a family. Co-workers. Neighbors. Even though Luther knew this murder was related to Cleo, somehow he had to cover all the bases.

"That's what I figured," Russell said, taking Luther's silence as a negative response. "You know, she's a nice lady. You shouldn't take advantage of her like—"

Luther snapped his head around. Russell stood there, indignant and righteous and stiff-spined. "Is that what this is about? You're worried about Cleo. You think I'm taking advantage of her."

"Aren't you?"

"No."

"You expect me to believe this thing with Cleo is serious?"

Photographs done, evidence collected, the techs began to untie the latest murder victim. "Ask me again after we catch this guy."

Luther stood back and watched as Webb was bagged and tagged, and Russell knew him well enough to keep his mouth shut while the wheels turned.

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