"Last Known Victim" - читать интересную книгу автора (Spindler Erica)

5

Friday, April 20, 2007

3:00 p.m.

Patti held the badge in her gloved hands. They trembled slightly. Her chest hurt, as if she had been struck. The cool breeze rustled the leaves in the maple tree; one of the crime-scene techs shifted uncomfortably. Otherwise all were silent. Waiting. Giving her time.

She lifted her gaze, moved it around the circle. She saw sympathy. Shock and sadness.

And anger.

A cop had been killed. One of their own.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Patti,” Spencer said softly, laying a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m not,” she said, voice clear and strong. “He’s already gone. This gives me an opportunity to nail the bastard who took him.”

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“That this changes everything. That it blows the ‘killed by looters’ theory to hell.”

“Maybe.”

“No maybe. Sammy stumbled upon the killer, most likely in the act or its aftermath. It got him killed.”

“That’s one explanation.”

“You have another?”

“She could have killed him.”

“Not likely.”

“But possible.”

She made a sound of frustration. “Anything’s possible.”

“The badge,” Spencer continued, “could have ended up in the grave by-”

“Accident? Comeon, Detective. It was found under her remains, not mixed in the debris around the grave. My guess is, the son of a bitch tossed Sammy’s badge into the hole, then dumped the body on top.”

“It could have gone down that way. No doubt. But I don’t think we should close the door on other options.”

“Other options?” she repeated, suddenly angry. The group went stone silent. “What are they? Right now, I have this. And I mean to pursue it.”