Read Online Rausch & Donlon - Can Be Murder 02 - Love Can Be Murder by Marilyn Rausch, Mary Donlon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marilyn Rausch, Mary Donlon
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“Sorry, Jo. This case has stirred up a shitstorm. Been getting calls from everyone … the media, the mayor, the speaker of the house. Hell, even the governor is screaming in my ear, demanding to know what’s going on.”
Tom leaned back into his chair. “Given our honorable governor and the deceased were on opposite sides of the political spectrum, I suspect he’s not too heartbroken. However, I think it scares the crap out of him that he might be the next target. He very loudly reminded me that his office is right down the hall from where the body was discovered.”
“But Capitol Security is on high alert and he has his own bodyguards.”
“I reminded him of that, but it didn’t seem to make him any less jumpy. I’m telling you, Jo, people are riled up.” He took a swig of coffee from the Caribou mug on his desk. “So, where are we?”
Jo quickly launched into what they knew so far. Tom listened carefully, taking notes here and there. When she had finished, he asked, “What are your next steps?”
Jo sorted through all of the plans in her head and said, “Frisco and I are headed to the ME’s office in the morning. Trace evidence on the body should help narrow down the search for the original crime scene.
“We’re winnowing down the list of people who had access to the building, especially those who could have slipped a body into the Capitol without drawing suspicion. We’re following up on any threats that State Rep. Freemont may have received. With Freemont’s political views, he probably pissed off quite a few people.”
“Sounds like you are off to a good start. Keep me informed. This is going to be a media monster. There’s a meeting scheduled at noon tomorrow in the Emergency Operations Center upstairs. I’ll expect you to join us.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jo headed back to her desk and clicked on the lamp. Just as she was about to turn on her laptop, she was interrupted by Agent Mark Daniels. He leaned against her cubicle wall and said, “Hey, Schwann. I heard Tom put you on the Freemont job. Guess all you have to do around here is bat your eyes to get the best cases.”
She turned her chair around to face him. “Don’t be an ass, Daniels. I didn’t ask to be put on this case. As a matter of fact, it put a major kink in my plans. Just because you had some high-profile cases in your last assignment in Omaha doesn’t mean you’re more qualified.”
Agent Daniels sneered. “This case should have been mine.”
“I suggest you take it up with Tom, if that’s the way you feel.”
He spun on his heel and marched off.
She fired up her laptop and quickly forgot her encounter with Daniels as she spent the next several hours deeply entrenched in cyberspace, searching for cases with a similar MO.
She revised her search criteria, limiting results to deaths with shotgun blasts to the face. As she waited for the search results, she closed her eyes. Her head throbbed and she rubbed her temples. Jo mumbled to herself, “Guess those beers with Frisco weren’t such a great idea after all.” Opening her center drawer, she pulled out a couple of ibuprofen and popped them in her mouth.
Looking back at her laptop screen, she was startled to see a crime scene photo which looked eerily similar to Freemont’s, except this victim had been female. Same close-up and personal blast to the jaw line.
Jo’s heart pounded as she leaned forward to read the details of the nine year-old cold case. Unknown female, approximate age: 22 years. Case status: Open. Suspect questioned and released. Original crime scene undetermined. Jo’s eyes tracked to the bottom of the screen. The body had been discovered in an alley in Baltimore, Maryland.
“Baltimore! Damn it.” She looked at the clock in the lower right hand corner of her laptop screen. “I should have called John sooner.” She snatched her cell phone out of her pocket and headed to the small conference room on her floor. Jo quietly closed the door behind
Tom leaned back into his chair. “Given our honorable governor and the deceased were on opposite sides of the political spectrum, I suspect he’s not too heartbroken. However, I think it scares the crap out of him that he might be the next target. He very loudly reminded me that his office is right down the hall from where the body was discovered.”
“But Capitol Security is on high alert and he has his own bodyguards.”
“I reminded him of that, but it didn’t seem to make him any less jumpy. I’m telling you, Jo, people are riled up.” He took a swig of coffee from the Caribou mug on his desk. “So, where are we?”
Jo quickly launched into what they knew so far. Tom listened carefully, taking notes here and there. When she had finished, he asked, “What are your next steps?”
Jo sorted through all of the plans in her head and said, “Frisco and I are headed to the ME’s office in the morning. Trace evidence on the body should help narrow down the search for the original crime scene.
“We’re winnowing down the list of people who had access to the building, especially those who could have slipped a body into the Capitol without drawing suspicion. We’re following up on any threats that State Rep. Freemont may have received. With Freemont’s political views, he probably pissed off quite a few people.”
“Sounds like you are off to a good start. Keep me informed. This is going to be a media monster. There’s a meeting scheduled at noon tomorrow in the Emergency Operations Center upstairs. I’ll expect you to join us.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jo headed back to her desk and clicked on the lamp. Just as she was about to turn on her laptop, she was interrupted by Agent Mark Daniels. He leaned against her cubicle wall and said, “Hey, Schwann. I heard Tom put you on the Freemont job. Guess all you have to do around here is bat your eyes to get the best cases.”
She turned her chair around to face him. “Don’t be an ass, Daniels. I didn’t ask to be put on this case. As a matter of fact, it put a major kink in my plans. Just because you had some high-profile cases in your last assignment in Omaha doesn’t mean you’re more qualified.”
Agent Daniels sneered. “This case should have been mine.”
“I suggest you take it up with Tom, if that’s the way you feel.”
He spun on his heel and marched off.
She fired up her laptop and quickly forgot her encounter with Daniels as she spent the next several hours deeply entrenched in cyberspace, searching for cases with a similar MO.
She revised her search criteria, limiting results to deaths with shotgun blasts to the face. As she waited for the search results, she closed her eyes. Her head throbbed and she rubbed her temples. Jo mumbled to herself, “Guess those beers with Frisco weren’t such a great idea after all.” Opening her center drawer, she pulled out a couple of ibuprofen and popped them in her mouth.
Looking back at her laptop screen, she was startled to see a crime scene photo which looked eerily similar to Freemont’s, except this victim had been female. Same close-up and personal blast to the jaw line.
Jo’s heart pounded as she leaned forward to read the details of the nine year-old cold case. Unknown female, approximate age: 22 years. Case status: Open. Suspect questioned and released. Original crime scene undetermined. Jo’s eyes tracked to the bottom of the screen. The body had been discovered in an alley in Baltimore, Maryland.
“Baltimore! Damn it.” She looked at the clock in the lower right hand corner of her laptop screen. “I should have called John sooner.” She snatched her cell phone out of her pocket and headed to the small conference room on her floor. Jo quietly closed the door behind
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