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We analyze the front and back seats first. The forensics team is already collecting blood samples and dusting for prints on the steering wheel.
I turn to the head examiner. “Anything of significance?”
“I’d say this was unplanned, because whoever did this was sloppy. There are several different prints all over the car. She managed to pull a button off his shirt in her struggle to break free.” He holds up a baggie with the evidence. I take it in my hand and look it over.
“Seems standard.”
“Yeah, but it’s a standard button from a uniform. It may not narrow the pool by much, but it’s something. We’re still scanning for fibers,” he reports.
I nod and move around to the back of the car. “Okay, let’s see what we have here.” I brace myself for the body. No matter how many times I do this, it never gets easier. Dad says that when it does, it’s time to quit the force, so I guess it’s a good thing that I still feel something.
Officer Doran lifts the trunk, and I’m stunned at the sight.
“Fuck me,” Alex murmurs by my side. “Damian,” he calls out. Damian rushes over to us, but my eyes are glued to the woman in the trunk.
“Christ!” Damian says, dragging a hand down his face.
We’ve been looking for Karen, and we’ve found her, dead in the trunk of stolen car. I back away from the sight.
“I can’t be here,” I say. Damian and Alex understand my meaning right away. With the current situation where Karen has been harassing me and my family, I could be a suspect. The right thing to do is back away until the coroner can give us a time of death. I’m not willing to leave the scene completely, but I go back to my vehicle.
Alex and Damian keep watch as the unit does an entire sweep of the car, and the coroner arrives. It’s a long hour and a half before Damian comes over to me.
“Estimated time of death is between six and six thirty last night,” Damian says.
“I was at the clinic with Gwen,” I reply.
“Yeah, and we’ve already ordered the doctor’s report and asked the receptionist for your time of arrival. Zeke has the video with the time and date stamped that you left at six fifty-eight. We wanted to tie everything into a pretty bow so we can get on with it. All the information is going on file and up to the deputy chief,” he says.
“All clear, then?”
“All clear.”
I push myself off the side of the car and walk back down with Damian. Yeah, I’m by the book, mostly. The way I see it, when we get this guy, I don’t want any loopholes that his lawyer can use against our case. Any good lawyer would throw suspicion on another suspect, creating doubt in the jury’s mind. I would be the logical choice since just days ago, I lodged a complaint.
Alex sees me coming. “What the hell did Karen get herself into?”
I look into his eyes. “Better question, how is this related to the guy who approached Gwen in the library, the spray paint, and the ex-cons from the plant? Or are they two separate cases?”
“It’s too coincidental,” Damian adds. “They’re related.” I tend to agree with him, but I have to keep an open mind and follow up on any clue we get.
The unit collecting evidence is on their way back to the station, and Alex informs us that they’re running the prints they found first to see if they get a hit from the database.
“There’s nothing more we can do here,” Damian says. “They’re transporting Karen’s body to the morgue. Why don’t you call it a day. Go home. Mason’s probably on his way back with Gwen. You’re going to have to tell her about this. Might as well get it done.”
I swear under my breath. “How much more can she take? From the fucking minute we got together, we’ve been fighting battle after battle.”
“She’ll be by your side forever because you’re giving her what she needs,” Alex says.
I furrow my brows. “What’s that?”
“You. You keep giving her you, and she’s gonna hold steady and this will all blow over.”
“Let’s hope so, man. I have to go home and tell her I found a dead body. Then I have to explain that it’s Karen.” I don’t expect an answer. There’s really nothing left to say. I feel the heaviness of the day on my shoulders, but going home to Gwen makes it bearable.
EIGHTEEN
Tell Me What You Need
