Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
I furrowed my brow as I tapped the pen I was using to write down the case information on the legal pad on my lap. This case sounded about as foolproof as you could hope to get as a prosecutor. “Is he talking?”
“No. He lawyered up right away.”
So I won’t be able to talk to him. “Place of employment?”
He glanced down at the paper in front of him again. “He works security at the new hotel on the strip, Trilogy.”
I knew of it—it was a luxury hotel with three towers. I’d heard it was incredibly lavish. I wrote the name down and then looked back up at my boss. “Do we know who the girl is?”
He shook his head. “She wasn’t carrying any identification and she hasn’t shown up in any missing person reports yet. She looks Hispanic, late teens to early twenties. All the crime scene photos are in here,” he said, tapping the case jacket in front of him.
“Is there any evidence of sexual molestation?” I asked.
“We don’t have any autopsy information yet. What I’ve told you is about all we know. Now that you’re closing up the Montega case, I want you to work this one. Your first homicide—I know you’re up for the job. Grand jury is on Friday.”
His phone rang and he glanced at the screen. “I’ve gotta take this.” He slid the case jacket across the desk and I picked it up and stood.
“Thank you, Larry. I won’t let you down.” I turned to leave his office.
“I know you won’t.”
I walked back to my office and sat down at my computer. My first homicide. It didn’t seem right to be overly happy about it; after all, a young woman had died. But I was excited that Larry thought I was competent enough to handle it. I had held my own with many felony cases so far, but this was the first one that involved a murder.
I called down to homicide and asked for the lead detective on the case, Detective Powers. She had time to meet with me in a half hour and so I told her I’d be there.
I started turning off my computer and gathering my papers as Alex walked in the door. “How’s my beautiful girl? Can I take you to lunch?” he asked, leaning on my desk.
“I wish. I thought I had an easy wrap-up day. But I just got a new case and I’ve gotta get moving on it. Larry gave me my first homicide.”
Alex raised his eyebrows. “I’m not surprised. You’re an amazing lawyer. I’m gonna be wrapped up with clients tonight, but dinner tomorrow night and you can catch me up?”
I stood, putting my arms around his neck and looking up into his kind eyes. “Sounds great,” I said.
He kissed me quickly on my forehead and let me go, whistling a catcall as he walked behind me toward my door. I laughed and grabbed my purse and coat from the coat rack and blew a kiss over my shoulder as I headed to the stairs.
I got in my car and made my way to police headquarters, where I sat down with Detective Powers and went over the details of the case to make sure our testimonies were ready for grand jury. I grimaced as I looked at the pictures of the dead girl again, a bullet hole straight through her forehead. I had seen violent crime scene photos before, but this time, I felt a fierce responsibility come over me. It was my job to get justice for this girl. A lump formed in my throat as I took in the horrific details. No one’s life should ever end that way.
“If you ever get used to seeing that kind of thing, it’s time to retire,” Detective Powers said with a bit of humor in her voice. But her eyes said she was completely serious. I liked her. She was about forty, pretty, with short, blond hair. She was direct but kind.
“I agree. It makes it that much worse that she’s so young,” I said quietly, closing the file and pushing it away from me.
“Detective, do—”
“Please, call me Kate,” she said, smiling warmly.
“Okay, Kate.” I smiled. “Do you have any ideas about a motive here?”
“Not yet. But I do have a couple people to follow up with that have proven hard to pin down so far. They may be helpful in shedding light on Mr. Garner’s state of mind, among other things.”
I nodded. “Well, it looks like we have plenty to present to grand jury on Friday. I don’t see any problem getting an indictment.”
“No, there won’t be a problem. If you have any questions, give me a call, but otherwise, I think we’re in sync. I’ll see you at the courthouse?”
“Yes, sounds good. Thanks for meeting with me today. I know you have a busy schedule.”