Read Online All Fall Down by Erica Spindler - Free Book Online

working to look sympathetic but achieving an irritated expression instead. “But we have an important assignment for the WPD, one I’ll let Mr. Braxton share with the group. Bob?”
    The lawyer stood. “Mr. Andersen has decided to offer a reward for any information leading to the arrest of his daughter’s killer. Chief Greer’s team from Whistlestop will be overseeing the phone bank.”
    â€œWhat!”
    This came from Melanie and Bobby, in unison. Melanie heard the CMPD guys snickering and the blood rushed to her head. An angry retort on the tip of her tongue, she swung toward Harrison and Stemmons, but Bobby had heard them, too, and anticipating her response, kicked her under the table.
    Steve Rice stood. “With all due respect and sympathy to Mr. Andersen and his family, I have to warn you that these types of rewards rarely lead to anythingbut headaches for us and the PDs working the case. By tomorrow at noon, we’ll be so busy following up on false leads, we won’t have time to follow up on the real ones. I urge you to ask the Andersen family to reconsider.”
    â€œBut couldn’t it prompt a recalcitrant witness to come forward?” the attorney countered. “The promise of one hundred thousand dollars is a powerful motivator.”
    Melanie groaned. Chaos erupted at the table. That kind of reward would bring out not only every money-grubbing liar in the county, but every nutcase as well. It was a singularly bad idea. That she and Bobby had been assigned the phone banks was humiliating.
    The rest of the meeting passed in an angry blur for Melanie. The only bright spot being that Andersen’s attorney agreed to try to convince the businessman to lower the reward substantially.
    The moment they adjourned, Melanie caught her chief in the hallway. “Why didn’t you tell us?” she asked him, so furious her voice shook. “You let them sucker punch us. I feel like an idiot.”
    â€œI only just found out myself.” Melanie heard the anger in his voice. “They cornered me minutes before the meeting.”
    â€œSo, that’s where was our illustrious mayor was this morning,” Melanie said through gritted teeth. “Hiding under his slimy rock.”
    â€œAsshole politicians,” Bobby muttered.
    The chief sighed. “Don’t be too hard on him, he couldn’t win this one. The pressure came from high up.”
    â€œThis is Andersen’s doing, I’ll bet,” Bobby said, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets. “Who’d the man get to, the governor?”
    Their chief didn’t deny it. “Same old song and dance,” Melanie said bitterly. “They’re in and we’re out.”
    â€œNo,” Bobby corrected, his normally placid features pinched with anger, “we’re on the phone, taking down every reward-hungry nut’s tip to nowhere.” He stubbed his toe into the worn carpet. “Asshole politicians,” he said again.
    â€œI know you’re disappointed. I am, too.” The chief looked from one to the other of them. “But I did get us a couple consolations. First, though not actively participating in the investigation, we’re still involved. Searches, lineups, interrogations—anything goes down, we’re included. Second, I got us a handful of CMPD grunts to help with the phones.” He smiled wickedly. “Poor bastards.”
    Bobby perked up slightly at that, but Melanie couldn’t. This case had been her big chance, her way out of the WPD. Now it was gone.
    Sometimes, she decided, life really sucked.
    â€œLook on the bright side, Mel,” Bobby said moments later as they crossed the parking lot to her Jeep. “Now that we’re out, we can’t get blamed for tanking the investigation if this thing goes south.”
    â€œWhat ‘if’? It’s already gone south.” Melanie made a sound of frustration. “The