Read Online And Leave Her Lay Dying by John Lawrence Reynolds - Free Book Online Page A

Silky’s dead, and on the way home either Skerrett figures it’s all over, because he knows we’ll trace him and collar him, or maybe he planned to do it from the beginning. Anyway, there’s a bull’s-eye on a concrete wall ahead . . .” McGuire halted his gesturing. “You listening to me?”
    â€œYeah, and I’m hearing nothing.” Kavander tossed the toothpick splinters into his wastebasket. “Nothing we can ever take to the D.A.’s office anyway.”
    â€œWhat is this, Helen Keller day? All of a sudden you can’t hear, you can’t see—”
    â€œHey!” Kavander pointed his finger at McGuire like a loaded weapon. It shook as he spoke. “You don’t come in here accusing fellow officers of shoddy police work just because some guy turned himself into wallpaper paste against a highway bridge.”
    â€œIt
fits
, Jack.”
    â€œIt fits your ass, McGuire!” Kavander shook his head and leaned back in the chair. “Damn it, don’t you know when to back off?”
    â€œYou going to mark it C and C?”
    â€œOnly when you bring me facts. Not opinions. Hell, even the insurance company paid up, didn’t they?”
    â€œThey wouldn’t have if they’d known what we know now.”
    â€œWe don’t know anything, McGuire. We’re doing a lot of guessing but we don’t know a damn thing. What else are you working on?”
    McGuire stared at Kavander in angry silence before turning away to look out the window. “There’s only one other file worth anything. The Cornell murder. All the rest are whores in ditches and drunks in back alleys—”
    â€œI hear Rosen’s suing,” Kavander interrupted.
    McGuire swung his eyes back to the police captain. “Suing who?”
    â€œYou. For common assault. And the city. For endangerment of a bona fide court official.”
    â€œFor Christ’s sake.”
    â€œAnd he’ll sue the department for harassment and false arrest of his client, Arthur Trevor Wilmer.”
    â€œWhy haven’t I heard about this?”
    â€œBecause he hasn’t announced it.” Kavander lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch. “He’s holding a press conference right now to formally tell the world. Timed it just right to be the lead story on every TV channel in the state tonight.” He opened his desk drawer for another toothpick. “You got a lawyer, McGuire?”
    Kavander’s door opened and a round face peered in, looking with uncertainty at McGuire and Kavander. “Sorry, Captain,” Fat Eddie Vance said in his baritone voice. “Didn’t know you were busy. Hi, Joe,” he added in response to McGuire’s glare.
    â€œWhat do you want, Eddie?” Kavander demanded.
    â€œI was looking for some files and they told me you had them.” Vance smiled warmly at Kavander. “Thought I’d examine some old cases on the weekend, see what’s worth reviewing.”
    â€œWhat files are you talking about?” Kavander turned to a stack of folders on the shelf behind his desk.
    â€œJust a few of the grey ones from last year. Silky Pete was one, and that Fens murder.”
    â€œI’ve got them,” McGuire snapped.
    Vance’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “You have?” He paused, waiting for a response. When McGuire provided none, Vance continued: “Well, you need any help, Joe, you just call me, okay?” He smiled at Kavander. “Talk to you later, Chief.”
    Kavander stared at the door for a moment before saying: “I know what you’re thinking, McGuire. But Vance is just overloaded, that’s why things are a bit sloppy. Extra work comes along, Vance is the first in line to take it on. When he’s got the time to do it right, Fat Eddie is the best detail man in the department.”
    â€œMaybe,” McGuire muttered. “Just one thing I can’t