Read Online Blood of Innocence (Sloan Skye) by Tami Dane - Free Book Online

went straight to him. “Do you have a COD?” he asked.
    “Exsanguination.”
    “The fetus?”
    “No heartbeat. Looks like she’s already delivered.”
    “Did you find the puncture wound?”
    “Groin.”
    A bird chattered outside, drawing my attention. A dark shadow flashed across the window. I went to it, checked it. It was shut but unlocked. I opened the window and a black feather floated into the room on a soft breeze. A branch of the sickly maple tree outside, blown by a stronger gust, swayed. The black-red leaves rippled.
    “What do you see?” JT asked.
    “Nothing. Just a shadow. Must have come from the tree.” I closed the window. “This was unlocked. But that tree outside is half dead.” I pointed at the leafless limbs closest to us. “There’s no way the limbs nearest to the window could support a grown adult.” As if to support my theory, one snapped off and fell to the ground.
    “So we still have no idea how the unsub is getting in,” JT summed up.
    “I’m still thinking a door. It’s the most logical.”
    “Let’s go talk to the husband. We’ll see if he can tell us anything.”
    “Okay. Did you get anything from the victim?” I asked.
    “Not a damn thing.”
    We found Volpe sitting in his living room, looking miserable and confused and overwhelmed. He had an elbow bent and was holding a piece of gauze against his arm. I was hoping that meant he’d agreed to the blood test. JT introduced us, as I’d come to expect.
    “Mike Volpe.” The man gave us each a nod. “I’ve told the police everything I know. I even gave them some blood.”
    “I’m sure they’re grateful for your help,” I said.
    Volpe checked his arm. “I just don’t understand. It’s so strange. It almost doesn’t feel real. It’s like I’m going to walk upstairs and she’ll be there, sleeping. And I’ll learn it was all a sick joke.” He wadded up the gauze.
    Shit, there was nothing to say to that. “I’m sorry.”
    “Would you mind answering a few questions?” JT asked.
    “No.” Volpe stared at the ball of gauze in his hand.
    “Do you keep all your doors locked at night?” JT asked.
    “Of course.”
    “Windows?” I asked.
    “The windows on the first floor are locked every night. When I was a kid, we had a break-in one night. Scared the shit out of me. I always lock the doors and windows. Don’t worry about the second floor so much. There’s no way for anyone to break in up there.”
    “Did you notice anything unusual before you went to bed last night?” I asked.
    “No.” Volpe crossed his arms over his chest and raised his gaze to me. “Unusual? Like what?”
    “Like, was anything out of place? Did anything feel wrong?” I asked.
    “Was your wife acting normal?” JT added.
    Volpe’s eyes narrowed. “Of course she was acting normal. Why would you ask a thing like that?”
    “I don’t mean to offend you, sir,” JT said. “We’re just trying to find out what we can, to help the detective solve the case.”
    Volpe’s narrowed eyes widened. His gaze dropped to the floor. “Nothing stands out. We watched the news, like we always do. Then we went to bed. Together. It was a nice night.”
    “Did she leave you at any point?”
    “Probably. To go to the bathroom. She’s always complaining that she has to pee every half hour. But she was never gone for long. I wake up really easily, every time she leaves and every time she comes back. I would know.”
    “Was your bedroom window open last night?” I asked, jotting some notes.
    “Sure. It was cool enough to cut off the air. But I can tell you for certain nobody got in our window.”
    I nodded. “Of course.”
    “Anything else?” Volpe asked, looking—and sounding—worn-out and shutdown.
    “No. Not at this point,” JT said. “Thank you.” We excused ourselves and went back outside.
    “I wonder what this victim’s secret is?” I asked, recalling what Gabe had said yesterday as we strolled down the sidewalk toward our parked