Read Online Body of Lies by Deirdre Savoy - Free Book Online

didn’t have the wherewithal for all that. With the smashed mirrors linking all the cases and his semen in one of the women, no defense attorney in the world was going to keep him from getting convicted of something. With the help of her subpoenaed testimony, Thorpe’s attorney had painted him as a hapless copycat, too inept to get it right, and the jury bought it. So instead of being convicted on eight counts of rape he was only convicted of one. The difference allowed him to be out on the streets instead of being locked up. No wonder the cops hated her.
    â€œYou didn’t have any clue what Thorpe was up to? No hints of violence? No rape fantasies?”
    She exhaled, wondering if he thought her incompetent, too. Did it not occur to anyone that she hadn’t been treating Thorpe long enough to uncover most of the dysfunction in his personality?
    She tilted her head to one side, challenging. “If they arrested every guy who indulged in rape fantasies, there wouldn’t be a man left on the street.”
    He lifted one eyebrow, and his smile deepened. “Touché.” His expression changed, softening. “How are you doing, Alex, really?”
    She frowned and straightened to a standing position. “You gave up the right to ask me that question thirteen years ago.” She sighed. “If you have no more professional questions ...”
    She didn’t add, hit the road, but she might as well have. He looked at her with an expression she didn’t understand. “Just a warning. They’re going to be releasing Thorpe’s name and description to the media this afternoon, only as someone they want to talk to. Make sure you get those files to me by the close of business today.” He turned and walked out of the room, leaving the door open behind him.
    For a moment, she stared after him. He could take her abrasiveness any way he wanted as long as he left her alone. That was a precaution for both their benefits. She closed her office door, crossed to her seat, and flopped down on it. Only then did she contemplate the last bit of information he’d given her. They were releasing Thorpe’s name. Good God! Now it would begin for sure.

Seven
    Zach’s sister-in-law opened the door to him when he arrived at his brother’s house that night to collect his niece. He’d left Alex’s office in a foul mood and his disposition hadn’t improved since then. He’d attended the press conference held at 1 Police Plaza where Commissioner Burke announced the formation of the Alpha Task Force, assembled to track down the so-called Amazon Killer and to name Captain Victor Craig as the new head thereof.
    Zach could almost feel the steam coming off McKay as the news was announced. He hadn’t even lasted the day. Zach couldn’t find fault with whoever had made that decision, or whatever calmer head had decided to keep Thorpe’s connection to the case quiet until they’d run down whatever leads they already had on him.
    The bad news was that McKay had already ordered records for Alex’s work, home, and cell phone numbers, hoping to find some evidence of communication between the two of them. Tapping her phone might not be far behind, if they could convince some judge to sign off on it.
    Why McKay insisted on bringing Alex into this, Zack didn’t know. It smacked of a vindictiveness that had nothing to do with job advancement as he’d suspected, but of something more personal in nature. Alex would probably call it a fixation; he’d call it trouble waiting to happen.
    â€œWe were beginning to think you weren’t going to show up,” Barbara said, ushering him inside the door.
    To Zach’s eye, her smile looked brittle. Too bad. He liked Barbara. Whatever difficulty she was having with Stevie or his brother, he hoped it was resolved soon. The whole family had more than its share of grief at the moment. Besides, who other than Barbara