Read Online False Witness (John Steel series Book 3) by P. S Syron-Jones - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: P. S Syron-Jones
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didn’t kill him?” McCall asked.
Tina rocked a flat-palmed hand from side to side, using her ‘undecided’ look. “Yes and no really,” the ME said eventually, still reluctant to answer the question.
Steel noticed a light patch on the man’s wrist, that looked as if it was where a band or chain had once been.
“What if he was allergic to stings?” John Steel asked. “What would happen then?” He could see the strain of concentration ease from Tina’s face, as if she was relieved that someone finally understood.
“So he had an allergic reaction to the sting,” Sam added, “but someone must have known that, maybe whoever did it was someone close to him?” New theories began to build in her head.
Steel could see where she might be going with her theory but found it unlikely. “You’re thinking his daughter did it, aren’t you?” he suggested.
McCall thought for a moment then bit her bottom lip, as if unsure of her supposition. “Well, she is the only one with a key and she would know his medical history.” She took out her cell phone and pressed the auto dial for Tooms then waited. After a couple of seconds, she heard Tooms’s heavy voice come over the speaker.
“Tooms, it’s McCall,” she began. “Get uniforms to pick up Andy Carlson’s daughter, will you. Don’t spook her, just say it’s to fill in some blanks. If she calls her mom we won’t get anywhere.”
Tooms acknowledged her request before she hung up on him.
Tina waited until she had finished then held up a clear evidence bag that contained a piece of paper. “Now for the next surprise. We found this in his stomach. Obviously someone had made him eat this whole, probably hoping it would be found later.”
McCall took it from her friend and held it up. The document was stained and most of the writing was legible to the naked eye.
“Something about lies and poison!” read out Steel, all he could make out that had been written on the once-crumpled piece of paper.
“Okay, can you get CSU to get their tech to look at it and try and tidy it up?” he asked.
Tina smiled and nodded. “I already did. It says: YOUR LIES POISONED MY LIFE. Also, CSU found the paper and the pen it was written with.” Tina gave an excited smile. “What’s more, it turns out that the needle that was used to sew him up was also from the victim’s house.”
Steel looked thoughtful for a second then looked up at the doctor. “So what was used as thread? It was too thick to be normal cotton. Wait, don’t tell me he used what I think he used.” Steel cringed, feeling the pain of it.
“If you’re thinking dental floss, you’d be right,” Tina said. “They also found the empty package in the bathroom. This guy breaks in and uses everything that is available, he doesn’t bring the stuff with him.” Tina could feel the next question coming.
“Okay,” McCall, asked, “but where the hell did the scorpion come from? Our guy couldn’t look after himself, let alone a pet.”
Tina shrugged and shook her head. “Sorry, Sam, that one we don’t know.”
McCall smiled, a little happier that there was progress. Steel looked at the clock above the entrance: the hands showed it was just after five.
“Okay,” John Steel said. “I have things to do and people to see, so until tomorrow, ladies.” He gave a short bow and left, leaving the girls some quiet time before the end of the shift. McCall watched him leave. She wondered where he was going and if someone else was likely to end up in the hospital tonight.
*
The reporter took the subway to the stop on First Avenue, as it was only a couple of blocks to his apartment on East Seventh Street.
The noise of the braking system screamed as they moved round a bend in the track but nobody took any notice. Everyone was engrossed in their tablets or smart phones, the odd person would have a book or magazine, and nobody looked up or made eye contact.
Edward Gibbs was busy flicking through his
Tina rocked a flat-palmed hand from side to side, using her ‘undecided’ look. “Yes and no really,” the ME said eventually, still reluctant to answer the question.
Steel noticed a light patch on the man’s wrist, that looked as if it was where a band or chain had once been.
“What if he was allergic to stings?” John Steel asked. “What would happen then?” He could see the strain of concentration ease from Tina’s face, as if she was relieved that someone finally understood.
“So he had an allergic reaction to the sting,” Sam added, “but someone must have known that, maybe whoever did it was someone close to him?” New theories began to build in her head.
Steel could see where she might be going with her theory but found it unlikely. “You’re thinking his daughter did it, aren’t you?” he suggested.
McCall thought for a moment then bit her bottom lip, as if unsure of her supposition. “Well, she is the only one with a key and she would know his medical history.” She took out her cell phone and pressed the auto dial for Tooms then waited. After a couple of seconds, she heard Tooms’s heavy voice come over the speaker.
“Tooms, it’s McCall,” she began. “Get uniforms to pick up Andy Carlson’s daughter, will you. Don’t spook her, just say it’s to fill in some blanks. If she calls her mom we won’t get anywhere.”
Tooms acknowledged her request before she hung up on him.
Tina waited until she had finished then held up a clear evidence bag that contained a piece of paper. “Now for the next surprise. We found this in his stomach. Obviously someone had made him eat this whole, probably hoping it would be found later.”
McCall took it from her friend and held it up. The document was stained and most of the writing was legible to the naked eye.
“Something about lies and poison!” read out Steel, all he could make out that had been written on the once-crumpled piece of paper.
“Okay, can you get CSU to get their tech to look at it and try and tidy it up?” he asked.
Tina smiled and nodded. “I already did. It says: YOUR LIES POISONED MY LIFE. Also, CSU found the paper and the pen it was written with.” Tina gave an excited smile. “What’s more, it turns out that the needle that was used to sew him up was also from the victim’s house.”
Steel looked thoughtful for a second then looked up at the doctor. “So what was used as thread? It was too thick to be normal cotton. Wait, don’t tell me he used what I think he used.” Steel cringed, feeling the pain of it.
“If you’re thinking dental floss, you’d be right,” Tina said. “They also found the empty package in the bathroom. This guy breaks in and uses everything that is available, he doesn’t bring the stuff with him.” Tina could feel the next question coming.
“Okay,” McCall, asked, “but where the hell did the scorpion come from? Our guy couldn’t look after himself, let alone a pet.”
Tina shrugged and shook her head. “Sorry, Sam, that one we don’t know.”
McCall smiled, a little happier that there was progress. Steel looked at the clock above the entrance: the hands showed it was just after five.
“Okay,” John Steel said. “I have things to do and people to see, so until tomorrow, ladies.” He gave a short bow and left, leaving the girls some quiet time before the end of the shift. McCall watched him leave. She wondered where he was going and if someone else was likely to end up in the hospital tonight.
*
The reporter took the subway to the stop on First Avenue, as it was only a couple of blocks to his apartment on East Seventh Street.
The noise of the braking system screamed as they moved round a bend in the track but nobody took any notice. Everyone was engrossed in their tablets or smart phones, the odd person would have a book or magazine, and nobody looked up or made eye contact.
Edward Gibbs was busy flicking through his
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