Read Online Justifiable by Dianna Love, Wes Sarginson - Free Book Online
Authors: Dianna Love, Wes Sarginson
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I know you’re busy and appreciate your time.” Kirsten had bent over backwards to show the local PD she was not Cecelia who thought playing hardass around law enforcement was part of her job description. The DA didn’t seem to care that she rubbed people on the government’s side of a case raw as lye soap. “I’ll find out if we have any funds available to send this out to a private lab and cut that time.”
“Good luck with that.”
Kirsten had her doubts, too, about getting any help on this case in particular when the evidence was pointing toward a domestic crime. There was no strong tie between this and the drug-related killing of a young man from Philomena House ten days ago except the bullet hole in his forehead and bodies being moved, but something kept pecking at her conscience.
Coincidental or a connection?
Damn Cecelia and her get-this-behind-us attitude.
Kirsten had a duty to all citizens, no matter where they fell on the socio-economic totem pole. “I won’t know about funds until I ask.”
“Fat chance of getting an extra nickel for lab work.” Turner’s wry smile turned the sarcasm into a friendly taunt. He tapped his closed notebook against the palm of his hand in a silent rhythm.
She didn’t blame him. “I know you and your men do miracles with a shoestring budget. I’m not making promises, but I’ll do what I can.” She’d have to go through Cecelia, but anything was possible. Was this the time to pick a battle? “I’d like your honest opinion on something.”
“Okay.”
“I’m more than willing to go to bat for the money, but I don’t want to do it unless you agree that we should investigate further on this case.”
He didn’t answer at first, allowing his gaze to travel past her shoulder before it returned to her. “What’s your honest opinion?”
Her answer could be the difference between gaining his respect or being dismissed as clueless, but she would only give him the truth. “First of all, I think everyone deserves our best on solving a crime, but I know there are so many you have to prioritize. Second, I can see how a welfare mother’s death wouldn’t rank high on most people’s lists.”
He stopped tapping his notebook, but didn’t comment.
“To be perfectly honest with you, Detective, I don’t think Sally Stanton was a victim of domestic violence though I don’t have anything solid to offer as evidence. And I can’t in good conscience let this get brushed off as DV when it feels like more.”
Turner studied her a minute. His tough shell cracked a bit when his mouth softened further. “To tell you the truth, I have the same feeling. Moving the body to another location doesn’t fit with DV.”
She enjoyed a charge of encouragement. “I’m glad to hear that. Okay, I’ll get moving to see if we can pull some funds and please let me know if you hear about anything else.”
“Will do.” He slipped his notebook inside his coat. “By the way, nothing’s turned up yet on that hooker with the chewed up ear.”
“Hooker? Oh, right, Lucy. Thanks for keeping her in mind.” Kirsten suffered a moment of guilt over having told Turner a friend of hers was searching for a woman called Lucy whose right ear had been bitten half off by some man. The dangers of being a prostitute. That’s how Elicia and Lucy had met eight years ago, before Kirsten and Elicia became friends. Kirsten first met the brassy Elicia in the police headquarters near college where Kirsten had been working part-time to gain law enforcement experience while finishing her degree.
Elicia later told her they both had degrees, but Elicia’s was from the school of hard knocks.
There couldn’t have been two more unlikely women to become friends than Elicia and Kirsten, but Elicia never met a stranger. She had more backbone and grit than any woman Kirsten had met before, and none of the advantages of the women Kirsten had grown up around. Elicia soon became a fount of
“Good luck with that.”
Kirsten had her doubts, too, about getting any help on this case in particular when the evidence was pointing toward a domestic crime. There was no strong tie between this and the drug-related killing of a young man from Philomena House ten days ago except the bullet hole in his forehead and bodies being moved, but something kept pecking at her conscience.
Coincidental or a connection?
Damn Cecelia and her get-this-behind-us attitude.
Kirsten had a duty to all citizens, no matter where they fell on the socio-economic totem pole. “I won’t know about funds until I ask.”
“Fat chance of getting an extra nickel for lab work.” Turner’s wry smile turned the sarcasm into a friendly taunt. He tapped his closed notebook against the palm of his hand in a silent rhythm.
She didn’t blame him. “I know you and your men do miracles with a shoestring budget. I’m not making promises, but I’ll do what I can.” She’d have to go through Cecelia, but anything was possible. Was this the time to pick a battle? “I’d like your honest opinion on something.”
“Okay.”
“I’m more than willing to go to bat for the money, but I don’t want to do it unless you agree that we should investigate further on this case.”
He didn’t answer at first, allowing his gaze to travel past her shoulder before it returned to her. “What’s your honest opinion?”
Her answer could be the difference between gaining his respect or being dismissed as clueless, but she would only give him the truth. “First of all, I think everyone deserves our best on solving a crime, but I know there are so many you have to prioritize. Second, I can see how a welfare mother’s death wouldn’t rank high on most people’s lists.”
He stopped tapping his notebook, but didn’t comment.
“To be perfectly honest with you, Detective, I don’t think Sally Stanton was a victim of domestic violence though I don’t have anything solid to offer as evidence. And I can’t in good conscience let this get brushed off as DV when it feels like more.”
Turner studied her a minute. His tough shell cracked a bit when his mouth softened further. “To tell you the truth, I have the same feeling. Moving the body to another location doesn’t fit with DV.”
She enjoyed a charge of encouragement. “I’m glad to hear that. Okay, I’ll get moving to see if we can pull some funds and please let me know if you hear about anything else.”
“Will do.” He slipped his notebook inside his coat. “By the way, nothing’s turned up yet on that hooker with the chewed up ear.”
“Hooker? Oh, right, Lucy. Thanks for keeping her in mind.” Kirsten suffered a moment of guilt over having told Turner a friend of hers was searching for a woman called Lucy whose right ear had been bitten half off by some man. The dangers of being a prostitute. That’s how Elicia and Lucy had met eight years ago, before Kirsten and Elicia became friends. Kirsten first met the brassy Elicia in the police headquarters near college where Kirsten had been working part-time to gain law enforcement experience while finishing her degree.
Elicia later told her they both had degrees, but Elicia’s was from the school of hard knocks.
There couldn’t have been two more unlikely women to become friends than Elicia and Kirsten, but Elicia never met a stranger. She had more backbone and grit than any woman Kirsten had met before, and none of the advantages of the women Kirsten had grown up around. Elicia soon became a fount of
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