Read Online Karen Vail 01 - Velocity by Alan Jacobson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alan Jacobson
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morning.”
Dixon leaned closer to Vail’s free ear. “The carpet.”
“Oh,” Vail said, nodding. “The CSI here found blood on the carpet in our B&B.
He’s running it—”
“Blood. You sure? Any other signs of struggle in the room?”
“It’d been cleaned by the maids before we got there. So we have no idea. The crime scene—if it was one—was probably destroyed. The CSI did a ful workup, just in case.”
“Have a sample of that carpet sent here, to our lab. I want our guys looking at it, too. And we’l need an exemplar from—”
“Done. Paul Bledsoe’s at Robby’s place getting his hair and toothbrush. You should be getting one of them soon.”
“Fine.” There was a pause, then he said, in a softer tone, “This makes what I’m about to tel you even more difficult. But I need you back here. We caught a high-profile case. I can’t talk about it on an unsecure line.”
Vail pul ed the phone from her ear, her face contorting into sarcastic disbelief.
Fortunately Gifford couldn’t see her—it’d most likely set him off. She brought the handset back against her head. “Sir,” she said in a measured tone. “I’m sure you can understand that I’ve got my mind on finding Robby. I can’t just leave here.
Assign the case to someone else.”
“What I understand is that I stil have the behavioral analysis units to run and that’s my priority. What I understand is that you’re in a tough way right now. And I also understand that we’ve got a task force there working the case, and a wel -
equipped San Francisco field office ready to step in that can do the job just fine.”
“With al due respect, I disagree.”
“Not the first time, is it, Karen?”
“Frank. Why can’t Frank take that new case?”
“Del Monaco left yesterday to teach a seminar at New Scotland Yard that goes for another week, then he’s due to consult on a case they’ve been asking for our help on for two months. And Hutchings is on sick leave with an ulcer. Van Owen’s wife was diagnosed this morning with ovarian cancer, so he’s out on bereavement leave. Boozer just retired and we’ve got no one to take his place. I tried pul ing Art out of arson and bombing, but they just caught a big case the White House wants them to consult on that might involve a trip to Iraq. And Director Knox isn’t about to tel the president no.”
“So get me the crime scene photos, autopsy photos, victimology—and I’l look it al over when I get back. Give me a week.”
“Karen . . . ” He paused, no doubt to gather himself, to phrase it in a way that kept him from exploding.
She realized now she had pushed him as far as she could. But for Robby’s sake
—she felt justified.
“Karen, this is close to home and the crime scene is fresh; it’s the perfect opportunity to see things as they are. I don’t have to tel you it’s a world better than photos and reports. No, that won’t cut it. Not for this case.”
Vail slunk down in her seat. I’ve got no choice. Short of resigning, I have no leverage, no valid reason for staying behind.
“Karen. You probably know I’m fond of Hernandez. I knew his mother.”
After a long silence, Vail asked, “How soon?”
“How soon, what?”
“Til I have to leave. How soon?”
“Lenka is booking your flight as we speak. You leave tomorrow morning, a 6:30
connecting flight out of SFO. She’s arranging a car to pick you up at 4:00 AM.
She’l email you the flight info.”
Vail set her jaw. “Anything else, sir?”
“We’l find him, Karen.”
“Yeah. Okay. Thanks.” She disconnected the cal and let her hand drop into her lap.
“He wants you back,” Dixon said.
“I’m leaving at 4:00 AM tomorrow morning.”
“We’l handle it, Karen. I’l stay in touch with you. We’l be your eyes and ears.
We won’t let you down. Okay?”
Vail nodded out the windshield at no one in particular, numbly and blindly. “No.
Not okay. We’ve got several hours.” She
Dixon leaned closer to Vail’s free ear. “The carpet.”
“Oh,” Vail said, nodding. “The CSI here found blood on the carpet in our B&B.
He’s running it—”
“Blood. You sure? Any other signs of struggle in the room?”
“It’d been cleaned by the maids before we got there. So we have no idea. The crime scene—if it was one—was probably destroyed. The CSI did a ful workup, just in case.”
“Have a sample of that carpet sent here, to our lab. I want our guys looking at it, too. And we’l need an exemplar from—”
“Done. Paul Bledsoe’s at Robby’s place getting his hair and toothbrush. You should be getting one of them soon.”
“Fine.” There was a pause, then he said, in a softer tone, “This makes what I’m about to tel you even more difficult. But I need you back here. We caught a high-profile case. I can’t talk about it on an unsecure line.”
Vail pul ed the phone from her ear, her face contorting into sarcastic disbelief.
Fortunately Gifford couldn’t see her—it’d most likely set him off. She brought the handset back against her head. “Sir,” she said in a measured tone. “I’m sure you can understand that I’ve got my mind on finding Robby. I can’t just leave here.
Assign the case to someone else.”
“What I understand is that I stil have the behavioral analysis units to run and that’s my priority. What I understand is that you’re in a tough way right now. And I also understand that we’ve got a task force there working the case, and a wel -
equipped San Francisco field office ready to step in that can do the job just fine.”
“With al due respect, I disagree.”
“Not the first time, is it, Karen?”
“Frank. Why can’t Frank take that new case?”
“Del Monaco left yesterday to teach a seminar at New Scotland Yard that goes for another week, then he’s due to consult on a case they’ve been asking for our help on for two months. And Hutchings is on sick leave with an ulcer. Van Owen’s wife was diagnosed this morning with ovarian cancer, so he’s out on bereavement leave. Boozer just retired and we’ve got no one to take his place. I tried pul ing Art out of arson and bombing, but they just caught a big case the White House wants them to consult on that might involve a trip to Iraq. And Director Knox isn’t about to tel the president no.”
“So get me the crime scene photos, autopsy photos, victimology—and I’l look it al over when I get back. Give me a week.”
“Karen . . . ” He paused, no doubt to gather himself, to phrase it in a way that kept him from exploding.
She realized now she had pushed him as far as she could. But for Robby’s sake
—she felt justified.
“Karen, this is close to home and the crime scene is fresh; it’s the perfect opportunity to see things as they are. I don’t have to tel you it’s a world better than photos and reports. No, that won’t cut it. Not for this case.”
Vail slunk down in her seat. I’ve got no choice. Short of resigning, I have no leverage, no valid reason for staying behind.
“Karen. You probably know I’m fond of Hernandez. I knew his mother.”
After a long silence, Vail asked, “How soon?”
“How soon, what?”
“Til I have to leave. How soon?”
“Lenka is booking your flight as we speak. You leave tomorrow morning, a 6:30
connecting flight out of SFO. She’s arranging a car to pick you up at 4:00 AM.
She’l email you the flight info.”
Vail set her jaw. “Anything else, sir?”
“We’l find him, Karen.”
“Yeah. Okay. Thanks.” She disconnected the cal and let her hand drop into her lap.
“He wants you back,” Dixon said.
“I’m leaving at 4:00 AM tomorrow morning.”
“We’l handle it, Karen. I’l stay in touch with you. We’l be your eyes and ears.
We won’t let you down. Okay?”
Vail nodded out the windshield at no one in particular, numbly and blindly. “No.
Not okay. We’ve got several hours.” She
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