knowing the cop hadn’t gotten a good look at Hank’s badge.
That was too easy.
He replaced it in his pocket and withdrew a pair of vinyl gloves, pulling them on before confidently slipping into the room.
The darkness was near complete, the smells of burned wood and plastic clinging to the wet air. There was another odor as well, and Hank knew at once the room had been occupied. He withdrew a slim flashlight from his pocket and began searching for the body.
A beam of light shined on him.
“Detective Johnson, Jacksonville P.D.”
He turned. “U.S. Navy Lieutenant Hank Jared.”
“Navy?”
“Navy.”
Johnson lowered his beam to Hank’s chest. “Is our victim military?”
“The Navy has an interest in this case.”
“An interest in this case,” Johnson repeated. “Is that a no?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“The victim’s in the bathtub,” said Johnson. “Unidentified male, unless you’re going to tell me who he is.” He shined the light back at Hank. “You going to tell me?”
“What makes you think I know?”
“You’re here. There must be a reason for that. I wouldn’t even know who to call, but the U.S. Navy is here, and I’m trying to figure out why.”
“Let me know if you come up with anything.”
Hank headed for the bathroom, carefully making his way through the debris and pooled water on the floor.
The body was terribly burned. “He die in the fire?”
“Coroner’s on his way.”
Hank shined his beam in Johnson’s eyes, and the other man sighed heavily.
“He was shot.”
“Accelerant?”
“The arson dog caught a whiff of something.”
“Anything else interesting?”
Johnson nodded. “A key to a safe deposit box near the body. A ring. No other personal items or identification, though they might have been fuel for the fire. Every car in the lot is accounted for. The room was rented to one Mark Smith. Clerk doesn’t remember him—checked in three days ago.”
“You wouldn’t mind if I came with you to check out that safe deposit box.”
“Of course not, officer.”
~~~
“I swear, he had to be six foot eight. Just massive,” Becky stood up and mimed what looked like King Kong tromping over tiny buildings. “His shoulders barely fit through the door. Biceps like that guy on the Energy Pump commercial.” She flexed her own shapely arms and flung her red hair backwards as she admired her small muscles.
“And so he walks up to me and says, ‘Have dinner with me.’ Just like that. Can you believe the arrogance?”
“I’m guessing you said yes.”
“Heck yeah, I said yes! I practically threw myself at his feet and begged for him to be the father of my children right there in the bar! Then I decided I should wait until after our date just in case he was psychotic.”
“Just in case.”
“Right.” The waiter appeared to refill their drinks.
“And?”
“And, what?”
“Did you go to dinner with him?”
“Gino’s Via Abruzzi.” She smacked her lips.
“And the man?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Too much baggage.”
Julie turned to her Cobb salad, arranging one forkful with a tiny piece of chicken, a leaf of lettuce, bacon, and avocado.
“You’re eating that salad like it’s the last thing on earth you can control.”
“Very insightful, Dr. Phil,” said Julie as she dipped the tip of her concoction in blue cheese dressing. “Anything else you’d like to analyze today?”
“How about your love life?”
Julie gave her a warning look.
“How is Greg?” Becky asked in an overly bright tone.
“He’s good. Fine.”
“Good. Fine.”
Julie glared at her. “He asked me to go on a trip with him for Christmas.” She knew better than to tell Becky that Gwen had invited her for the holiday, too.
“Really? Where to?”
“He didn’t tell me.” Julie hesitated before adding, “He bought the tickets as a surprise.”
Becky slammed down the iced tea she’d been drinking. “Without asking you first?”
“Yes.”
“You
That was too easy.
He replaced it in his pocket and withdrew a pair of vinyl gloves, pulling them on before confidently slipping into the room.
The darkness was near complete, the smells of burned wood and plastic clinging to the wet air. There was another odor as well, and Hank knew at once the room had been occupied. He withdrew a slim flashlight from his pocket and began searching for the body.
A beam of light shined on him.
“Detective Johnson, Jacksonville P.D.”
He turned. “U.S. Navy Lieutenant Hank Jared.”
“Navy?”
“Navy.”
Johnson lowered his beam to Hank’s chest. “Is our victim military?”
“The Navy has an interest in this case.”
“An interest in this case,” Johnson repeated. “Is that a no?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“The victim’s in the bathtub,” said Johnson. “Unidentified male, unless you’re going to tell me who he is.” He shined the light back at Hank. “You going to tell me?”
“What makes you think I know?”
“You’re here. There must be a reason for that. I wouldn’t even know who to call, but the U.S. Navy is here, and I’m trying to figure out why.”
“Let me know if you come up with anything.”
Hank headed for the bathroom, carefully making his way through the debris and pooled water on the floor.
The body was terribly burned. “He die in the fire?”
“Coroner’s on his way.”
Hank shined his beam in Johnson’s eyes, and the other man sighed heavily.
“He was shot.”
“Accelerant?”
“The arson dog caught a whiff of something.”
“Anything else interesting?”
Johnson nodded. “A key to a safe deposit box near the body. A ring. No other personal items or identification, though they might have been fuel for the fire. Every car in the lot is accounted for. The room was rented to one Mark Smith. Clerk doesn’t remember him—checked in three days ago.”
“You wouldn’t mind if I came with you to check out that safe deposit box.”
“Of course not, officer.”
~~~
“I swear, he had to be six foot eight. Just massive,” Becky stood up and mimed what looked like King Kong tromping over tiny buildings. “His shoulders barely fit through the door. Biceps like that guy on the Energy Pump commercial.” She flexed her own shapely arms and flung her red hair backwards as she admired her small muscles.
“And so he walks up to me and says, ‘Have dinner with me.’ Just like that. Can you believe the arrogance?”
“I’m guessing you said yes.”
“Heck yeah, I said yes! I practically threw myself at his feet and begged for him to be the father of my children right there in the bar! Then I decided I should wait until after our date just in case he was psychotic.”
“Just in case.”
“Right.” The waiter appeared to refill their drinks.
“And?”
“And, what?”
“Did you go to dinner with him?”
“Gino’s Via Abruzzi.” She smacked her lips.
“And the man?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Too much baggage.”
Julie turned to her Cobb salad, arranging one forkful with a tiny piece of chicken, a leaf of lettuce, bacon, and avocado.
“You’re eating that salad like it’s the last thing on earth you can control.”
“Very insightful, Dr. Phil,” said Julie as she dipped the tip of her concoction in blue cheese dressing. “Anything else you’d like to analyze today?”
“How about your love life?”
Julie gave her a warning look.
“How is Greg?” Becky asked in an overly bright tone.
“He’s good. Fine.”
“Good. Fine.”
Julie glared at her. “He asked me to go on a trip with him for Christmas.” She knew better than to tell Becky that Gwen had invited her for the holiday, too.
“Really? Where to?”
“He didn’t tell me.” Julie hesitated before adding, “He bought the tickets as a surprise.”
Becky slammed down the iced tea she’d been drinking. “Without asking you first?”
“Yes.”
“You
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