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mayor’s family had been murdered, and the mayor himself was being hunted by the police, the city council called an emergency meeting and took charge of the situation. They contacted me directly and asked me to handle the initial investigation.”
    “To preserve the evidence? Or destroy it?”
    “I resent your uninformed implication—”
    “All I know is what I see, Prescott. I’m standing in the middle of a totally botched crime scene. Any evidence that may have once been here is worthless.”
    “I told you already, we have the killer in custody. We don’t need your Sherlock Holmes routine this time, Morelli. We’ve already got our man.”
    “Yeah, well, I just hope you don’t lose him”—he leaned right into Prescott’s face—“by being such a goddamn incompetent fuck-up!”
    The police officers on duty froze. Everyone knew about Lieutenant Morelli’s temper, but this was extraordinary even for him. The entire room fell silent. Except for a soft whirring noise.
    Prescott grinned back at Mike. “Smile. You’re on Candid Camera.”
    Mike turned slowly and saw the truth. The cameraman from Channel Eight had caught the whole exchange.
    “This is a crime scene!” Mike barked. “Get out of here!”
    The camera continued to whir.
    “I’m going to take that goddamn camera and smash it—”
    The cameraman ducked and scurried out the door.
    “Good. And as for you, Prescott, you’re off this case.”
    Prescott’s face contorted. “You can’t do this.”
    “Just watch me.”
    “You don’t have the authority.”
    Mike’s face flushed an angry red. “I’m still the head of Homicide. You are my subordinate and you are off this case !”
    “I’m going straight to Blackwell with this. And beyond.”
    “You do that.”
    Prescott glared at Mike for a few more moments, then stomped out of the house.
    “All right,” Mike said, addressing all the uniforms in the area, “we’re turning this into a real crime scene starting right now. I want paper on the floor immediately. Covering all walkways.” He pointed to the officer closest to him. “That means you. And I want you all to keep your grubby hands off everything till the print team has a chance to dust. Then we’ll let the trace evidence team see if they can possibly find any remaining traces of hair or fiber or blood or DNA. I want pictures of the whole house, from every possible angle, especially where the bodies were found. And I want all unauthorized personnel out of here!”
    “Mike.”
    It was Tomlinson. “What is it?”
    He pointed through the front windows. “I think there’s something going on outside you should know about.”
    Mike peered through the front windows. Prescott was still on the scene, standing on the front lawn, talking to several reporters and minicams.
    “I don’t believe it,” Mike murmured. “He’s giving a goddamn press conference!”
    Mike rushed out the front door just in time to hear the tail end of Prescott’s remarks.
    “… because Lieutenant Morelli’s conduct has been questionable for some time, and this latest incident will only intensify the ongoing investigation. Rest assured, however, that the guilty man is in custody—”
    Mike plunged between Prescott and the cameras. “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “Just answering a few questions for the folks at home,” Prescott said wanly.
    Mike faced the reporters. “Turn those cameras off. I said off !”
    The cameramen wordlessly obeyed.
    Mike whirled on Prescott. “I told you you were off the case!”
    “So I’m off. Doesn’t mean I can’t answer a few questions.”
    “You idiot. You can’t tell people who’s guilty before there’s been a trial. You’ll get the department sued, not to mention prejudicing the whole investigation.”
    “I keep telling you, there’s no investigation. We have the killer in custody.”
    “You stupid—Prescott, you’re on probation.”
    “What!”
    “You heard me. You’re suspended until further