Read Online Passions of the Dead (A Detective Jackson Mystery/Thriller) by L.J. Sellers - Free Book Online

him.
    “We have a graduation planning session before school this morning.” Katie pulled out a carton of eggs and set it on the counter.
    “Do you need a ride?” Jackson poured himself a cup of coffee.
    “Emily is picking me up.”
    “Emily doesn’t drive.”
    “I mean Emily’s brother Jason is taking us.”
    Jackson chose his words carefully. “Have I met him?”
    Katie let out a sigh. “I thought we were past that.”
    Last fall, Katie had been involved with a group of kids who had some very adult ideas. Two of the girls had ended up dead and one was pregnant when she died. Jackson had watched his daughter more closely ever since. “You can’t get into a car with a boy I haven’t met.”
    “That’s ridiculous! I’m almost in high school.”
    “All the more reason for me to know the people you hang out with.”
    “Fine,” she snapped. “Come out and meet him when they get here at seven.”
    “I’ll be at the department by then. Sorry.” Jackson had driven Katie to school since they’d been staying with Kera, but he needed to start work earlier today.
    “I’ll take her,” Kera offered. “First I’ll make scrambled eggs. Who wants some?”
    “Not me.” Katie left in a huff.
    Kera gave Jackson a gentle smile. “It may be time to ease up a little. Jason is important to her and she’s earned some trust.”
    “I don’t think so.” Jackson poured his coffee into a travel mug.
    “Are you staying for breakfast?” In the back of the house the baby let out a wail.
    He shook his head. “I have to get going. Three people are dead, and I still have no idea why.”
    Kera looked a little hurt. “Good luck with your case.”
    He gave her a quick kiss, grabbed his shoulder bag, and got out of there. Once he was in the car, he felt a little guilty. Kera had been wonderful to him, especially the first few weeks after his surgery. She’d also welcomed Katie with open arms. Yet they had different ideas about how to raise kids. Kera’s openness about sexuality was great for him and it suited her well as a Planned Parenthood employee, but he wasn’t sure it was good for his daughter.
    Hell, he didn’t know what to think. A boy would have been so much easier.
    At such an early hour, the Violent Crimes area was empty and Jackson was glad for the quiet. He sipped his coffee while he examined the contents of Carla Walker’s purse. The blue denim bag had an ink stain near the bottom and the strap was frayed on the edges. Jackson dumped out the contents and decided Carla was the kind of woman you’d like to sit next to on a long bus ride. She carried a little pack of tissues, a penlight, a notepad and three pens, a small book of crossword puzzles, aspirin, Rolaids, spearmint gum, earplugs, and reading glasses.
    In a zipped compartment, he found her wallet and checkbook. Jackson opened the notebook with a small hope Carla had left him a clue. Instead he found a short grocery list, a reminder to iron good blue blouse for interview , and a collection of names, addresses, and phone numbers scribbled hastily on various pages.
    One entry caught his eye. Dr. Dubois . Jackson thought he’d heard the name but couldn’t remember when or where. He keyed it into his Word file and kept going. He would look up the doctor later. He had an autopsy to attend an hour from now, then a taskforce meeting right afterward. He wanted to examine all these personal items before he met with the other detectives.
    Jackson picked up Carla’s wallet. She had eighteen dollars in the cash pocket, a single credit card, and a fat stack of coupons and receipts. Jackson added a reminder at the top of his file: Check Walkers’ bank accounts for unusual activity . He flipped through Carla’s receipts. Nothing interesting until he came to one for Westside Buyers, a pawnshop on Highway 99. The amount was $1,700 and the date was April 25. What had Carla sold for that amount of money? Had she cashed in a piece of jewelry to get them through a