Three Times as Deadly
Page 23
“Howled!” Eden slapped her hand over her mouth as if trying to keep the words from tumbling out. “It howled like a wolf.”
“That wasn’t in the police report,” Darke said, her eyes locked on Eden’s.
“I didn’t tell anyone. I was afraid they would rush me to the tenth floor of John Peter Smith Hospital.”
Darke nodded. “The psyche ward.”
“Yes.”
“So, the . . . thing jumped from where I’m standing to the top of that wall with your sister over its shoulder?” Darke said.
The woman is either hard of hearing or she’s trying to torture me. “Yes,” Eden whispered.
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Chapter 3
“Dozer, I understand.” Darke’s voice was hushed and exasperated. “When will he be back?”
“About an hour,” Detective Dozer Davis answered.
“Why can’t you pick them up by yourself? It’s just a pair of shoes. I don’t want to break the chain of evidence, so either you or someone in CSI needs to pick them up.” Darke couldn’t keep the annoyance from sounding in her voice.
“The shoes won’t go anywhere in an hour,” Dozer grumbled. “We’ll get there as soon as Rose returns.”
Darke inhaled and counted to ten. “Did you look at the photos I sent you? The paw prints?”
“Yeah. Where did you find a dog that size?”
“Jesus,” Darke growled. “Give me the name and number of the CSI agent who worked this crime scene.”
“That would be Zeller.” Dozer rattled off the phone number. “She knows more about the evidence than I do. She just finished her shift.”
“Loraine Zeller?”
“Yeah, Lori Zeller,” Dozer said. “Do you know her?”
“I’ll just talk to her,” Darke grumbled. “Forget I called you.”
Darke paced the floor. She hadn’t spoken to Lori Zeller in over six months. Although they’d solved their last case together, Lori had refused to report the events as they’d happened. For that, Darke was thankful. She wondered if Lori would work with her again.
Darke frowned when Lori’s answering machine picked up her call. She debated leaving a message and was about to hang up when a breathless Lori picked up the phone.
“Zeller,” she said.
“I’m afraid to ask what you’re doing,” Darke said, unable to refrain from teasing the CSI.
“Chasing that damned wolf pup you left with me,” Lori said, as she caught her breath. “God, Darke, he’s incredibly smart and fast.”
“I appreciate that you’re taking care of him for me.” Darke chuckled.
“A call from you can’t be good,” Lori’s voice was cautious.
“It isn’t,” Dawn said. “Did you work the crime scene at the Daye mansion?”
“Yeah. Did you read my report?”
“No, it wasn’t included in the file they gave me.”
“They probably threw it away,” Lori grunted. “The boss didn’t like my conclusions. He threatened to make me go on vacation. Said I was obviously exhausted.”
“Off the record,” Darke said, “what did you find?”
“Same as the murders you and I worked six months ago,” Lori’s voice dropped an octave lower as she gave her secretive answer, “wolves.”
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