Gavin heard the enthusiastic tone in Thomas’s voice and responded strongly. “The evidence is airtight against him. He left his fingerprints with his wife’s blood at the scene. There is no debating it. He just created some story to try to explain it away.”

“I think I would like to be the judge of that.”

“Suit yourself.” Gavin tried to sound cordial. “By the way, where did Colin get the cash to hire someone like you?”

“Mitchell, you know I can’t disclose my potential client’s finances. Anyway, we’re just finishing up the arsenic testing for that case I mentioned earlier. Oh, I almost forgot. I’ve been working with a partner for the last few years now. His name is Jack Styles. We should be in Buffalo by next week.”

16

Since Julia’s death, Val had experienced mixed emotions. She felt sorrow at losing Julia. She felt vengeful because she wanted to catch her killer. And she feared what her fate at the medical examiner’s office might be. With Julia gone, and Julia’s support and protection gone, her future was unknown. Hell, my entire career at the medical examiner’s office could come and go in little more than a month, she thought.

But today, she didn’t feel the dread. Even the irritating ride into work she was experiencing couldn’t drag her spirits down.

Traffic was heavy on the thruway, making a slow drive into the city. Steady downpours, which now tapered to drizzle, had slicked the roads all morning, and everyone was driving in an unnecessarily cautious manner. Cars were going at less than 20 mph, stopping and starting, creating gridlock. A solid mass of dark clouds filled the sky, threatening more precipitation, and as Val arrived for work, the rain started to pick up in intensity again.

She pulled into the parking ramp and went up two levels to her designated parking spot, thankful she wouldn’t have to walk outside. It was a long hike to the entrance from where she parked her car, but at least this was indoors. The spot was clearly labeled: “# 232. Reserved for Death Investigator”. Today, however, another car was parked in her place. It wasn’t the first time. Doctors from the hospital took any open spot, regardless of who it belonged to.

Pissed, she circled around, winding up one level at a time. There was only one level left, the top. Uncovered. No roof. As she emerged back into daylight from the darkness of the ramp, drops speckled the windshield. By the time she had parked the car the rain was pounding.

“Damn, damn, damn!” Val muttered, realizing she didn’t have an umbrella. She made a mad dash for the entrance, running as fast as she could, but it was no use: she was soaked by the time she arrived at the door.