Spencer strode down the hallway to his captain’s office and found Ranger Henry Manchester on the phone. His scowling expression came with the job, along with the cheap desk and the paperwork. Spencer had noted that the higher the rank, the deeper the frown. It was why he had avoided any substantial promotions. He liked being on the road, logging the miles, chasing cases. Henry, who was a year older than Spencer, had joined the Department of Public Safety at the same time Spencer had. Both had played ball at UT, and both had wanted to track down bad guys for a living. More than a few times, they had sworn never to give up the real work of law enforcement. No paper pushing for them.

But Manchester’s story was a classic. Fell in love, married, had a couple of kids, took on a mortgage, and then went through a divorce. Going up the ladder paid the growing bills that followed kids and divorce.

Manchester hung up and raised his gaze.

“Good news or bad news first?” Spencer asked.

“Bad news.” Manchester squared his shoulders.

“Marco Walker is dead. He was found this morning hanging from a light fixture in his apartment.” His tone was easy, but he was not chill about this. He was pissed.

Manchester spit out a rare expletive. “You’ve been working that drug case for two years.”

“And now the little bird who could have sung for us is gone.” Chasing Walker was the reason he had moved back to Austin.

“And the good news?” Manchester asked.

“The case is being investigated by the Austin Police Department. The detective is Jordan Poe.”

Manchester sat back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. “The one you pissed off?”

“She’s a big girl. We all know how the game is played. But yeah, she’s annoyed.”

“Why’s her involvement in the case a good thing?”

“She thinks Marco Walker was murdered.”

“You just said that he hanged himself, correct?” Manchester asked.

“Yes.”

“Why does Poe think Walker was murdered?”

“According to the woman who found him dead, Walker was on top of the world.”

Manchester sat back.

“Also, no suicide note. And Poe spoke to a witness who said a man visited Walker as she was leaving about four a.m. She’s a solid cop. I’d be foolish to ignore her instincts.”

“It would take someone strong to heft Walker’s body up.”

“I’ve spoken to Dr. McIntyre, and she’s doing the autopsy on Saturday morning. She might find something. And we’re canvassing for security cameras and other witnesses.”

“Okay. It might lead somewhere. Find out who killed Walker, and you might get another lead in your drug case.” He reached for a file. “What about the Jane Doe murder cases?”