Today’s excerpt is from How
‘bout Both, Book #3 of the Bader Trilogy. Elmer’s team finds out who the killer from
the previous day is, and it is verified by two witnesses to the crime. Enjoy and have a fantastic day.
m.j.
Reggie walked
into the conference room. “How’re you
feeling, Elmer?”
“Don’t ask, or I
might go back to the hospital. Hurt
everywhere, but the doctor was satisfied on the concussion front. Told me I’d be okay if I kept it slow and
easy. Trust me, that’s exactly what I’m
gonna do. You been through what Alan and
Bert came up with?”
“Yeah—I like the
bozo they do…this Simmons jackass. Oh,
by the way—Greg Noonan, over at NCIS, called.
He said any help you need, he and his people are ready.”
Elmer nodded as
he shoved the stack of sheets to Maine, before he pointed to a stack of
files. “Those the files going with these
summary sheets, Alan?”
“Yeah. As I said, we didn’t do complete files on all
those others, or the ones who fit the profile but we don’t feel are right for
one reason or another. That’s the other
stack of summary sheets.”
Maine looked at
the top sheet of Leman Simmons’ file.
“Guys, this is almost too easy.
This has to be the guy. Fits the description our two witnesses we
talked to gave us right down to his big feet, Elmer.”
“Yeah, I noticed
about the big feet, too. His ethnic
profile sure fits, too…half-white, the other half dark-skinned Arab. Parents both dead: father in a drug raid shootout with police,
when he was five…mother died of natural causes when he was sixteen. Baptized Methodist, but no mention of what
his father’s religion was. I always get
nervous when it seems too easy. In this
case, maybe knowing who he is and finding him might be two different things.”
Those in the
conference room settled into conversation about the prime suspect, until Bonnie
Rockhead and Rush Bretnall arrived. They
had gone out for a drink after finishing their statements. They found they really liked each other. Thirty-five-year-old Bonnie was divorced…had
been for several years.
Forty-two-year-old Rush had lost his wife due to cancer two years
earlier. Neither was dating at the time
they met. Now, as they were shown into
the conference room by a uniformed officer, they exchanged greetings with those
there, who—with the exception of Reggie—they knew from their conversations of
the previous day. After Reggie was
introduced to them, Rush asked, “How’re you feeling, Lieutenant? Saw on the news you were injured in the
explosion of the jerk’s car.”
“Dinged a
bit. So was Maine
Alan grinned as
he reached for a file folder with the pictures of the twenty suspects
inside. They were all shown to Bonnie
and Rush. Both immediately picked the
picture of Leman Simmons from the group as the man they had seen kill the two
officers. Both were adamant he was the
right man, then Bonnie asked, “How did you find out it was him so soon?”
Reggie answered,
“By good police work by Alan and Bert.
Also, on the suggestion from his hospital bed, by Elmer…whose wife came
up with a key idea along the way.”
Rush smiled,
“Nothing like a family affair in police work.”
Elmer grinned,
“Though my wife is a wonderful housewife and mother, she has never been in
police work…but keeps coming up with great ideas when I’m working on a
case. At times I almost start with her
thoughts, because they’re often better than mine. In this case, we had two avenues of inquiry
to pursue…she suggested bringing them together—which led us to this guy. That out of the way, I’ve a question for both
of you. Did either of you discuss your
statements to us yesterday with anyone?”
Rush tilted his
head a bit. “I mentioned I had been
there and gave a statement to the police, but didn’t go into detail, or tell
anyone I was coming down here today.
Just told ‘em at work I had an errand to run. Why?”
“We will keep
your name out of any press releases. I
would suggest you keep it quiet, also.
No sense having to protect you while we’re trying to find this
jerk. How about you, Bonnie?”
“No. No, that is, that I talked to anyone other
than Rush about yesterday. Glad I kept
my mouth shut for once—will continue to do so.
I had some time off coming at work, so just took the day off.”
Alan joked,
“Nothing like a nice lady who can keep her mouth closed. Would you like to meet my wife to give her
lessons?”
Maine grinned,
“I’m tellin’ Beth what you said the next time I see her, Alan.”
Elmer held up
his hand. “Oh, no, you’re not, young
lady. I don’t want to sound like a shill
for Las Vegas
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