LITMIR.BIZ

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attention. “I was tempted, but decided I didn’t want broken toes in addition to all the other problems we’ve got. Besides, dealing with the city when you smash up your car is worse than dealing with the snotty rich kids in the Memorial area.”

      Kelly’s shoulders relaxed. “I’m sure the city is grateful you didn’t take your frustration out on another municipal vehicle.”

      His brow arched.

      She shrugged. “A friend of mine in the department called today and commented on your trouble.” Carrie Nelson, a forensic psychiatrist with the PD, had also given Kelly sympathy about having to work with her ex, even if he was a good detective. “Tell me what you’ve discovered,” Kelly quickly asked.

      He was more than ready to move on to another subject. He told her about the conversation he had had with Steve Carlson. “I’ve got to tell you, Kelly, I believe the man,” he told her as the waiter arrived with their dinner.

      “Oh, come on, Ash.” Doubt and disbelief rang in her words. “I’ve seen you nail a dozen different guys who were all claiming to be innocent and you brought me the evidence to back up your hunch. What’s the problem now?”

      He put down his fork. “The problem is the blood evidence. Why wasn’t there any found in Carlson’s apartment, considering how bloody the crime scene was?”

      “That bothered me, too, when I looked over the file.”

      He ran his fingers through his hair. “Why didn’t it bother you the first time, Kelly?”

      “It did, but Lee assured me that Carlson could’ve gotten rid of the shirt. He had the jewelry.”

      “Yeah, he ripped them off, admitted it, but he claimed he left when he heard the a car coming up the driveway.”

      From her expression, she wasn’t convinced.

      “Carlson admitted he was sloppy in his escape, leaving evidence of the burglary.”

      “So.”

      “So, if we believe Carlson, then we’ve missed the murderer completely. He’s been walking around for the past five years. Has he killed again?”

      Her expression hardened. “Do you have another suspect in mind?”

      Grinding his teeth, he pulled a hard rein on his anger. Kelly wasn’t the enemy. “I wish I did. I’ll interview all the neighbors to see if I can come up with anything new, and comb through the evidence we have. You want to call your people tomorrow and see if they can pull the evidence you’ve got stored?”

      “I’ll do it.” She cocked her head. “As a matter of fact, we can go over it together.”

      “Don’t trust me, huh?”

      “No, that’s not it. Maybe your point of view will help me see things in a different light.”

      What he needed was some time and distance away from this woman. But since that wasn’t going to happen, maybe he could make this as fast as possible. “All right. Call me when we can go over the evidence.”

      “I will.”

      Of that, he didn’t doubt.

      Kelly pulled her car into the parking lot of the old warehouse where the evidence from tried court cases was stored. With the darkening shadows and unsavory atmosphere in this part of downtown, Kelly felt her body tense. She wished the D.A.’s office would store their evidence in a police facility. At least cops were there.

      When she opened the main door to the warehouse, she saw Ash standing on the far side of the little room, leaning against the counter that separated the waiting area from the smaller office. He laughed at something the male attendant said.

      “You’re wrong, Ray,” Ash answered.

      Ash was a handsome man, Kelly admitted, with a body that would fuel any female fantasy. It certainly had fueled hers once upon a time.

      Enough, she mentally scolded. She didn’t need to remember that about him. What she needed to remember was what a pain in the rear he could be. But that mulish quality of his was what she needed right now, a man not afraid of causing ripples and stepping on toes. And toes were going to be stepped on.

      “I wasn’t,” Ray answered. “And Jeffies got his chops busted when his boss came back.”

      Ash glanced at her and the grin on his face evaporated. “You’re a little late, Kelly.”

      “It’s rush hour, Ash.”

      His brow arched, silently reminding her that she was the one who’d set the time they were to meet.

      She stepped to the counter. “I need the evidence on the Carlson case.”

      Ray nodded and entered the name into his computer terminal. After several moments, he asked, “You want the door from the bedroom where they found Cathy Reed in addition to all the other evidence?” he asked.

      She remembered the door. Blood had splattered on it when Catherine Reed had been murdered. Kelly had kept that door in her office for close to six months, studied it, knew the evidence on it. She didn’t want it back again.

      “No, since I’ve got pictures of it in the file. If we need it, I’ll send someone over to get it.”

      “Okay. You got the request form I need to keep?” Ray asked.

      Kelly pulled the paper from her shoulder bag. Ray took it and, after carefully looking over it, he nodded and walked through the door into the warehouse.

      “Where do you want to go over this evidence? Your office?” Ash asked.

      “Yes. I have an opening argument to write, so it would be easier if we did it there.”

      Ash studied her and she knew he noticed the circles under her eyes. For a moment, his concern showed in his eyes and it caused the oddest sensation in her stomach. The outside door opened, dispelling the moment, and Ralph Lee walked into the building. He carried a box of evidence.

      “Ah, if this isn’t a coincidence,” Ralph murmured. He set down his box on the counter. “The A.D.A. and her detective.”

      Kelly didn’t want to trade insults with Detective Lee. She kept her mouth shut and smiled at him.

      “You here to collect the evidence on the Carlson case?” Ralph asked.

      “We are,” Ash quickly answered.

      “You going to right the wrong the state supreme court committed?”

      Ralph Lee’s thinking had never made it past the seventies, when men ruled every part of the justice system. He was obnoxious but had good instincts on a case.

      “We’re reviewing what we have and searching for new information,” Kelly replied.

      Ralph’s eyes narrowed.

      “And what are you doing here, Detective?” Kelly asked.

      “Returning the evidence on the case I went to Amarillo to testify. The assistant D.A. had an emergency and asked if I’d return the evidence.”

      Kelly felt Ash move behind her. Oddly enough, it was a comfort to have him standing behind her.

      The door to the inside part of the warehouse opened and Ray appeared with a pushcart with two boxes on it. “Here you go, Ms. A.D.A. Evidence in the Carlson case.” Ray noticed the other detective. “How are you, Ralph? You got stuff for me?”

      “I do, Ray.”

      Ray held out a clipboard to Kelly. “You have to sign for the evidence.”

      She quickly signed the sheet. Ash took one box and Kelly the other. Ralph opened the outside door for Kelly. There was an expression in his eyes that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. As she walked by Ralph, he whispered, “That bastard is guilty.”

      Kelly

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