Free Hypocrisy by Daniel Annechino

and you have any prior conflicts?”
    Hansen hesitated for a long time. “I don’t know if I would call our little spats conflicts, but to put it crudely, let’s just say that Dr. Crawford regularly chewed on my ass.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
    After interviewing Hansen, Dupree and T.J. compared notes.
    “Peculiar gal,” T.J. said. “Not how I pictured a scientist. And that accent just doesn’t fit.”
    “That was my immediate thought as soon as she opened her mouth,” Dupree agreed.
    “Interesting coincidence that Hyland Laboratories not only tried to partner with Horizon, but also tried to recruit Hansen,” T.J. said.
    “I think it’s more than just interesting.”
    “I can’t envision Hansen involved in a conspiracy to commit murder,” T.J. said. “Just doesn’t seem the type.”
    “Neither was Ted Bundy.”
    “Not quite a fair comparison.”
    “All I’m saying,” Dupree said, “is that if you want someone dead, you don’t have to look like a murderer to commit murder. You just need a motive and a set of balls.” Dupree’s thumbs went to work on her iPhone.
    “And you’re point?”
    “Given the right circumstances, good people will do bad things.”
    “Seriously?” T.J. said. “You actually believe that Hansen is capable of such a thing?”
    “My point is that as harmless as Hansen may seem, it is possible that she somehow is complicit in Dr. Crawford’s murder.Remember the Carson homicides? How certain were we that this fragile, old lady wasn’t capable of hurting a flea? Turned out that this sweet woman who looked like she could win first prize for grandmother of the year, hacked up her neighbors with an axe, just because their German shepherd kept digging up her tulips. If messing with your neighbor’s flowers can get you chopped up into little pieces, maybe getting fired can make you hungry for revenge as well.”
    “Revenge, yes,” T.J. said. “But murder?”
    Dupree talked while she still typed on her iPhone. “Been around dead bodies long enough to know that nothing would surprise me.”
    “Okay,” T.J. said. “Let’s get real crazy here. We know that the bald guy videotaped on the surveillance cameras at the crime scene was the killer. So, let’s assume that Hansen hired him to murder Dr. Crawford. Do you know what kind of money we’re talking?”
    “Hey,” Dupree said, “Hansen lives in a pretty posh condo. Just because she’s crying poverty doesn’t mean it’s true. Besides, how do we know that the bald guy didn’t have something to gain from murdering Dr. Crawford and taking her computer? And…could be that Hansen wasn’t flying solo.”
    “Good point,” T.J. admitted. “First thing tomorrow after our morning briefing, I’ll get a complete background check on Maggie Hansen. Criminal records. Employment history. Credit reports.”
    “And if we find anything suspicious,” Dupree said, “I’ll contact Judge Marshall and I’m sure I can twist his arm for a subpoena to check her banking records. I’d like to know if there are any unusual transactions.”
    Dupree started the car and drove towards the condo exit, still holding her phone while driving.
    “Interesting that Dr. Mason also pointed out that certain people or corporations would benefit from stealing Dr. Crawford’s research records and putting her in an early grave,” Dupree said.
    “True,” T.J. agreed. “But more often than not, homicides usually come down to the most obvious possibility. This whole case might be something as simple as a mugging, sexual assault, or a carjacking gone badly.”
    “I think it’s something bigger,” Dupree said. “Something much bigger.” She handed the iPhone to T.J. “Don’t you just love smartphones? The Internet at your fingertips 24/7.”
    T.J. seemed not to understand why Dupree gave him her phone. Then he looked at the screen. “Holy shit.”
    “Hyland Laboratories,” Dupree said, “the company that allegedly offered Hansen a job and tried to