Free Marcie's Murder by Michael J. McCann Page B

job but David Morris, a lieutenant with the Richmond Police Department at the time , was hired instead. That was five years ago.
    Morris was a star candidate, a former college quarterback with a graduate degree in criminology, a year with the FBI and seven years with the Richmond PD. He came into town like a celebrity, went to dinner with the mayor at the best restaurant in Bluefield on the West Virginia side, and was offered the jo b over brandy afterward . Askew never stood a chance.
    A year later, Morris resigned in order to run for s heriff in Tazewell. Askew was offered the vacant c hief’s position on an interim basis. The offer was made outside in the parking lot at five-thirty in the afternoon as Askew stood beside his car, about to go home.
    “Interim,” Askew repeated.
    “Until we can conduct another process,” Mayor Blankenship said. “Council would appreciate your help.”
    “You already conducted a process,” Askew replied . “You said I did real fine, only that Morris was a once-in-a-lifetime thing or some such bullshit. You hold another process, I’ll do real fine again. Got another Morris up your sleeve? I doubt it. Give me the job straight out or you can shove it up your ass.”
    He got in to his car and drove away .
    The next morning a messenger brought a letter of offer to the police station with Askew’s name handwritten on the front of the envelope . Askew signed the offer and moved his things into the c hief’s office. Three months later he laughed out loud when the morning news said that Morris had lost the election for c ounty s heriff.
    “I heard about Marcie on the news , Billy,” Pricie said , breaking into his thoughts . “I’m real sorry. She was a fine woman.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Strangled . ” H er free hand mov ed to her own throat.
    Askew said nothing.
    She drew on her cigarette and slowly blew the smoke into the shaft of sunlight that crossed the room between them. “What’ll you do to Jimmy?”
    “What?” Askew asked , distracted .
    “Are you going to beat up Jimmy again?”
    “I’m not going to do nothing to that sonofabitch,” Askew said angrily. “I’m getting you the hell out of here, that’s what I’m doing. Now come on, let’s get moving.”
    She sighed, shaking her head. “It’s not right.” She stubbed out the cigarette, put the ashtray and blanket aside and stood up . She was wearing red panties and a stained yellow t-shirt with a Care Bear on it. There were large bruises on the outside of her right thigh and calf where her husband had kicked her after knocking her down.
    He turned away. “I’ ll pick up the kids after school and bring them to the new place . Now g et dressed and start pack ing .”
    “Just leave Jimmy alone, Billy.”
    “We’ll see about that . ” Askew turn ed away.
    The way he felt right now, i f he saw Jimmy Neal again he ’d probably kill him with his bare hands.

    1 2
    The office was busy for a Tuesday morning as Hank and Karen pulled up chairs in front of Detective Hall’s desk. The civilian dispatcher, whose name was Mollie Roberts , chattered into her headset as she typed on her keyboard. Grimes was reorganiz ing the office files , carting armloads of file folders back and forth between his desk and the filing cabinets. Branham was on the phone in his office. Askew’s door was open but the office was empty .
    Hall came out of the washroom next to the interview room and crossed over to his desk.
    “I appreciate your helping out,” he said, slumping down into his chair.
    “You look like something the dog threw up,” Karen said.
    “Thanks.” Hall opened a slim file folder on his desk and glanced at the piece of paper on top. “E - mail to the d eputy c hief,” he said. “Autopsy’ll be done today.”
    “You want to go over my statement?” Hank prompted. “Review the people I saw at the bar Saturday night? Maybe show me some photos? I take it you’ve identified most of them by now .”
    Hall said nothing,