Free The Cruelest Cut by Rick Reed

information was. He wanted them to put it in their own words so there would be no misunderstanding. He’d found over the years that the best way to deal with the media was to be honest, even if it meant telling them nothing more than “Sorry, we’re not releasing information yet.” He knew that if you tried to cut them out of the loop, they would report whatever they had no matter how wrong or harmful it was.
    Maddy looked pleased. She was sure the police chief wouldn’t have interrupted his day if she wasn’t on to something big.
    â€œWe want in,” Maddy answered for Wires, and smiled. David Wires, the attorney, was smiling, too. He had said little, but he was the hammer poised to drive the point home if they didn’t get what they wanted. Maddy knew it, the attorney knew it, and she was sure that Chief Pope knew it as well.
    Before the chief could answer, his secretary peeked in to announce that Captain Franklin and the detectives were there. Pope let out an audible sigh and motioned for them to be shown in.
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    Eddie sat in the van watching the silly bitch flitting from one aisle to another in the roadside store. She had deviated from her normal route home, and it was pissing him off. They had driven all the way out of Evansville on Highway 57, where she then stopped in the little town of Daylight. He’d taken advantage of the stop to fill his gas tank, but now he cursed under his breath as he waited for her to head home.
    It didn’t help that Bobby was in one of his silent moods and hadn’t said a word since they’d left the parking garage at the hospital.
    Finally Eddie could stand the silence no longer. “Okay. So what’s the fuckin’ deal, Bobby?”
    Bobby looked at him without answering, which only added to Eddie’s anger. “We followed this nurse twice last week, and both times she went straight home. What the hell is she doin’?” Eddie demanded.
    Bobby shook his head and smiled. “Eddie, you gotta relax, man. It don’t matter where you do her. You just do her and leave the note,” he said with a smirk.
    â€œWell, what if she’s driving to fuckin’ New York or somethin’? We gonna follow her to New York, Bobby?”
    â€œHell, if we whack her out of town, so much the better,” Bobby said calmly and leaned back and closed his eyes.
    Eddie was starting to smile now. Bobby was right. If they whacked her somewhere out of town, it would show Murphy how far they would go to get at him.
    â€œLike a long-distance wake-up call,” Eddie said happily, and Bobby winked at him.
    â€œNow you’re getting the picture, bro,” Bobby said.
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    Introductions were made and then Wires stood and shook hands with Captain Franklin, but didn’t offer to shake hands with Jack or Liddell.
    â€œGuess they don’t teach etiquette in law school,” Liddell whispered loud enough for the attorney to hear.
    Chief Pope gave him a cautioning look and continued, “And of course, you all know Maddy Brooks.”
    Liddell grabbed Maddy’s diminutive hand in his huge ones, shaking it so hard it rattled her. “Big fan! Very big fan, Miss Brooks,” he said. Jack could tell she wasn’t sure of his sincerity, but had no doubt that she could take care of herself.
    â€œWell, you are big,” she said, looking Liddell up and down, to which everyone laughed. “Can I have my arm back now?” she asked, and they all laughed some more.
    We’re having such a wonderful time , Jack thought. He wondered when he and Liddell would have to bend over and take one up the rear for the team. He already had an idea what was going on here because the chief’s secretary had filled them in on what she had “accidentally” overheard. Apparently Channel Six had some source inside their murder investigation and was strong-arming the chief to go public. But out of respect for the chief and