Free The Deepest Cut by Dianne Emley

corpse, while her son, disturbed by the sight, took a step backward.
    “Do you recognize this man?” Vining asked Zhang.
    Zhang arched an eyebrow. “I don’t know him, but I don’t know everyone on the construction crew. Maybe my project manager, Joey Pai, knows who he is.”
    “What about you?” Vining asked Ken.
    He pressed his lips together and shook his head. “No, ma’am.”
    “His name is Abel Espinoza.” Vining added, “He goes by the nickname Scrappy. Are those names familiar to you?”
    The Zhangs again denied knowing Scrappy.
    Vining rezipped the body bag and signaled the techs that they could leave.
    “Mrs. Zhang …” Kissick began. “Do you know anybody who has a grudge against you, who might want to hurt you by defacing your property like this?”
    “I am a businesswoman, Detective. I’ve lived in the United States for eighteen years. I’ve run my own property development company for ten years. When you’re in business, especially when you’re a woman, especially when you’re a minority, you have to be tough. Of course I’ve made enemies.”
    “I understand.” Kissick was deferential. He spoke softly, trying to defuse the tension that Vining had whipped up. “Mrs. Zhang, would you come to the station with us so we can better discuss this and you can look over photos of people who might be responsible?”
    “It’s late,” Zhang said. “My son has to go to school tomorrow and I have a busy day. I’ve already told you what I know. You have my business card. Should you wish to speak with me again, I am easy to find.My crew starts work at eight in the morning. Mr. Pai, my project manager, will be in his office in that trailer across the street. I need to see what’s to be done about that mosaic.”
    “I can’t guarantee that we’ll be able to release the crime scene by then,” Kissick said.
    Zhang slid her cuff up her arm and looked at a thin gold watch set with diamonds. “It’s nearly two in the morning. Certainly you’ll be finished by eight o’clock.”
    Lam shifted his feet, sensing the brewing confrontation.
    Vining felt smug as she saw Kissick slowly losing his cool.
    He held up his hand to indicate Tara Khorsandi, who was directing the officers setting up the additional lights.
    “Mrs. Zhang, we haven’t even begun to search yet. We have to completely measure, sketch, and photograph the scene. Then we’ll divide the area into a grid and then we’ll start to search. It’s going to take a long time. I’m keeping control of the scene until I’m confident it has nothing further to tell us.”
    Zhang frowned as she looked around the partially destroyed building, as if the magnitude of the task was sinking in. She looked back at him and demanded, “When will that be?”
    An edge crept into Kissick’s voice. “When we’re finished. It could take a few days. It could take weeks.”
    “Eight this morning, works starts again. I pay the crew if they work or not. Who’s going to pay me for money I spend on workers who don’t work?”
    “I’m in charge of this murder investigation and this crime scene is released when I say it’s released.”
    “You are an employee of the city of Pasadena. I do business in Pasadena. I pay city taxes. I pay your salary. I support charitable orga nizations in Pasadena. I know your boss, Chief Haglund. I know him very well.”
    Vining snickered and shook her head as Zhang fulfilled her expectations.
    Zhang’s eyes shot daggers at her, but Vining kept the closed-lipped smirk on her face.
    Lam silently watched, staying out of it.
    Zhang’s son had moved a few feet closer to the entrance.
    Kissick was irritated, but kept his cool. “Mrs. Zhang, I might be just a civil servant, but I can arrest you for interfering with the duties of a police officer.”
    Vining couldn’t resist adding, “After you’re settled into your cell, we’ll notify the chief that you’re there.”
    Vining was prepared for Zhang’s retort, but saw her