Free Geography of Murder by P. A. Brown

from the weapon?"
    "Unlikely," he said, then seeing my disappointment he added, "But not impossible. Sometimes blood and tissue can get into the unlikeliest places. Don't worry, Alex, if there's anything there we'll find it. And even if we can't, we can still match the tool marks on the body to the object. They're certainly unique enough. You recovered it in the water near the boat?"
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    Geography of Murder
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    "Yes, I suspect it was dumped overboard when the killer went ashore."
    "Did he bring the weapon with him or use something that was already there?"
    An important question. A critical one if we ever got a case to trial. Did the guy come with the weapon, which showed premeditation, or did he pick something up in the heated spur of the moment and swing without thinking. That was a whole other animal and a good lawyer could get charges knocked down or dismissed all together if nobody knew what to charge the guy with.
    "It looks like the sextant or whatever it was, was already onboard. We're checking with the boat owner and the guy who manages the charter company. See if any of them recognize the thing. Meanwhile, you hear back from tox on any of the blood samples we sent you?"
    "Patience, Alex, patience."
    "I know, doc, it's a virtue. Well I've never been a very virtuous man." The guy didn't know the half of it.
    "Well, I'll hurry them along as fast as I can. I know you're eager to clear your young man."
    If this was a classic moment in a slapstick comedy, I'd have been drinking something and would have spewed it everywhere. Christ—
    "Is there anybody in this city that doesn't know my business?"
    "Probably not. But look on the bright side," Don said.
    "They think highly of you despite your shortcomings."
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    Geography of Murder
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    "So glad to hear it," I muttered and beat a hasty retreat after getting Don to agree to tell toxicology he wanted results ASAP.
    Back in the car I flipped on my cell and called Nancy's desk. She sounded harried when she answered. When she recognized my voice she calmed down. "Don give you anything useful?"
    "Your ship thingy is a sextant. Antique navigation device.
    He's pretty sure it was the murder weapon. But you know Don, he won't commit."
    "A sextant, huh? You learn something new every day. Well that's a help. CSU is printing as we speak. Maybe something useful will come of it." She chewed noisily. I remembered our aborted lunch break. "I'm heading back to the Marina. Maybe I can catch up with the boat owner or that charter guy."
    "Phil Collins."
    "Right. Like the singer." Wonder how much he got ribbed about that. "That's the guy." Jason's boss. Jason should be at work by now. Would he have gone for lunch yet? "I'll call you later."
    "Do that, partner." Had she read my mind and knew what I was up to. God, I hoped not. I'd hate to be that easy to read.
    Back in the Marina I headed for the Channel Charter's offices set within spitting distance of the docks where the murder had occurred. The young girl at the desk, who introduced herself as Marley, seemed flustered to have a big cop leaning on her counter asking about her boss. Finally she told me he had gone for lunch and wouldn't be back for at 82

    Geography of Murder
    by P. A. Brown
    least another hour. I gathered this wasn't a busy time of year for tourists or charters so long lunches were the norm.
    Casually I asked, "Jason Zachary around?"
    "He's down at slip seven, working on Expressive ."
    I got directions from her and hurried down to the dock, refusing to admit to myself how eager I was to see Jason again. I found the boat, smaller than the Cutting Edge . There was no one in sight. I stepped onto the dock within touching distance of the front of the boat and called his name. Seconds later a head popped out from below deck.
    "Alex?" Jason hauled himself out and stood looking down at me, a rag and screwdriver in his hands. "What are you doing here? It's not six o'clock yet, is it?"
    "I was in the area." I