Free Scent of Murder by James O. Born Page B

had been.”
    â€œAin’t that the truth? Saving a girl like that can lift the spirits of the entire detective bureau. But I’m afraid we’re gonna be back to reality tomorrow.”
    He sensed the edge in her tone and said, “What’s wrong?”
    â€œThis guy is almost certainly the same guy who grabbed two other girls over the past few years. And we might have a list of suspects.”
    â€œAnyone special?”
    She nodded.
    â€œIs that what brings you out here to the wilderness this time of night?”
    She was now leaning on the handrail to the stairs, letting Rocky smell her left hand. “Nothing ever gets by you. I really liked that in the D-bureau. I was so disappointed when you shipped out, but maybe it was the best for everyone involved.”
    â€œSo that’s why you’re all the way out here?”
    â€œThat, and I’m meeting someone.”
    Sergeant Greene dug a photo out of a file and held it up so he could just see from the light coming through the open door. Hallett took the photo and stepped inside to get a better look. The round, splotchy face and thin comb-over made his stomach turn. He cut his eyes up to the sergeant and didn’t say a word.
    â€œThat’s right. One of the suspects is Arnold Ludner. I thought I should tell you before you found out somewhere else.”
    â€œSo the girl I found when I was a detective…”
    â€œWould have been an early victim. If he’s our man. He had a different style. There’s no direct link. Our theory is he changed in his short time in jail. The timeline all fuses together.”
    â€œBut he’s on your list for a reason.”
    â€œHim and about forty others. He’s known to do this kind of shit, and no girl was reported missing while he was in jail after you caught him.”
    â€œHe should have been in a lot longer.”
    â€œAnd you shouldn’t have been transferred, but things are what they are.”
    â€œAny chance I’m gonna be able to help in this?”
    â€œFor obvious reasons we can’t let it look like you’re after revenge. But we could use Rocky to match scents from the rag we found in the field. We’ve still got a few things to check out. I just want you to get this straight in your head before we ask you for any help.”
    â€œI’ll have everything straight by the time I see him.”
    The sergeant nailed him with her legendary terrifying look. “Tim, I’m not fooling around. If you screw this one up, getting transferred will be the least of your worries. You may be the first cop in history whose dog is in charge of his daily assignments.”
    Hallett looked down at Rocky, who appeared to like the idea.

 
    8
    As soon as Tim Hallett pulled up in front of his former residence in the suburban town of Royal Palm Beach, his ex-girlfriend, Crystal Gibbs, appeared in the doorway of the modest, one-story home.
    In the sunlight, wearing a form-fitting dress, she looked like a work of art, and he felt much less responsible for any of Josh’s good looks. Having a child had not affected her lithe figure, and she always held herself very straight. He knew she was going to spend the morning with her grandmother at a nursing home near Lake Worth. Usually Crystal would take time to visit just about every other resident before she left for the day. Hallett knew this because he took Rocky there, too. The elderly people loved it. Josh was a big hit as well.
    Neither of them ever acknowledged something nice like that. It was too much fun to be snarky to each other.
    He left his personal Dodge Dakota King Cab running with Rocky comfortably sitting in the backseat. Knowing how the dog reacted to a potential threat, he didn’t want to risk bringing him anywhere near Crystal.
    Before Hallett had reached the front door, Crystal said, “I need four hundred and thirty dollars.”
    â€œIn cash?” He hoped his voice hadn’t