Free The Edge of Justice by Clinton McKinzie Page A

rings.
    “This is Knight. I'm not sure what I can do for you—” He speaks quickly, his words from the start conveying a defensiveness. It is a small hint that something's not right. He also sounds somewhat educated and young, which makes me happy. I'd dared to hope he wouldn't have the old-school, country attitudes of police officers like Bender and Sheriff Willis.
    “I'm a special agent with DCI, Deputy Knight,” I interrupt.
    “I've heard of you.”
    Between the incident in Cheyenne, his sergeant, and the sheriff, it isn't likely he's heard anything good. His tone tells me that he is not one of the cops who thinks I'm a hero.
    “Okay, now as you probably know, we look into all criminal matters where there's a potential conflict of interest with local law enforcement.” I don't mention that it's generally in corruption cases. “We're taking a look at that Danning girl's death, and I just had a few questions. You were there early Sunday morning when her body was found, right?”
    “Yes, sir. But excuse me—you said criminal matters. I don't understand what was criminal about it, a girl falling off a rock? The way it looked to me, she got stoned then probably tripped.”
    “We're just looking into it as a matter of policy. It was requested by the girl's parents through the governor's office. By the way, who told you she was high?”
    “The boyfriend, you know, the County Attorney's son.” I wonder why Bender didn't bother to put that in his report. Probably to avoid connecting the son to any embarrassing behavior. “Hey, um, do I need to clear it with the sheriff or anyone before I talk with you?”
    “No, Sheriff Willis is the one who gave me the file.”
    “Okay, we've just been warned to be careful talking. You know, with all these reporters in town and all.”
    I try to move on quickly, not wanting him to give the sheriff a call. “Do you remember what Brad Karge said about her being wasted? What she was taking?”
    “He said that she'd just been drinking. That they'd hauled a couple of bottles up there in the dark. Oh yeah, and there was a pipe in one of her jacket pockets. A metal one, you know. I found it when I was looking for her ID.”
    “Was the pipe used for pot or something heavier?”
    “It wasn't for pot. I smelled it. It was for the heavy stuff. Meth.”
    That isn't in the report either. “Now you checked her pulse, right, and her pockets? Did you move her at all?”
    “No, sir. I didn't even want to touch her in the first place, but Bender told me I had to.”
    “So was she facedown when you arrived, Deputy?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Did you ask Bradley Karge if he'd moved her at all when he found her?”
    “No, but he was pretty freaked out. Wouldn't go near the body.”
    “The autopsy showed that she had an injury to the back of her head, not just to her face. Any idea how she could have gotten it?”
    “No, sir. The girl landed facedown, the way it looked to me. And stayed that way till the coroner's guys bagged her.”
    “Did you show the pipe to the kid or ask him about it? Or did Bender talk to him about it?”
    The deputy sounds a little embarrassed. “No, they don't let me investigate deaths. I'm just a rookie, you know? I was just there as backup and 'cause I'm EMT certified. I didn't hear Bender ask him much. It didn't seem necessary.”
    “So I guess you didn't talk to any of the other witnesses who were supposed to have been at that party on the cliff?”
    Now the deputy chuckles somewhat nervously. It's obvious not much of an investigation was conducted, and even as a rookie he knows it. “No, sir, sorry.”
    “All right. Well, thanks for calling me back, Knight. Good luck handling the crowds if a verdict comes back today.”
    The conversation leaves me with the feeling that either some incredibly sloppy police work had been performed or something more sinister is going on. I think about calling the duty sergeant again and having him call Bender, but I know the