Free The Wages of Sin by Nancy Allen Page B

forensic report on Ashlock’s desktop, she said, “I didn’t bring my reading glasses.”
    â€œHell getting old, huh, Madeleine,” Parsons said with a jovial nudge.
    Madeleine cleared her throat, crossed her legs tightly and focused on Ashlock. “Was it some kind of pharmaceutical substance? She could have a medical condition that would explain it.”
    Elsie spoke up. Eyes scanning the report, she said, “Madeleine, it’s here on page two. Methamphetamine. Marijuana. Alcohol.”
    â€œSheeeit.” Parsons dragged the word out into three long syllables. “So we have a murder victim, eight months pregnant, mother of a young child. But she’s drunk and high on meth at the time of her death.”
    Ashlock nodded. “Yep.” He scratched his neck. “We seized a pretty sizeable bag of meth from the trailer when we were processing the murder scene.”
    Elsie made a face. “Do you think they were cooking it there, Ash?”
    â€œNo. No equipment, no smell. I’d sure like to know where they got it from.”
    Parsons said, “Excuse me, folks, but you can work out your drug cases on your own time. I’m here to lend a hand in this murder case. And set me straight again: this woman had AIDS?”
    Madeleine said, “We’re requesting additional testing,” but Elsie broke in.
    â€œIf the defendant gave that poor woman AIDS, it’s hardly a mark against her.”
    Both Madeleine and Parsons began to speak; his voice boomed over hers and Madeleine broke off as Parsons said to Elsie, “Are you stupid? Or just wet behind the ears? Don’t you realize they will attack the victim as their defense to the crime?”
    â€œMr. Parsons,” Ashlock said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œDon’t call Ms. Arnold stupid.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œMs. Arnold is the smartest woman of my acquaintance. It’s offensive to me, hearing you talk to her that way.”
    Madeleine told him in a whisper, “Detective Ashlock and Ms. Arnold are good friends.” After a moment’s pause, she repeated, “Very good friends.”
    Parsons looked at Elsie with a knowing eye. “I see. I see I see I see.” He leaned back in his chair, tipping it so that the wooden back rested against the wall. “Ladies and gentleman, you have pulled me into a can of worms.”
    â€œI’m so sorry,” Madeleine said.
    â€œA hornets’ nest,” he said. “A nest of vipers. I can already feel the sting, the bite.”
    â€œSamuel, please understand I didn’t withhold this information from you; when I asked for your assistance I didn’t know.”
    He reached out a large hand and squeezed Madeleine’s knee. “No need to apologize. I like a challenge. And by God, this case is a challenge.” He gave Madeleine’s knee one last squeeze, and then rubbed his hands together. With a nod in Elsie’s direction, he said, “So—­Ms. Arnold, is it? Elsie? The smartest woman this detective has ever known?” He stopped to grin at Ashlock. “Tell you what we’re gonna do. We are going to suck the poison on this snakebite.”
    Elsie nodded slowly. “Okay.”
    Parsons leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Want to know how? We are throwing her to the sharks.”
    So many animal metaphors, Elsie thought. “What exactly do you mean?”
    â€œWe won’t give the defense the chance to slice and dice this gal. We’ll gut her first. Throw her to the dogs.”
    Dogs, sharks, Elsie thought, but his intention was clear. “Are you going to attack the victim in a murder case? Our murder case?”
    â€œI’m going to call her every name in the book. We don’t need her.”
    Elsie blinked. Shaking her head, she said, “You’ve lost me. Of course we need her. The case is about the crime committed against her. She was beaten to