Dead Broke (Lana Denae Mystery Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

bridge—the Steel Bridge,” Sophia emphasized, taking a drink from her cup. “There’s obviously a reason for choosing that bridge over another. I think it has to do with the symbolism of it; what that bridge represents. Besides being strong, steel is usually associated with cold, a callousness—isolated and unfeeling. I think these jumpers are endeavoring to send a message, attempting to tell us how they feel, and what’s going on in their head. No doubt, they feel alone and disconnected, like they’re getting the cold shoulder from life, so to speak. It’s their way of telling the world they need help.”
    Lana rolled her eyes. It was plain she didn’t think much of the doctor’s analysis; didn’t think much of psychiatry in general. “You know,” she said, “I bet they did feel cold—about the time they sank into the frigid water.”
    Accustomed to the detective’s disregard for her profession, Sophia was unfazed by the caustic remarks. “That’s actually a very big part of this too,” she explained. “Water plays a huge role in the psyche of the mind. In this case, you’re right; the water serves to represent the same cold feeling but it also offers a familiarity—and an escape. These people couldn’t live with the cold, as in rejection, but they embrace the symbolism of it in death. Does that make sense?”
    “No, it doesn’t,” Lana said bluntly. “You know what else doesn’t make sense? This many people committing suicide in such a short amount of time. That can’t be a coincidence.”
    “It’s a snowball effect.” Sophia Davis spoke with the same condescending tone as if she were trying to educate a small child. “Once it started, the others, who are hurting, see those who have jumped as being free. It follows that they would seek the same release for themselves.”
    Shaking her head, Lana said, “As my dad used to say, ‘If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you?’ I don’t think most people would. Most people aren’t that weak.”
    “Well you have a lot more faith in humanity than I do,” Sophia countered. “From my experience, most people are dependent and susceptible to the influences of those around them.”
    “I’m sure you see the world that way,” Lana said. “And being a psychiatrist, I can understand that you do. I happen to disagree. I think most people would be fine on their own if other people would just leave them alone. And I’m still convinced there’s something else going on here. You can’t tell me that in two week’s time, six separate people all thought jumping off a bridge, the same bridge, sounded like a good idea. No, something doesn’t add up.”
    Detectives Wyatt and Spencer had remained silent, letting Lana and the psychiatrist have their verbal scuffle. With a mischievous look toward Lana, Jamie spoke up. “So I assume you’ve changed your mind about taking over our case and will be helping investigate?”
    “No, I have my own case,” Lana reminded him. Then with a playful smile she added, “Maybe after I’ve solved mine, I can take a look at yours.”
    “And exactly how is your case coming along?”
    Lana quickly lost her smile. “Not the best,” she admitted without going into detail. She tried to avoid discussing the challenges of her cases whenever possible.
    “So you still have no leads? Is that what you’re saying?”
    “It will come together,” Lana said, sounding far more confident than she felt.
    With her mind back on the case and eager to see what Ray had discovered, she downed the last of her coffee, excused herself, and hurried back to the patrol room. “Find anything?” she asked, seeing the tech was no longer seated at his computer.
    Ray nodded. Whirling then, pulling a sheet of paper from the printer, he read; “Kurt Stabler, forty-five, lived in the suburb of Gresham until eleven months ago. That’s when the company he worked for, Corsent Industries, reassigned him to their European market, moving him to