Death Angel Read Online Free PDF Page A

working on this.”
    Richard put his arm around Kate’s
shoulders, and she released her grip on Carl’s hands. He walked to the door and
exited without looking back.  
    When Carl had moved to Pickard, he’d
felt a sense of community that he’d never had in Chicago. This was his town. As
police chief he was responsible for public safety. No matter what it took, he’d
find the bastard who killed Jennifer Warner.

 
    The following morning Carl turned into
Kate and Richard’s street, a quiet residential area in the older section of
Pickard. A clutter of vehicles lined the street half way up the block to the
cul de sac.  
    Dammit!  
    Two mobile TV vans from Chicago were
parked beneath the trees, while other reporters and photographers huddled in
groups on the lawn and sidewalks. He drew his car up to the curb and they
converged on him like a pack of snapping pit bulls.  
    “Chief Leidecker! Chief Leidecker!”  
    Voices shouted at him as he opened the
car door; a microphone and several tape recorders were shoved in his face.
Wanting to set the ground rules immediately, he remained perfectly still,
waiting until the frenzied group had quieted before he spoke.
    “All right, folks, listen up. I’m going
to give all of you ten minutes to clear out of here. After that I’m going to
haul your butts in for obstructing traffic.” He ignored the groaning objections
and glared at the cameraman who was closest to him until the man backed up a
little. “This is not Chicago. In Pickard we expect a certain show of decency.
These people have suffered a terrible loss. I know you’re looking for a story,
but for the moment this place is off limits. After I talk to the Warners, I’ll
be more than happy to meet with all of you back at the station and answer your
questions. Now get moving.”
    “Have you got any suspects?”
    “Is the coroner’s report in?”
    “Is it true this is just one of a series
of child murders in Pickard?”
    Carl did not even acknowledge the
questions, reaching inside the car for the radio to order backup to the area.
He leaned casually against the car door, watching the activity as the crowd
dispersed and the exodus began. By the time two patrol cars arrived, there were
only a few neighbors standing around and these stragglers broke apart and
hurried indoors. After giving the men instructions to block off the street to
the media, he picked up his leather notebook and started up the walk.  
    Neatly trimmed bushes hugged the
two-story Tudor and the green of tulips and daffodils was already showing in
the stone-edged gardens on either side of the front stairs. The house had been
painted recently and the cream-colored flower boxes beneath the front windows
were still empty. Carl wondered if the boxes would ever hold flowers again.
    Moving briskly, he brushed a piece of
lint from his uniform sleeve, straightened his shoulders, and pushed the
doorbell. After a moment, a short, matronly woman pulled the door inward. Her
body barred his entrance and warily she peeked around him at the empty street.
    “Thank goodness, they’re gone. It’s been
a zoo all morning.”
    “Sorry, ma’am. My men will keep the
street clear,” he said, adding, “Chief Leidecker to see the Warners.”
    He stepped forward, forcing the woman to
pull the door wider to permit him entry. The phone was ringing and in the back
of the house he could hear the low murmur of voices.
    “Please come in. I’m the Warner’s next
door neighbor. This is all so god-awful.” Her voice shook and her face took on
a pinched look. “I’ll get Richard. They just got back from the funeral home,
and we’re trying to get Kate to eat something. She hasn’t been able to keep
anything down since it happened and she’s going to need strength to get through
the next couple of days.”
    As if she realized that she was
beginning to babble, she snapped her mouth shut, turned on her heel, and
hurried toward the back of the house. Left alone, Carl