Death Deserved (A Detective Jackson Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page B

know—it’s a funny name.” Susan glanced over at the bed. “Denise is waking up.”
    Evans made a note of the supplier, then stepped over to Lammers’ side. “Sergeant, it’s Evans.”
    “Hey.” Her eyes finally found Evans and focused. “Why are you here?”
    “Just checking in. How are you feeling?”
    “Like shit. What does the doctor say? Am I gonna live?”
    Susan rushed up to her side. “Of course you are.”
    Lammers reached out to grab her partner’s hand, then pulled back.
    “It’s okay,” Evans said. “I’ll use the word roommate in my report.”
    “Thanks.” Lammers grimaced in pain. “What the hell is making me sick?”
    “They don’t know.” Susan’s voice ached with anxiety.
    Evans cut in. “Susan told me what really happened, and I have to investigate the source of the marijuana. I’ll do what I can to protect you.”
    “For fuck’s sake.” Lammers glared at her partner, her face pale. “I guess I’ll retire early like you wanted after all.”
    Evans touched the sergeant’s arm, then quickly withdrew. “It may not come to that. If I weren’t worried about the supply and others getting sick, I would bury this for you.”
    Lammers made a nasty burping sound, eyes wide with panic. She grabbed the plastic bowl from her tray and hurled greenish-gray vomit into it.
    Ugh! Evans backed away. “Get better, okay? I’ll see you soon.”
    She gestured at Susan to come into the hall with her. Once they were outside the room, Evans said, “I need to take her pot supply to the lab and have it analyzed. And dust the containers for fingerprints, in case whoever did this is in the database. You have to cooperate with me on this.”
    “Okay. I’ll meet you at the house later.”
    “Give me the address.”
    Once she had the information, Evans headed to the surgery area on the second floor. She asked the desk nurse about the condition of the Jane Doe and was told she’d been moved to the ICU. Evans checked her phone to make sure she hadn’t missed any messages, then went back upstairs to where she’d just been. It would be interesting to hear what the victim had to say about her fake ID. Like Lammers, once people experienced a close call with death, they often cast aside the bullshit to get real about what was left of their lives.

CHAPTER 5

    Wednesday, December 2, 10:52 a.m.
    Jackson noticed Evans getting into her car and started to lift his hand, then changed his mind. It was best to keep their interaction as professional as possible. Rekindling those uncertain and confusing emotions wouldn’t be good for either of them. He strode toward the three patrol officers talking in the driveway of the farmhouse. Their presence back at the scene meant they’d finished canvassing the area. “Any witnesses?”
    Two shook their heads, but the third officer, a woman about his age, pointed toward River Road. “No one was home at the next house in that direction, so it will need a follow-up.”
    Jackson hadn’t expected much, but still, he was disappointed. The homes in the area all had acreage, which meant they had privacy from one another. Unless someone happened to be passing by at the time of the shooting and noticed an unfamiliar vehicle or heard the shots, they weren’t likely to learn anything from the neighbors. Still, someone from the team would check back with all potential witnesses. “Find anything in your search of the property?” he added.
    The woman officer handed him a plastic evidence bag. “A cigarette butt. I found it by the front porch. It looks fresh.”
    A Camel Wide. Jackson tucked the bag into his satchel. For the first time, he wondered if they were looking for more than one shooter. So far, they had little physical evidence. But if the butt belonged to one of the killers, the DNA from the saliva could help convict them.
    His next objective was to find, notify, and question Josh Stalling’s immediate family members, but he was waiting on a call from the desk