Hollywood Lust Read Online Free PDF Page B

irritated me the most. I couldn’t change my family, but if there was a perception out there that I might be a problem for other cops, I needed to deal with that before it got worse. A lot of cops are superstitious and easily mistake innuendo and rumor for the truth. I was determined not to let that happen.
    The cold case unit, officially known as Cold Case Homicide Special Section, handled homicide cases that were committed more than five years ago with no significant leads. The unit mainly worked cases where there was the potential for a DNA match to the evidence, or SID came up with something that potentially increased what were called solvability factors. A lot of the work involved pushing paperwork. Some of the detectives even spent their time applying for federal grants for funding to work the cases.
    There was nothing about the job that seemed interesting to me and I wondered why Leo Kingsley had taken the assignment. After we met our new partner in his office I was even more curious. Kingsley was African-American and looked to be in his mid-fifties. He was big and muscular, with a shaved head that gave him an intimidating look. His voice was deep, but there was an easy way about him that I immediately liked. If he was a hothead, as my new partner had said, it was lost on me. Of course, Alex Hardy probably wrote the book on the subject.
    “The Reeder case has been assigned to me for the past couple of years,” Leo told us after he spent some time with Bernie, nuzzling him. “I developed a few leads, but nothing significant enough to break anything loose.”
    “Let’s hear it,” Alex said. My partner was in his take charge mode and had a notepad out.
    Leo studied him, his eyes shifting in my direction for a moment. He looked back at Alex and smiled. “Bruce Reeder was secretly gay, he was broke, and his ex-wife hated his guts.”
    “Did you take a good look at his ex?”
    “Of course. She had an alibi and I don’t think…
    “What’s her address?”
    Leo’s smile grew wider. He reached behind him and pulled a file off the counter. He tossed it on his desk in front of Alex. “It’s all in there.”
    Alex stared at him. “Just give me what I need. I don’t have time to dig through a mound of paperwork.”
    The smile was gone now. Leo looked at my partner, not blinking. “I’m not your secretary. The notes are in the case summary, first couple of pages.”
    After holding on Leo’s eyes, Alex finally turned his attention to the file. He opened it and scribbled a couple of notes on his pad while Leo and I made eye contact. His smile had returned.
    “Any thoughts about the knife?” I asked him. “How it might have gotten out of the evidence locker?”
    Leo nodded. “There’s a couple of possibilities. An employee might have taken it on impulse, intrigued by its unique design, or…”
    “I’ve got the address,” Alex said. “Let’s go talk to the ex.” He stood up.
    Leo didn’t acknowledge him or respond, finishing his thought. “…or whoever killed Bruce Reeder had an attachment to that knife. He wanted it back, found a way to get it, and used it on Carla Hodge.”
    “That’s nonsense,” Alex said. “Let’s stop spinning useless scenarios and work the case.”
    Leo remained seated. He cleared his throat and kept his deep voice low. “A couple of things, first.”
    Alex’s breath came out as a groan. He was still standing, but otherwise didn’t respond.
    Leo went on. “Reeder’s my case. I’ve worked it for years, so we work his case like any cold case where there’s a new lead. We go back over the evidence, the crime scene, and then follow up with interviews, as necessary.”
    Alex’s groan now formed words. “Maybe you haven’t heard, partner. Both Reeder and Hodge are now Section One cases. They’re ours. You’re Section One now, but just along for the ride.”
    Leo leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Sorry, partner . As long as I’m drawing air and a pay