Idyll Threats Read Online Free PDF Page B

suited his purpose. No hurry needed around the dead. “I've scheduled your autopsy for Tuesday at eight a.m. And before you ask, I'm sorry, but I have bodies in queue. I can't do it sooner.”
    I fought my reflex to argue. The cause of death wasn't much of a mystery. “Eight a.m. Tuesday is fine. See you then.” I hung up, wondering how he got his scar.
    Billy fetched me lunch. I didn't want to leave the station. The last murder in Idyll was in ’90. Domestic. Wife confessed on scene. Thisone looked tougher. I ate three pizza slices and made lists of things to check. It felt like the old days, the good ones. Except I knew something about our murder case that I couldn't share. Who was I kidding? The good old days had been full of secrets.
    Back in the pen, Finnegan had Cecilia North's college transcript. An average student. Involved with animal rights. Otherwise unremarkable. Wright, returned from chasing Anthony Fergus, worked at his typewriter, pecking with one forefinger at a time.
    I said, “Victim's autopsy's scheduled for Tuesday morning. I'm going.”
    Finnegan wrinkled his nose. Not a fan of the morgue.
    â€œHow's the tip line coming?”
    â€œOnce they get us a number, we're in business.” Finnegan lit a cigarette. “They claim it's in use for the Morris case.” He exhaled a stream of smoke, keeping the butt balanced on his lip. Trick of a longtime smoker.
    â€œWasn't that put to bed before I got here?” I took a shallow breath. Smoking bothers me. It's inconvenient in my line of work. But so is being gay.
    â€œYup.”
    â€œTell the genius in charge of getting us a number that if I don't have one in an hour, I'm going to visit his house and cut his phone line. Then I'm going to cut every cable around his house. Maybe I'll puncture his car tires.”
    â€œWill do,” Finnegan said. He sketched a two-finger salute.
    Wright stopped typing. He looked up and said, “Anthony Fergus claims he was home watching TV last night. Walker, Texas Ranger reruns. I'll check TV Guide .”
    â€œDo that after you've pulled and reviewed the victim's phone records.” Jesus, it was lucky Idyll had few murders. Chasing local apes wasn't how you solved them. “Eastern District wants to send us a helper. Carl Revere. Know him?”
    Wright said he'd seen him at a few police functions. “He looks like he came from 1954.” He made a buzzing gesture and moved his hand over his head. “He supervising this?”
    â€œNo, he's not.” I pointed to their desks. “I want this one resolvedquickly. All overtime will be covered.” Wright whistled. “Don't tell the troops, or I'll be double-checking time sheets for a month.”
    â€œA month?” They laughed. “You think we're rookies?”
    â€œSee you tomorrow.”
    â€œGood night, Chief.”
    I was out of sight when Finnegan said, “You ever known a chief to attend an autopsy?”
    Wright said, “Or notify the victim's family? What's he on?”
    1900 HOURS
    I drove past the Sutter place on my way home. Framed by thunderclouds, it looked more desolate than usual. The large farmhouse flaked white paint chips onto its weedy lawn. The abandoned red barn had a hole in the roof the size of a man. Its large pasture contained no cows or horses. The only animal on site was a goose with a bad attitude. At the end of the farm road was a tee intersection. Turn right and get dinner? Or turn left and revisit the golf course? I turned right. I'd revisit the course later. They were going to have a job, making the grass green again where she fell.
    I parked at Suds, where I ate most of my dinners. The bar was nearly empty. Nate had told me Sunday nights were his worst. “Puritans,” he'd said, shaking his ponytail. “Don't like to drink on Sundays. Not in public, anyway.”
    Donna Daniels was behind the bar, her pale arm reaching into the ice chest. She leaned so