Justification for Murder Read Online Free PDF

with her age than her race. Ranjan had come for college and lived with his uncle until he graduated. He hadn’t quite fulfilled his family’s expectations yet, as he had only managed to get his MS in computer science, not a doctorate. Besides two very typical profiles for the Valley, he came out as empty with LinkedIn and social media as he had with his search on ViCAP.
    “It happened again,” Sorensen said, bringing him out of his daze.
    “I swear I started a new pot of coffee when I took the last cup,” Jon said, the last intern they’d managed to get on board before the budget went dry for background checks.
    “Not that, you idiot. We got another suicide.”
    “The boob thing?”
    Sorensen’s steel-blue eyes descended on Jon and stayed there until the young intern’s cheeks turned red with heat. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
    Before he could finish his apology, Sorensen slapped his shoulder a little harder than needed. “Just remember this next time you have something clever to say about a case.” He said and walked to the hallway.
    Darcy followed him. Anything was better than staring at a computer screen and not knowing how to proceed. “Are you investigating, then?”
    Sorensen stopped in front of the vending machine and got a Red Bull. “We got three. Too many for a coincidence.”
    Darcy filled his cup with black coffee and took a gulp, even though it was steaming. He squinted as he felt the hot liquid descend to his stomach. He didn’t say anything.
    “How’s your hit-and-run-turned-attempted-murder going?”
    “Nowhere. There seems to be absolutely no reason why somebody would want to kill this woman. Especially not bad enough to try on the highway and then again at her place.”
    Sorensen shook his head. His blond locks swung back and forth. “Man, the world’s becoming a weird place.”
    “You’re quite the existentialist,” the captain said, a few feet away. “In my office. We need to talk about this,” she said, tapping a set of files in her hand.
    “You’re going to write me up for bringing some quality philosophy into the workplace?”
    “Bring Jon too. We can use his help.”
    “No, not Jon. He’s too green.”
    “Sorensen, this is a suicide. There’s probably nothing to investigate.”
    “Right. That’s why we’re going to your office.”
    Sorensen looked back at Darcy. “I’ll trade you,” he said.

CHAPTER 9
    V irago sat behind her desk and set the files to the side. Sorensen and Jon took the chairs across from her and waited. She closed her eyes and exhaled audibly.
    “It’s the third suicide we’ve got. Same type of deal as the other two. I want to dedicate some real time to it. It’s fishy, and I want to figure out what the hell’s going on.”
    Sorensen nodded, a million questions forming in his head, but he didn’t speak, because he knew she wasn’t finished.
    “I can’t tell you what a PR cluster fuck this can be if the media starts making stories about this and we’ve got nothing.”
    That’s what he was waiting for. Sorensen respected Virago but knew she was juggling too many balls. Several of them had to do with making her bosses look good in the eyes of the public, the politicians and other department heads.
    “I want you to investigate it as a suspicious death”—she made quote marks with her fingers—“but talk about it as if it’s a gruesome suicide so we don’t generate panic, in case this starts showing up in the media, okay?”
    “You got it. So far I’ve got nothing linking the first two vics, so we’ll see if the third one brings any clarity,” Sorensen updated.
    “What can I do?” Jon asked, sounding eager.
    “Follow Sorensen’s lead. I’m counting on your contributions, Jon.” She fixed her eyes on the intern and he shifted in his seat.
    “Of course. I’ll do everything I can.”
    She nodded. “That’s all. Thanks.” Virago put on her reading glasses, letting them know it was time to go.
    Before Sorensen