Killer Heat Read Online Free PDF Page A

morning,” Mike said. “She saw
    the squib in the Post. The one about the body.”
    “I haven't had a chance to read the newspapers today.”
    Mike handed me a story-three short paragraphs-buried deep in the
    back of the news section of the tabloid. “MARITIME BATTERY ... AND
    ASSAULT: TERMINAL. The naked remains of an unidentified woman were
    found yesterday evening in the abandoned offices above the aging
    ferry slip...”
    “Janet's afraid the victim might be her sister. We may need you
    on this, Coop.”
    “Thank you for coming in. I know how difficult it must be for
    you.”
    “I doubt that you do.” Her comeback was fast and sharp.
    “We're on our way to the medical examiner's office. Janet's
    going to try to make an ID.”
    Standing in front of the morgue's viewing window was one of the
    most painful steps a family member was forced to endure in the
    course of an investigation. Nothing could prepare Janet for the
    condition of the face and body she was about to see.
    “How can I help?”
    Mike got up. “Let's step out and I'll-”
    “You can repeat what I said.” Janet Bristol reached into her
    pocket for a tissue and blew her nose. “I know that's why we're
    here.”
    “Can you tell me why you think this might be your sister?”
    Janet blotted her eyes and looked down at the photographs,
    handing me one. “That's Amber about a year ago.”
    I studied the image. The resemblance to Janet was striking.
    Long, narrow faces, lightly freckled skin, and thin, tapered noses.
    Everything was consistent with the shape and size of the woman we
    had seen last night.
    “We're not close, like I told Detective Chapman. But we had this
    deal that we always went out together on our birthdays,” she said.
    “Her birthday was the Sunday before last. She just turned
    thirty-two.”
    By this past Sunday, the woman decomposing behind the cast iron
    façade of the old building had already been dead for more than
    a week, if Mike and Dr. Magorski were right.
    “When's the last time you spoke to Amber?”
    Janet straightened up. “Christmas. I think it was right after
    the holidays. I had gone home-to Idaho-to see the family. I called
    her when I got back.”
    “And not once during the last eight months?”
    “I told you, we're different. We don't really get along.”
    “Can you tell us something about her?” I sat down next to Janet
    to look at the other photographs. I wanted to know what would lead
    this woman to the conclusion that her sister had been the victim of
    a murder, rather than that she simply chose to celebrate the event
    with someone else.
    “Amber is-well, she's quirky, like I told the detective. She
    moved to New York about nine years ago, after college. Worked for a
    temp agency. Wound up doing word processing at a law firm. That's
    where she's been for the last five years. Masters and Martin.”
    “One twenty Wall Street.” The offices of the small firm that
    specialized in patent law placed Amber a short walk from where the
    body was found. “And how long has it been since she showed up
    there?”
    Mike crossed his arms and sat on the windowsill. “She was let go
    in July.”
    “She quit,” Janet said defensively. “That's what the
    receptionist told me.”
    “Have you called her at home? Or gone to her apartment?”
    “Her answering machine is full. It's not taking any more
    messages. And her cell phone is shut off.”
    “Are there neighbors?”
    “She didn't have any friends in the building, really. I called
    the super. He hasn't seen her since last week.”
    “I've got the address, Coop. The East Nineties. You should know
    they wanted her out of there.”
    “Behind on the rent?”
    “Nope. People didn't like the company she kept. If Janet
    can-well, if she's able to make an ID,” Mike said, “we'll go
    straight there.”
    “Did you have a plan to meet on Amber's birthday?”
    Janet shook her head. “I started calling on that Friday. Left a
    few messages then that she didn't