Orchestrated Murder Read Online Free PDF Page A

the length of the loop smaller so he could apply more pressure. If your arms are extended out like this”—the doctor held his arms far apart—“you can’t put as much oomph behind it.”
    â€œAre you sure it was a male that did this?”
    Both men looked doubtful to Pratt. Great. If they’d both come out strongly that they thought the murderer was male, it might have made things simpler.
    â€œHard to say,” Johnson finally answered. “The stiff wasn’t a very big guy. Good strong woman might have been able to do the deed.”
    â€œDoc?” Pratt asked, turning to him.
    â€œI’ll know more after the autopsy.”
    The usual answer from a medical examiner.
    â€œCan you give me anything to work with?”
    Both men looked at Pratt and then at each other.
    Johnson said, “Well, there is one thing.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWe found an open fountain pen on the desk. The nib was still wet, so it can’t have been open that long.”
    â€œCan you give me a time.”
    â€œAn hour only.”
    â€œAnd what was he writing?”
    â€œCan’t help you there. There was nothing on the desk, floor, wastebasket or on the body.”
    â€œMaybe he wrote on a pad?” the doctor threw in. “You might get impressions from the paper underneath.”
    Johnson shook his head and told him, “That only happens on tv.”
    â€œGut reaction, Johnson,” Pratt said, changing the subject. “Do you think you’re going to find anything more useful here?”
    Johnson sighed heavily. “No. This murderer was smart. So unless he or she was also extremely unlucky, no, we’re not going to find anything. That’s not to say we won’t keep trying though.”
    Pratt nodded. “I appreciate that.”
    One of the other techs walked up. “We’re ready to move the body now.”
    Pratt and the medical examiner stepped farther back in the hall to be out of the way.
    â€œWill I see you at the autopsy?” he asked Pratt.
    â€œDo you expect to find anything interesting?”
    He shrugged. “Not really. But we always live in hope, don’t we?”
    Both men turned to watch the removal of the body.
    â€œDetective Pratt, Detective Pratt!” Browne shouted as he appeared at the end of the hall. “I have to speak to you!”
    The orchestra manager was coming fast. Behind him, looking much more relaxed, was Ellis. His face had a bit of a smirk.
    Browne stopped right in front of Pratt, puffing like a bellows. “Your assistant has barred me from using my office! How can I do what you asked me to do if I can’t use my office?”
    Ellis shrugged. “I needed an Internet connection for my laptop.”
    â€œYou can use the secretary’s desk down the hall.”
    Pratt looked at Ellis, whose face was now studiously blank. What was the kid up to?
    â€œWe’re all having to put up with a lot today,” Pratt said.
    â€œBut I have things I must be doing— right now!”
    â€œI’ll make sure you can get back into your office ASAP. Okay?”
    Browne looked as if he wanted to say something else, but Pratt returned his pointed glare. After a few seconds, Browne turned away and stomped off.
    Pratt waited until he was well out of earshot before asking Ellis, “What was that all about?”
    Now Ellis grinned. “Our friend Browne seemed a tad too eager to get into his office. He was the person who found the body, after all.”
    â€œI like the way you’re thinking, my boy,” Pratt said with a smirk of his own. “Now have you got anything else for me?”
    â€œI went down to the rehearsal hall to look for you. Spadafini’s overcoat was there, so I checked the pockets. His cell phone wasn’t there, but in looking around, I found it on the floor. It appears to have been kicked under the conducting podium.”
    â€œI’m glad one of us