Silent Scream Read Online Free PDF Page B

Because of
us
, she is no longer alive.”
    “A regrettable loss,” Mary said, smoothing Joel’s hair. “You said that this is war.”
    Joel closed his eyes. “I know what I said. That was before. We killed a human being, Mary. The cops aren’t going to ignore
     this. They’re going to hunt us down.”
    “They wouldn’t have had to hunt far if we’d let you call 911,” Albert muttered.
    “Albert,” Mary hissed. “Shut. Up.”
    Eric felt a childish yearning for a redo button. But there were no redos here. They’d done what they’d done. Now they had
     to stay under the radar.
    “All of you, just be quiet. We need to be calm or we’ll all end up in prison.” He turned on the TV and started changing channels.
     Then flinched when the fire scene filled his fifty-inch screen. “Let’s see what the press is saying. Then we’ll figure out
     what, if anything, we need to do next.”

Chapter Two
    Monday, September 20, 1:30 a.m.
    L iv. Wait.”
    Olivia had been walking at a near jog around the burned-out building but stilled at the sound of Kane’s steady voice behind
     her. She’d been curt with him when he’d only been trying to help. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I shouldn’t have bitten
     your head off.”
    “I’m used to it,” he said in the singsong tone that always reminded her of Eeyore and made her smile. He smiled back. “There
     we go. I knew your mouth could bend. It doesn’t do that so much lately. Look… I didn’t mean to make it worse.”
    Olivia’s shoulders sagged. “I’m doing my job, Kane.”
    “I know you are,” he said, his voice soothing without being patronizing. “The department shrink isn’t helping?”
    “I don’t need any damn shrink.” Her voice sounded childish to her own ears and she sighed. “Dammit, Kane. I just need some
     time.”
    “Then take some time. But promise me something. If it’s not any easier by the new year, tell me. I know a shrink who might
     be able to help. One I bet you’ll like.”
    She knew why he’d picked that date. New Year’s Eve was his last official day on the job. Kane was retiring after nearly thirty
     years on the force. Olivia didn’t wantto think about it. Didn’t want to think about breaking in a new partner. But she knew he worried about her, so she nodded.
     “Okay. Now can we get to the dead guard?”
    They turned the corner and immediately saw the body of security guard Henry Weems illuminated by the CSU spotlights. He was
     lying on his stomach, one arm beneath him, the other outstretched. His pistol lay a few inches from his fingertips. The back
     of his uniform was dark with blood, the exit wound bigger than Kane’s fist.
    Next to his body was a gurney with an unzipped body bag. Londo’s partner, ME tech Dale Eastman, waited patiently as CSU’s
     Micki Ridgewell snapped pictures.
    “Hollow-point bullet?” Olivia asked.
    “Likely,” Micki said. “We’re still looking for the slug. As soon as we’re done with the body, we’re going to run a metal detector.
     But with so much construction crap, it could take a while. We found blood on the ground near the back door, the one that exits
     lakeside, so that’s probably where he was hit on the head. By the amount of blood on the ground, I think he lay there for
     several minutes, at least. Let’s roll him.”
    Kane and Dale did so. The front of the guard’s uniform was completely blood-soaked, but a small entry wound was visible, right
     at his heart.
    “Shot to kill,” Kane remarked. “How long has he been dead?”
    “A couple of hours, tops,” Dale said. “Doc’ll get you a tighter time window.”
    Olivia picked up the guard’s gun and sniffed. “Hasn’t been fired, but he was ready. Safety’s off. If he was knocked out, maybe
     he came to and surprised the arsonist?”
    “Who was standing between him and the lake when the shot was fired.” Kane pointed to the lake. “There aretwo ways to get out of here fast—through the front