The Cutting Read Online Free PDF

did against that pile of scrap over there. I was just zipping up and I noticed something a little ways off. I walked closer and there she is. All cut up. It’s a terrible thing, y’know. A terrible thing.’
    ‘How long were you there before you had to take your leak?’ asked McCabe.
    ‘Not long. Twenty minutes.’ Lacey shrugged. ‘Maybe less.’
    ‘So you got here around eight thirty?’
    ‘Aw, jeez, I dunno. I don’t have no watch or nothin’. It was dark.’
    ‘Did you see anything else near the body?’
    ‘Something else? Like what?’
    ‘Like maybe a knife or a razor?’
    ‘Nah. Nothing like that.’
    ‘Or maybe some jewelry?’
    ‘What kind of jewelry?’
    ‘Any kind. Like maybe a gold earring you thought you could get a few bucks for?’
    ‘No. I didn’t see nothing. Or take nothing. I just wished I had something to cover her up with. She was lyin’ there exposed to the whole world.’
    ‘You didn’t touch her?’
    ‘No, I didn’t touch her or nothing else either.’ He pulled a pint bottle of whiskey from the sagging pocket of his pants. ‘D’ya mind if I finish what little’s left here?’ There was perhaps an inch of amber liquid in the bottle.
    McCabe silently nodded assent. He wouldn’t have minded a little himself. ‘What kinds of cars were parked nearby?’ McCabe gestured to the curb, where the techs were checking for tire tread marks and other evidence.
    ‘Didn’t see no cars. Maybe some driving by, but none that were parked.’
    ‘Any that slowed down? Any you could identify?’
    ‘Just cars going along. You couldn’t see what kind of cars they were.’
    ‘Thank you, Mr. Lacey.’ McCabe looked up and noticed a couple of reporters had arrived, including a crew from the local NBC affiliate.
    ‘Hey, McCabe. Remember me? Josie Tenant, News Center 6. We heard the Dubois girl was found murdered here. Can you give us a statement?’
    ‘Not at the moment.’ McCabe turned away.
    ‘C’mon, McCabe. Is it Dubois in there or isn’t it?’
    Media relations weren’t McCabe’s strong suit. He turned to face her. ‘Look, Josie, this is an active crime scene. I’m not entirely sure how you got here so fast, but it would really be helpful if you kept your folks on the other side of Somerset. We’re still trying to collect evidence.’ Tenant and her cameraman reluctantly retreated to their van. The other reporters followed.
    McCabe turned to Comisky, the cop who’d found Lacey. ‘Kevin, would you take Mr. Lacey down to 109? If Detective Sturgis is around, see if he’d be kind enough to take the rest of Mr. Lacey’s statement. Otherwise, I’ll do it when I get back.’ To Lacey he added, ‘Make sure you let us know where we can find you. Here’s a card with my number on it. We may have to talk to you again. Do you understand?’
    ‘Aye, aye, Captain.’ He threw McCabe a shaky salute and staggered toward Comisky’s car. ‘Canadian whiskey’s not so bad, y’know,’ he said, looking sadly at his now empty bottle. ‘It’s not Irish, but it’s not bad.’ The homeless man climbed unsteadily into the back of the car.
    Before Comisky could follow, McCabe said softly, ‘Make sure you check his pockets for a gold earring or anything else he might have picked up here.’
    The patrol officer nodded, slid behind the wheel, turned the key, and opened all four windows before starting off.
    Bill Jacobi and Terri Mirabito were completing their tasks. There didn’t seem to be much more McCabe could do. He approached one of the other uniformed patrol officers. ‘Keep the reporters out until the body’s picked up and the area’s clear – and don’t listen to any of their bullshit.’
    ‘Don’t worry, Sergeant. I’ve heard it all before.’
    McCabe and Maggie Savage got into Maggie’s Crown Vic for the short ride back to the office. ‘Do you want to join Sturgis interviewing Lacey?’ McCabe asked.
    ‘No. There’s no way he’s the killer. I’m sure Carl can get whatever