The End Of Desire: A Rowan Gant Investigation Read Online Free PDF

that
matter. It just got entered, and that’s only ‘cause a fresh
volunteer from KC is down there, and he remembered somethin’ about
one of our bulletins that made ‘im do a little diggin’.”
    “Well, I’ve pulled impressions from old crime
scenes before. So that’s not really an issue.”
    “Doesn’t matter.”
    His stonewalling was really pushing me to the
edge, but I knew I wasn’t getting anywhere with the direct
approach, so I changed my plan of attack, “Well, are you certain
it’s her?”
    “Until they finish processin’ evidence, no.
And with things the way they are down there, that could take
awhile. But I did talk ta’ the copper workin’ the case myself. The
victim was male, found in a room at a no-tell motel just like the
two here, and he was tied ta’ the bed kinky-sex style. From all
indications, he was tortured ta’ death, which we know is ‘er
favorite pastime. Still waitin’ on autopsy results, somethin’ else
that could take awhile, but from what I understand she worked ‘im
over good. He also said they found hair that sounds like it could
be a match. And, if that ain’t enough, she carved one of ‘er
pictures inta’ his chest.”
    “A veve ?”
    “Yeah. The heart-shaped one.”
    The hair on the back of my neck prickled at
the mention of the symbol. It was definitely one of her calling
cards.
    “It figures,” I mumbled, and then launched
into an appeal, “Listen, Ben, even if the scene is a week old,
maybe if I just had a look?”
    “Uh-huh, how ‘bout no.”
    “Dammit, Ben.”
    “Jeezus, Row, just give it a rest. Hell, what
makes ya’ think they’d even let ya’ into the scene anyway?”
    “Easy. You could call them back. I mean I’m
already here after all. Don’t you cops have some kind of fraternal
code about helping one another out?”
    “That’s just for speedin’ tickets.”
    “I’m serious, Ben.”
    “I know ya’ are, but even if I did call, I’m
gonna tell ‘em what? My buddy the Witch is in town and wants ta’
come by and look at the gore fest? It don’t work that way and you
know it,” he told me. “On top of that, what you do in Saint Louis
doesn’t necessarily fly elsewhere. Shit, it doesn’t always fly here
and you know that too, in spades.”
    “Then what about Constance?” I pressed,
“She’s federal. What if she made the call?”
    I was talking about Special Agent Constance
Mandalay of the FBI. She was also a good friend, not to mention
that she and Ben had been in an on again, off again relationship
ever since his divorce. Even so, I didn’t feel guilty about asking
him to get her involved in this because she was already in it up to
her neck anyway. It wasn’t as if I was asking him to use his
personal influence over her, not that he really had any based on
what I’d witnessed of their relationship.
    “Not happenin’,” he replied. In my mind’s eye
I could see him shaking his head as he spoke. He continued before I
could object again, “Look, Row, like I said. It’s bein’
investigated. The MCS and the Feebs are in the loop. There ain’t
shit you or I can do about it, and so there’s no need in you tryin’
ta’ get in somewhere that you’re not welcome.”
    “So what’s to keep me from checking the
newspaper and finding the location?”
    “Nothin’,” he grunted. “Except maybe the fact
that they didn’t run a story on it.”
    “How do you know?”
    “I asked.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I wanted ta’ know how easy it was
gonna be for you ta’ get inta’ trouble.”
    “Well, why didn’t it make the papers?”
    “Victim was a street person, and there’s
plenty of other shit goin’ on down there right now. It just wasn’t
considered newsworthy.”
    “Okay, so what if I just go to the local
police myself?” I countered.
    “Knock yourself out,” he harrumphed. “But I
can tell ya’ right now you’ll just be wastin’ your breath ‘cause I
already told ‘em ya’ might try that. Look, Row, you