The Fregoli Delusion Read Online Free PDF Page B

warm in the room and I apologize for our air conditioning, which is being
serviced as we speak, so I won’t keep you very long. I’ll make a brief
statement, we’ll take some questions, and then I’ll let you go so you can make
your deadlines.
    “I have with me Deputy Chief
Douglas Barkley of our Investigations Division and acting Commander Ann
Martinez of the Detective Services Bureau.” He gestured behind him, where
Barkley and Martinez sat stiffly on plastic chairs. “Commander Martinez made a
statement this morning at the scene regarding the shooting death of a white male,
aged sixty-eight, who was murdered while riding a bicycle on the bike path
along Cumberland Avenue in Granger Park. We’re here to announce that the victim
was Herbert Joseph Jarrett, president and chief executive officer of Jarrett
Corporation. Mr. Jarrett was riding his bicycle on the path when he was met by
an unknown subject. Evidence suggests that he stopped his bicycle to talk to
this UNSUB and was shot once in the head from a distance of four to six feet,
dying almost instantly from his wound.”
    Bennett paused for a moment to
allow the noise to die down as the journalists reacted to the identity of the
victim. “Mr. Jarrett’s wallet was found about twenty yards down the bike path
from the body, thrown under some bushes. The wallet contained no cash or credit
cards. We’re considering the possibility that Mr. Jarrett was the victim of a
robbery, but we’re also going to pursue the theory that Mr. Jarrett knew the
UNSUB and that the wallet was a ruse to throw us off the scent.”
    “He’s more FBI than the FBI,”
muttered a robbery detective standing next to Hank. Apparently Hank wasn’t the
only one who was annoyed by the chief’s continual use of FBI terminology such
as “UNSUB,” slang for “unknown subject,” a hangover from his days with the
Bureau.
    “We’ve interviewed a witness who
was present in the park when the shooting occurred,” Bennett went on. “He did
not witness the shooting itself. He was a fair distance around the bend in the
bike path, with trees and bushes between himself and the scene. He heard the shot
in the distance and walked over to find the body. Nine-one-one was called and
our responding officers arrived within five minutes. We’re still talking to the
witness in case he might have any further information that will be of use to
us, but at this time we’ll be vigorously pursuing all other leads.
    “Our condolences go out to Mrs.
Christine Jarrett and the rest of Mr. Jarrett’s family, friends, and
colleagues. That’s all I have for you at this time.”
    Questions had erupted from all
quarters. Bennett pointed to someone in the first row.
    “Sarah Hume, CNN, Chief Bennett.
Given that Jarrett Corporation is the seventh-largest company in Maryland, with
revenues exceeding one-point-two billion dollars last year, and given that H.J.
Jarrett was the state’s fifth-wealthiest individual, with a net worth of more
than a billion and a half dollars, is it safe to say that your department is
assigning this homicide its highest priority?”
    “Absolutely,” Bennett replied. “I
can tell you that we’ve formed a special task force to investigate this heinous
crime, reporting to Commander Martinez. Our top investigators will be working
on this case night and day until it’s solved.”
    The robbery detective standing
next to Hank grinned. “A task force, huh? Must be your lucky day.”
    “First I’ve heard of it.”
    On the television, the questions
continued to fly.
    “Have you spoken to the governor?”
the correspondent from CBS was pressing the chief.
    “I haven’t,” Bennett frowned, “but
Mayor Watts has, and the governor has been assured that the Glendale Police
Department will solve this case in a timely manner and bring the perpetrator to
justice.” It was obvious that Bennett felt miffed about not having spoken to
the governor himself.
    The correspondent from Fox News
put up