Thrill Kill Read Online Free PDF Page B

said.
    “I’d find it out tomorrow anyway when I check court records and see the prostitution conviction.”
    Sinclair grinned. “Nice bluff, but your sources are wrong. It was a juvenile arrest, so it’s sealed and you couldn’t get it. Besides, your editor knows better than to print a juvenile arrest record.”
    Johnson pulled his spiral reporter notebook from his pocket, flipped it open, and studied a page. “I’ll bet if I scoured the jail logs, I’d find another arrest and get someone to confirm she was working the streets.”
    “When the media says my victim’s involved in criminal activity, it infers she got what she deserved and that her life is less important than someone else’s. I need cooperation from friends and family to solve this, but when they read your paper, all they see is the cops badmouthing her.”
    “It won’t be you saying it. Besides, if I run it by the PIO, you know he’ll say that it’s important for the public to think average citizens are safe so long as they’re not running the streets.”
    The department public information officer’s purpose was to portray the department and crime in the best light possible. It looked better to City Hall when murder victims weren’t righteous citizens. “It probably won’t make much difference,” Sinclair conceded.
    “The hanging’s obvious from the photo,” Johnson said. “What should we say about the burning?”
    “I’d like to withhold that.”
    “Okay. Do you mind if I talk to Dawn’s parents?”
    “You’re going to print her name?”
    “The coroner’s office already notified the parents, Eugene and Cynthia Gustafson of Mankato, Minnesota. Eugene manages a John Deere dealership there.”
    “Go ahead.”
    “What about an occupation I can attribute to her?”
    “You mean other than ‘lady of the evening’?” Sinclair said. “I talked to a friend in Hayward who said she was an accountant. I haven’t verified that through an employer or anything.”
    “I’ll put it down. No one will complain if it’s not true. Is there anything you can tell me—any great quote about how you’re going to catch her killer?”
    “I met Dawn about ten years ago when she was seventeen and had just moved to Oakland. She was a sweet kid, mature for her age, very pretty, and optimistic. She didn’t deserve what happened to her.”
    Johnson wrote feverously in his notebook. “You worked vice-narcotics back then, so I imagine you don’t want to say under what circumstances you met her.”
    “You know we seldom meet people in Oakland when their lives are going well.”

Chapter 4
    By the time Sinclair finished his report, it was dark outside. The rain had turned into a light mist, so the sidewalks along San Pablo Avenue were full of working girls trying to make up their lost income. Sinclair pulled up to a street corner. Upon seeing his unmarked car, three girls scurried down a side street. One remained in her spot and waved. Tanya had been working that corner longer than Sinclair had been a cop. She was about five-foot-six, dark skinned, and had shoulder-length straight hair that was undoubtedly a wig. Tanya was known for her large butt, which she swore was natural and more perfectly formed than Kim Kardashian’s.
    Braddock lowered her window, and Tanya looked past her and smiled at Sinclair. “How ya doin’, honey?”
    “I’m good, Tanya.” He pulled a photocopy of Dawn’s DMV photo from his portfolio. “You know this girl?”
    “That’s Blondie. She okay?”
    “No, she’s not. What can you tell us about her?”
    “Business is slow out here. Buy a girl dinner and I’ll talk with you.”
    Sinclair bought Tanya a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake, and coffee for him and Braddock, at the Carl’s Jr. drive-through on Telegraph Avenue. He parked in the BART lot across the street. Sinclair looked at his watch: 7:00 PM . Onweekdays, trains rumbled overhead every five minutes and deposited late commuters from San