Trial Junkies (A Thriller) Read Online Free PDF Page B

that you're out of the loop. Do they have a suspect or not?"
    Matt shrugged. "Our sources at CPD are playing this very close to the vest—which is unusual. And that leads me to believe the hammer has come down and come down hard. I figure they've got someone in the pipe for this, and they don't want any leaks."
    "So what's the delay? Why haven't they arrested the bastard?"
    "This isn't like your old TV show," Matt told him. "Murder investigations take time and expertise, and in a city this size, that could mean days, rather than hours. And if they do have somebody on the hook, they'll want to be sure they've got a solid case against him before they make an arrest."
    "My money's still on some random maniac," Ronnie said. "He saw, he wanted, he took."
    Nadine hugged herself as if the room had suddenly gone cold. "My God... If that's true, then it could've been anyone in that casket. One of us ."
    "It was one of us," Hutch said.
    "You know what I mean."
    Tom Brandt, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up. "I know you're all hoping for a tidy end to this saga, but if you look at the stats, the Chicago PD only clears about thirty-five percent of its homicide cases in a given year. So the prognosis is fairly bleak."
    Tom had been something of a pretty boy in College, but was now a slightly rotund man with very little hair and pasty, indoor skin. He had always, however, been a pessimist, and Hutch refused to allow that pessimism to get to him.
    "No," Hutch said. "That's unacceptable. They'll catch this son of a bitch, and the minute he goes on trial, I'll be sitting there in the front row."
    "So will I," Ronnie said.
    Several of the others nodded their heads solemnly as the waitress approached with a tray full of drinks and started passing them around.
    Then glasses were raised and Nadine said, "To Mama J."
    It was a nickname Hutch had forgotten about. Given to Jenny because of her striking resemblance to a young Michelle Phillips, one of the members of an old sixties rock group, The Mamas & the Papas —a favorite of Nadine's father.
    "To Mama J," everyone repeated, then clinked their glasses and drank their drinks.
     

 
     
     
    — 8 —
     
    O VER THE COURSE of the next couple hours the drinks kept coming and the conversation flowed, moving on to other, less painful topics—memories, new careers, relationships, travel, sports—several of the conversations branching off as they often do.
    Somewhere in the middle of it all, Andy showed up carrying a thumb drive, trembling slightly as he handed it to Hutch, saying, "Just give it an honest read. That's all I ask."
    Hutch had never seen him so vulnerable. Felt as if he may be catching a glimpse of the real Andy McKenna.
    "You took your sweet time getting back here," Matt told him. "You might've missed your golden opportunity."
    "I decided it needed a few tweaks. Couple clarifications in the second act. The killer's motive seemed a little murky, so I figured I'd—"
    "No spoilers," Hutch said. He wanted to smile, but resisted. "I like to read a script fresh."
    Andy nodded. "Totally get that, man. I feel the same way." But he stayed on his feet as if he expected Hutch to somehow pop the thumb drive into an invisible computer and start reading.
    "Don't worry," Hutch said. "I'll check it out before I head back to L.A. and read the rest on the plane."
    This seemed to satisfy Andy and he finally found a chair and sat down. "Thanks, man."
    "No problem," Hutch told him, hoping like hell he could get past the first five pages. It wasn't likely, but he was willing to try.
    As the conversations changed course again, Hutch switched chairs with Tom and finally got a chance to sit next to Ronnie. They chatted for a moment, then Hutch said, "You still smoke?"
    "Not if I can help it."
    "It's the one addiction I haven't been able to conquer. I'm down to two a day and I'm due. You mind stepping outside with me?"
    "Be glad to," she said.
    "Fair warning—I have a bit of a reputation.