Bone Cold by Erica Spindler Read Free Book Online Page B

wanna-bes?”
    â€œThat’s bullshit, Captain.”
    Detectives Johnson and Walden took never-ending ribbing about the similarity of their names to New Orleans homegrown, premier radio personalities Walton and Johnson. The deejays were creative, innovative and funny as hell. The two detectives, on the other hand, were not only distinctly unfunny, but a couple of dull bulbs.
    â€œLandry” she continued as if they hadn’t spoken, “you’re off. Malone, you’ll assist.”
    â€œAssist?” Quentin leaped to his feet. “Captain O’Shay, with all due respect—”
    â€œConflict of interest,” she said crisply, cutting him off. “Hours before Nancy Kent was raped and murdered one of my detectives had a heated argument with her. A very public argument. That makes him a suspect. Automatically.”
    She looked from one man to the other. “How wise of me would it be to let that detective work the investigation? Or to let that detective’s partner serve as lead man on the case? I think you’ll agree, it wouldn’t be wise at all.”
    â€œAnd once Terry is cleared of all suspicion?” Quentin asked.
    â€œThen, hopefully, the case will be solved. If not, we’ll talk.”
    But don’t get your hopes up. “Is that all?”
    â€œLandry, you’re excused. Malone, I need to speak with you privately.” When Terry had closed the door behind him, she met Quentin’s eyes. “The way Landry said, that’s the way it went down, right?”
    â€œAbsolutely.”
    â€œAnd after the incident with the woman, what happened?”
    â€œWe partied. I drove him home just after 2:00 a.m.”
    â€œHe was unable to drive?”
    â€œHe was fall-down, stinking drunk.”
    â€œAnd you’re one hundred percent certain your partner is innocent of this crime?”
    â€œYes, dammit!” Quentin looked away, then back. “No way did Terry do this. Besides, Terry could hardly walk let alone overpower and murder a woman.”
    She was quiet a moment, then she nodded. “I agree with your assessment, Malone, but I’ll be watching him.I’m not going to let one of my detectives fall apart on the job.”
    â€œHe’s okay, Captain. He—”
    â€œHe’s not okay,” she corrected, tone curt. “And you know it. Don’t let him take you down with him, Malone.”
    She returned to her desk, signaling that they were through. Quentin crossed to the door, stopping and looking back at her when he reached it. “Aunt Patti?” She looked up. “Tell Uncle Sammy I said hello.”
    â€œTell him yourself.” A smile touched her mouth, softening her face. “And call my sister. I hear from John Jr. that you’ve been neglecting her.”
    With a chuckle and a small salute, Malone agreed.

6
    Friday, January 12
Uptown
    A headache held Dr. Benjamin Walker’s cranium in a vise. He struggled beyond the pain to focus as the patient sitting across from him described his ambivalent feelings about the recent death of his mother. Ben had been working with this man three months; in that time he’d only begun to scratch the surface of the damage done by the man’s horrific childhood.
    â€œIt’s not right, Dr. Walker. She was my mother. And she’s gone. Gone.” The man wrung his hands. “Shouldn’t I feel something at her passing?”
    â€œWhat do you think you should be feeling, Rick?”
    The man lifted his bloodshot gaze to Ben’s. “Grief. Regret. Fury. I don’t know, but something for God’s sake!”
    Ben jumped on the last. “Fury? That’s a strong emotion, Rick. One of the strongest.”
    His patient stared blankly at him. “Fury? I didn’t say that.”
    â€œYou did.”
    â€œI couldn’t. I loved my mother.”
    â€œActually, it’s quite understandable that you might be angry. Even