Detective Partners by kate hopkins Read Free Book Online Page A

the feelings she stirred in him.
     
    "I was woken early this morning by someone pounding on the door and ringing the doorbell," Nicole began. "I'm not sure what time it was, only that it was still dark. When I opened the door, I found my neighbor, Alicia, standing there. She told me that a neighbor of ours, Marsha, had been shot and needed my help. Once I was assured that 911 had been called I ran across the street, where I found Marsha lying in her yard. She was bleeding from a bullet wound to the chest and stomach. While Alicia and I tried to stop the bleeding, I learned that Marsha was pregnant. I also learned, this time from Marsha herself, that the person responsible for shooting her is her boyfriend, Jeremy." She paused.
     
    "Please, continue," Parker urged her.
     
    Nicole shifted and gripped the arms of her chair. "The ambulance finally arrived. While I stayed with Marsha, Alicia spoke with the officer that was first on the scene. After the ambulance left for the hospital, Alicia went back to her house and I talked with the officer. I wanted to know what Alicia had told him. He said she had told him that her dog woke her up barking and growling at the window. She got out of bed to see what had the dog upset. When she glanced out the window, she saw Marsha struggling with someone. The next thing she knew Marsha fell to the ground and the suspect ran off. She then called 911 and ran outside to check on Marsha. She found her bleeding. Knowing that I was an officer, she came to me for help." She lowered her head. "I received a call a little while ago from Alicia. She told me that Marsha died about an hour ago."
     
    "I'm sorry, Goodwin," Parker said gently.
     
    "Thank you, sir." Nicole raised her head. "I don't know Jeremy's last name or where he lives. I met him once and that was several months ago. I can't tell you what he looks like because the truth is I don't remember. Our introduction was brief. I'm sorry I can't be of help."
     
    "You're helping more than you know," Galen said.
     
    "He's right," Parker agreed. "All right. This is what we're going to do. Renfro, I want you and Marsh to talk with Marsha's family. What's Marsha's last name, Goodwin?"
     
    "Proctor," she replied.
     
    "I want you two to talk with her family," Parker told them. "See if they know anything about this Jeremy. Brown, I want you and Lopez to get your hands on Ms. Proctor's phone records and any cell phones and computers she might have had. If she's been in contact with this Jeremy recently there is bound to be emails, text messages and phone calls. Goodwin, you and Maxwell interview your neighbors. See if they know anything that could help." His eyes scanned the room. "Are we clear on what we need to do?" Everybody nodded. "Then let's do it."
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter  6
     
    "Are you all right?"
     
    Nicole took her eyes off the passing scenery and looked over at Galen. "Yes."
     
    "Are you sure?" he asked, braking for a stop sign.
     
    "Of course, I'm sure." She frowned at him. "Why the sudden concern, Detective?"
     
    Galen paused at the stop sign, waited for a car to cross the road, and then started to move again. "You had a rough night and you just learned that your neighbor has died. That's a lot to deal with in such a short amount of time. I'm just concerned about your health."
     
    "Thank you for your concern." Nicole turned her head and gazed out the window once more, "but really I'm fine." Her eyes aching from lack of sleep, she closed them. Just like that an image of Marsha lying on the ground bleeding came back to haunt her. Forcing the image from her mind, she took a deep breath and tried to relax her body. She needed something to distract her. "Let's talk, Detective. The silence is growing old."
     
    "What do you want to talk about?" Galen asked.
     
    "I don't