The Eyes Die Last by Teri Riggs Read Free Book Online Page B

became yesterday’s news.  Lost his hot-shot friends and his rumored network spot.  Without the extra income from interviews and such, Hershey couldn’t make the payments on his new house and had to sell it for a hell of a lot less than he paid for it. 
    “Good news is he got to keep his hot car, but the poor bastard lost his trophy wife.”  
    “Obviously she was deeply in love with him,” Kennedy added sarcastically. 
    “Obviously.  Ed Hershey went from being a celebrity to just barely hanging on to his job at LVTVS.”  
    Kennedy’s voice filled with disgu st . “He got the royal boot from his own kind?  The media doesn’t even cut a break for one of its own?  They are a fine fucking bunch.”  
    Wilder snorted, and then smiled.  “Couldn’t have happened to a more
    deserving person.  Hershey’s a weasel.  He about drove Tenuta and Sparks crazy before the Chief Deputy DA could get a court order to make him turn over Cox’s letters to the department and restrict the amount of information he could report on air.”  
    Kennedy said, “A real humanitarian.”  
    “Hershey wasn’t the department’s favorite person.  Some of the guys wanted to take the prick down almost as badly as they wanted Cox.  A few cops even thought he and Hershey deserved to be in a cell together.  Fuck freedom of speech.”  
    Kennedy asked, “So what’s the deal this time?  Any ideas come to that allpowerful, all-knowing mind of yours?” 
    “Beats me.  Maybe a copycat.  Maybe a prank.”   He shrugged.  “If the photo or letter’s the real deal, I hope the TV station cooperates this time.  Hershey practically guaranteed Cox extra time to murder a few more people by refusing to turn over the letters.  He and the station fought the court order to contact Jimmy and Sparky before reading the letters on air.  It got nasty for a while. 
    “Cox started telling Hershey where the bodies of his victims could be found.  I thought Jimmy was going to kill Hershey when the Lookie-Lous and media dirt bags made it to a crime scene before anyone from Metro did.  A letter with the location of Cox’s latest victim aired without the department even knowing another letter had been received.”  
    “That’s just wrong, Wilder.” 
    “It gets worse.” 
    “No way.” 
    “I’m afraid so.  Pictures of the dead body were broadcast all over the evening newscasts and in special news bulletins before Jimmy and Sparky could notify the victim’s next-of-kin.” 
    “Ed Hershey sounds like a jewel to me.” 
    “You really don’t remember all this shit?  It was big news.” 
    “Not all the details.  Four and half years ago I was working on getting my detective’s shield.  Then Grammy died.  I heard the stories about Cox, but to be honest, my mind was focused on other things.” 
    Wilder said, “I forgot how busy you were when the Cox case was winding down.” 
    “Time flies.” 
    “Your grandma was a fine woman, always sent me a bag lunch when I was riding with your grandpa during my Officer I training.  She didn’t want Tommy eating junk food and getting a patrol-cop-belly from too much fast food and donuts.” 
    “Sounds like Grammy.” 
    “She thought if she kept me fed, I wouldn’t stop for fast food and tempt Tommy to eat junk food with me.  Good plan except at least three times a week, Tommy made his own fast food runs, plus, he still ate that day’s sack lunch.  I don’t think he ever passed a box of donuts at Metro without grabbing a couple.  Your grandma would have boxed his ears if she’d known.  Hell, she would have boxed mine for not telling her what the old fart was up to.” 
    “She kept Grandpa in line all right.  At least she tried.” 
    Kennedy filled Wilder in on her earlier conversation with Sparky. 
    Furrowed brows and occasional head nods told her he was listening closely. 
    “Kenny, I’m thinking the dead woman’s purse isn’t going to be showing up