Sunday, June 12, 2011

Sample Sunday - from Chapter Six of Storm Rising

My apologies. I found an error in this copy that had been corrected in the final and made the changes here.


CHAPTER SIX

Monday August 24, 8:16 A.M. Washington Heights
33rd Precinct Detective Unit

       Kelli sat staring at the Glock 19, feeling its weight in her hand. IAB had cleared her in the shooting of the woman the previous Tuesday, and now she was back on full duty. The lieutenant smiled as he handed it back to her earlier, and told her that he knew it had been a good shoot.
       Somehow, she just didn’t feel that good about it. She never did feel good after a shooting. In her nine years on the job, this was only the second time she had killed someone, and it hadn’t been any easier. Shit, I just hope I don’t have to go see the department shrink again.
       Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bill get up from his desk and walk toward her. She looked up and forced a smile, sliding the Glock in its holster.
       Bill tilted his head toward the door. “Hey partner, you about ready to hit the street? We have a body over in Highbridge Park.

 She let out a sigh. “Sure, let’s go. Is Sector on the scene yet?”
“Uh, yeah, the ME is there too. You okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Please don’t ask me again. I’ve had people asking me that since the shooting. It’s getting a little annoying.”
Bill winced and backed away.
“Bill, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. I’m not mad at you, I’m just mad about the whole damned situation. Forgive me?”
       Bill straightened up, and the smile returned to his face. “Sure. I can’t say that I know what it’s like, but I do understand the frustration. Besides, I can’t be mad at you, you’re my partner.”
       Kelli smiled back. “You know, for a rookie, you’re alright. I think we’re going to make a good team. Now come on, we can’t keep the ME waiting.”


Monday August 24, 8:16 A.M. Washington Heights
Highbridge Park – Edgecombe Avenue and West 159th

       As they pulled up to the scene, Kelli could see the reporters lined up behind the crime scene tape, like a wake of vultures. They must have smelled a story, she thought, as she eyed the crowd.
       She parked next to the ME’s wagon, and she and Bill made their way through the crowd. She could see the ME standing over the body of a young woman, while his assistant took pictures.
“So what have we got today, Doc?”
       The ME turned his head and looked at Kelli. “Hispanic female, early twenties. My preliminary examination revealed multiple stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.”
“Was she raped?”
“It doesn’t appear so. She’s fully clothed, and there are defensive wounds on both hands. I’ll know more once I get her on the table.”
       The man that had been taking pictures spoke up. “We did find signs of a struggle, and there’s no purse or wallet. It’s possible this was a robbery.”
       Kelli nodded. “That’s one possibility, but I want to hold off on calling it until the after the autopsy. Who was first on the scene?”

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