Daddy's Little Killer by LS Sygnet

this one conveying utter
disgust.  "Never mind."
    "Are you implying that a high ranking
official in the Darkwater Bay police department would be inclined
to break the law to keep me out of Darkwater Bay?"
    "Maybe not break it.  Bend it for
sure.  Chief Lowe has a rather fluid interpretation of the
law."
    I saw that clearly.  "So perhaps the
intention wasn't to hurt me, but to scare me off."
    The time line didn't jibe.  Hardy
called sometime while I was at Rick's funeral, between ten and
eleven eastern time.  That would've been between seven and
eight pacific time.  It was shortly after six when the two
goons from Darkwater Bay accosted me in the lobby of the
Ritz.  Not enough time to fly to D.C.  Unless …
    "Charlie," I reached out and gripped his
hand.  "This is important.  You said you didn't think
George would've told anyone that he wanted to bring me to Darkwater
Bay to consult on a few cases."
    "That's right."
    "When I spoke to the commissioner, I got the
impression that he had a specific case in mind that he wanted my
insight on.  Of all you know about this city, do you have any
idea what case would bother him enough to ask for help from the
outside, one that perhaps is a sore spot with Chief Lowe?"
    "It could be any number of them," he said
slowly.  "We haven't got a very good reputation around
here."
    "Think carefully."
    "It seems too ironic to me that you showed
up the same night as another dismemberment."
    I agreed but kept my thoughts buried under a
concerned façade.  "Anything else?"
    Haverston's eyes darted past me, took a
detour over his left shoulder only to return and settle on my
face.  "Only one that seems a little too obvious."
    "Tell me."
    His lips moved. 
Sound did not happen.  I read the message just the
same.  Danny
Datello . 
    That made sense.  My head and heart
were in complete agreement that Uncle Sully might reach out to a
vast network of resources in his attempt to find out what I knew,
what I had done about it and how the feds were responding.  It
had to be part of the solution to the puzzling shadow that had
lurked its way into my world. 
    Something still didn't add up.  How in
the world could Datello possibly know that I might end up in
Darkwater Bay?  There was no way he could've learned about
Rick's last confession, that he would suspect that he was next on
my list.
    "Do you understand?" Haverston cut into my
thoughts softly.
    I nodded.  "I think so."
    "It might bear consideration, exactly what
the chief knew and who he might have shared that information with
before you got here, Dr. Eriksson."
    My eyes snapped into focus. 
"Yes.  That's an interesting observation, Charlie.  Thank
you for sharing it with me."
    Problem was, it was a twist I understood all
too well from my father's history.  Not all men in law
enforcement are incorruptible.  Question was, did Jerry Lowe
fall into that category or not?  If he was morally flexible,
he might be exactly the man I needed.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 10
     
     
    The key to assessing any situation most
effectively is to keep everyone involved off guard.  When
people's expectations aren't met, they don't read subtle signals as
well.  In fact, they're so off kilter, it gives me a better
chance to see motives.  It's basic psychology.
    With that in mind, I
refocused on what Rodney Martin probably remembered about me from
university.  I tend to favor the stereotypical look of the
environment.  It's part of what Wendell taught me about
blending into the environment.  The
chameleon survives because he can fade into oblivion.  He can
see danger before it arrives, Sprout.  It makes him much more
difficult to catch.
    Today, I needed to abandon that rule. 
My goal was to stick out like the proverbial sore thumb, to defy
every expectation Rodney might've shared with his superiors when I
walked into Central Division.
    A cream suit with gold jewelry set the stage
for a socialite attending a brunch with