Daddy's Little Killer by LS Sygnet Page B

demure glance down, but not before I caught a glimpse of the
lines creasing Lowe's forehead.  "I've only spoken to
Commissioner Hardy on the telephone, so you see, you're really the
first person in authority that I've met in Darkwater Bay."
    Let him choke on reality when Rodney saw
me.  He could interpret it as a bald faced lie, or disrespect
of Rodney's authority.  Either way, it kept him unbalanced
with me, and that's exactly what I wanted.
    "Of course, doctor.  After you." 
His hand swept the open space in front of us, and I stepped into a
different universe.  At least as it related to the main lobby
of the police headquarters.
    Plush carpeting swallowed my low
heels.  Cream and deep burgundy office furniture populated the
spacious reception area.  Hardy's girl sat behind a mahogany
desk reminiscent of a judge's bench.  Her telephone chimed
rather than rang.  She held up one perfectly sculpted nail at
Lowe and me and answered.
    "Commissioner Hardy's office, how may I
direct your call?"  Her pause whispered confidentiality across
the space separating us.  "Yes, Commander.  I'll let him
know you're running ten minutes late.  Chief Lowe and Dr.
Eriksson just arrived now."
    A grinding squeak was muffled behind Lowe's
clenching jaw.
    "May I ask who is joining us?"
    He glanced down at me and
pasted on another smile.  I felt the phantom pat on my head
that his eyes conveyed.  Don't you
worry your pretty little head, ma'am.   "Allow me to make the introductions," he
said.
    "Tracy, we'll head into George's conference
room."
    "He actually requested that you wait for him
in there, Chief Lowe, until Commander Darnell arrives.  He and
Chief Weber would like to meet with Dr. Eriksson privately in his
office for a few minutes first."
    His charm took a decided turn toward a
slither.  "Then I won't have the pleasure of making the
introductions, Dr. Eriksson.  I believe I'll check in with my
detectives downstairs before we chat.  Pleasure meeting
you."
    "This way, doctor."
    I followed her down a wide hallway, past
several closed doors, all matching the mahogany of her desk, until
we reached one slightly ajar.  Tracy knocked lightly and
pushed the door open.  "Commissioner George Hardy, Chief
Donald Weber, this is Dr. Helen Eriksson."
    Hardy looked very much like I had imagined
when he fell into bumpkin vernacular on the phone with me. 
Portly polar bear.  A shock of white hair was coiffed
neatly.  His suit was a little too tight in the belly. 
His jowls hung from a round, shiny face.
    Weber's external appearance, I soon learned,
was a perfect match to his affectation.  He glided from one of
the wingback chairs in front of Hardy's desk and clasped my hand
for a sandwich shake.  "Dr. Eriksson, we are absolutely
delighted to meet you.  May I have Tracy bring you
anything?  Coffee?  Tea?"
    "Coffee, black, thank you."
    He wore a police uniform, bedecked with his
rank in bars on the collar and a finely polished badge that
designated his rank as police chief around the city seal.
    "Won't you sit down, Dr. Eriksson?"
    "Please, call me Helen," I sat in the other
wingback and stared at Hardy.  "Let's not mince words,
gentlemen.  Was Jerry Lowe aware that you requested I consult
on a few cases for Darkwater Bay prior to my arrival at a crime
scene last night?"
    Hardy's jowls sagged.  "We're not
entirely sure, Helen.  May I ask why that's important?"
    "I met him in the elevator on the way up to
your office.  The warmth he exuded after I introduced myself
was about two degrees shy of arctic."
    Weber crossed his legs,
folded his hands in his lap.  "It is entirely possible that
Jerry heard rumors that we wanted to bring someone in from the outside. 
There were only three people aware of the identity of the one we
wanted, Helen.  George, me and someone you haven't met yet,
Commander Chris Darnell from the state police. Well, four if you
consider that Rodney Martin brought you to our attention in the
first