Web of Deceit by Peggy Slocum

descends the
steps outside, letting the door close behind her, not bothering to wait for
Symphony. Beth opens the envelope on her way to the Jeep and takes out a
letter. Five newspaper clippings fall out and feather toward the ground. Beth
bends to snatch the aged clippings, but a gust of wind catches them just before
her fingers can close. Miffed, Beth pursues the swirling news items until they
land on the snow bank in front of her Jeep.
    Straightening the
clippings and brushing off the wet snow, she starts to read. “Walter Freeman.” Third
Reich scientist accused of war crimes. Well, that’s unexpected. What does he
have to do with Jade? She flips through the clippings, studying the
pictures and captions.
    Symphony catches
up with Beth.
    “I need a
computer,” Beth says. “Get in. We’re going back to the office.” Behind the
wheel and underway a minute later, Beth asks,“You used to work there?”
    “Yeah, something
like that.”
    “Have you ever met
Jade?”
    “I can neither …”
    “I get it,” Beth
interrupts. “You’re good at that, aren’t you?”
    Symphony smirks
and nods yes.
    Beth’s phone
rings. “Hello?”
    “Hon, it’s me,”
Elliot says.
    “Got anything?”
    “Yeah, we’ve found
a waitress’s headpiece from Odell’s in the back of the van.”
    “Is it Kelly’s?”
    “We’re check’n it
now. Frank recovered hair from the headpiece, and I ran home to get the brush
Kelly used Friday morning. We’re gonna see if it’s a match.”
    “Need a ride?”
Beth asks.
    “No, Howard found
some tires for the Vette. She’s lookin’ sweeter than ever, if it were
possible.”
    “Yeah, I bet. Glad
to hear ‘Baby’s’ better,” Beth says. “Symphony is working on the Freedman case
with me. Jade bolted before we got to her, but she left us an envelope with
some pictures of a dead guy that used to be a Third Reich scientist. His name
was Freeman, without the ‘D.’ That woman’s got some skeletons, and I am going
to feel a lot better when I figure out her beef with Jade. Call me when you get
the results.”
    “Will do. I got
this end. Don’t get too close without me there, in case this gets weird. Got
it?”
    About to miss the
entrance to her parking lot, Beth swerves hard and juts across the oncoming
traffic, cutting off a middle-aged guy with a goatee in a white Volvo. “’K, see
ya,” Beth flips the phone shut while the agitated man in the Volvo is still
shaking his fist.
    “So, what do you
think about cell phones behind the wheel?” Symphony asks with her usual lack of
emotion.
    Beth releases her
grip, dropping the phone into her lap. “Hands free only.” She smiles.

Chapter
11: Interrogation
     
    While walking into
the Police Department, Elliot dials Frank’s phone.
    “Yeah,” Frank
answers.
    “Hey man, it’s
Elliot. I got the brush. Where ya at?”
    “Upstairs next to
the interrogation room.”
    “OK.” Elliot
disconnects the call.
    “He got here
quick,” Frank says aloud to himself.
    “Yeah, I know,”
Elliot answers from around the corner. “I got my wheels back.” He grins while
pulling the brush out of his pocket.
    “I still think
she’s too much power for ya. You’re not responsible enough. You should let me
take her off your hands,” Frank says. “I’ll trade you the mean green machine
straight out.”
    “Yeah, as tempting
as that is, I’ll pass.” Elliot tosses the brush in the air to Frank.
    Frank snatches it
with one hand. “Your day’s comin’. I see the way you look at Beth. It’s only a
matter of time. Your wild days are soon over.”
    “Laugh all you
want. You’ll never see me behind the wheel of a minivan,” Elliot says. “I don’t
care how cool they try to make ’em, it ain’t goin’ to happen.”
    With the brush,
Frank points to the chair next to the holding cell. “You stay here in fairy
tale land with Captain Hook.” He gestures to their prisoner. “Tinker Bell and I
are going down to the lab.”
    “Keep