“What is it?”
“My husband, Philip Kramer, was the owner of a privatedetective agency in Los Angeles. Two and a half weeks ago, he was murdered-shot down on the street. Since then I discovered that the reason he was killed was that he knew what happened to Allison Straight. What’s in that box is the evidence he collected to prove it.”
She sat patiently while Detective Zimmer opened the box and examined the photographs, the written statements, glanced at the maps and charts and the autopsy report.
After a time, he looked up into her eyes, and she saw the sadness that had somehow been hidden in his face and brought back. He said, “Do you know that Theodore Forrest was shot to death two days ago while he was trying to kill his wife?”
“Yes. It’s been in the papers, even in other cities. I read it in Seattle this morning.”
“There’s nothing anybody can do to him now. Why did you bring me this?”
“Because you-the police-have to know. Because trying to get more evidence for you was the last thing my husband ever did. This was the last thing I could do for him.” She paused. “I’m afraid I have a long drive ahead of me and a plane to catch. I’d like to go now.”
Lieutenant Zimmer said, almost apologetically, “I’ll need to see your driver’s license first. You understand.”
She pulled her wallet out of her purse and handed the license to him. He examined it for a moment, then stood and set it on the copier a few feet away and made a copy of it. As he handed it back to her, he said, “When I’ve finished reading everything and cross-checking the facts, can I reach you at this phone number?”
“My phone isn’t working,” she said. “For the moment, the easiest way to reach me is to call Kramer Investigations at the number in the file.”
“All right. Thank you for bringing this to me.”
“I had to.” Emily rose, walked out of the office, lifted the hinged section of the counter, and went through the lobby and out to her rental car. In a few minutes, she was driving fast across the green valley toward San Jose.
COMING JANUARY 2009
Runner
AFTER A NINE-YEAR ABSENCE, JANE WHITEFIELD IS BACK!
Praise for the Jane Whitefield Books
BLOOD MONEY
“Brilliant … Buy it: I guarantee you’ll be up all night.”
-Los Angeles Times
“Downright dazzling … The little voice that promises adventure and danger in Thomas Perry’s hide-and-seek thrillers sends out another irresistible summons in Blood Money.”
-The New York Times Book Review
SHADOW WOMAN
“A fascinating tale written by one of America’s finest storytellers.”
-San Francisco Chronicle