An investigator carried a bag of something from the building and put it into the forensic van. They would be here awhile yet, making sure nothing was missed. No matter how small or how large, everything would be thoroughly scrutinized and documented.
The ambulance had pulled away some time ago, replaced by the coroner’s van. A pair of guys stood outside the van, talking and waiting. When the body was ready for them, they would bypass the hospital and carry their load directly to the city morgue.
The ME had driven away a few minutes earlier. Nancy’s task had only begun, her thorough study of the body yet to take place before the victim could be allowed to rest in peace.
Hank finished his chat and he came toward Jake, shaking his head. “It looks like the work of Thorburn,” the cop said.
Annie must’ve been keeping an eye out for Hank. She appeared beside Jake and spoke to the cop. “Was that a rose in his mouth?”
Hank nodded grimly. “It looks to be the same species as the last one. The lab’ll soon tell us if it is.”
“If so, then there’s no way this is a copycat,” Annie said.
Hank agreed. “A few people knew about the rose in the last victim’s mouth, but no one outside the department knows exactly what species it is.”
“What about the email?” Jake asked. “Any idea if it was the killer or the victim who sent it?”
“According to the time of death Nancy gave, it had to be the killer. Rod Jameson’s trying to track down the computer it was sent from.” Hank turned his head away, gazing toward the road. A disgusted look appeared on his face and he motioned with a jerk of his head. “It’s Lisa Krunk,” he said.
Jake followed Hank’s gaze. The Channel 7 Action News van drove across the parking lot and stopped outside the taped-off perimeter. The doors swung open. Lisa Krunk stepped from the passenger side, her cameraman, Don, from the other. Don slid open the side door, removed a camera, and dropped it onto his shoulder. He hurried to catch up with Lisa as she strode toward the tape and stopped.
“Detective Corning,” Lisa called, waving with one hand, a microphone held securely in the other.
Hank sighed. “I guess I should talk to Lisa.” He turned to Jake. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll need to get your statements later.”
“We’re right with you,” Jake said, glancing at Annie. They followed Hank over to where the reporter stood, her wide mouth cracked into a tight-lipped smile.
They’d had more than their share of run-ins with the pushy reporter before. Jake knew Lisa considered herself a world-class journalist, yet to come into her own. Jake knew otherwise. Her sensational stories often had a scandalous twist to them as she played fast and loose with the truth. He expected this time would be no different.
But even with all her shortcomings, Jake had to admit, the nosy reporter occasionally came up with something useful to an investigation—for a price, of course. Lisa did little that didn’t benefit her in some way.
“Good morning, Detective Corning,” Lisa said, leaning into the tape, her long nose raking the mike as she spoke.
Hank nodded politely. “Good morning.”
Lisa flashed a fake smile toward the Lincolns. Annie smiled back, her smile every bit as sincere as Lisa’s.
Don stood slightly back and off to one side, the red light on his camera already glowing. He would capture everything, and later, Lisa would sculpt it into something that suited her own aspirations. Her editing skills were designed to shock, and however immoral, she was good at what she did.
“Detective Corning,” Lisa began, her dark, painted eyes growing serious. “What can you tell the viewers about what happened here today?”
Hank took a deep breath and let it out slowly, giving himself time to form an answer. “A man was killed inside the school last night, and his body was discovered this morning.”
Lisa’s red lips flapped as she spoke. “Can you tell me who the victim was?”
Hank frowned. “You know better than that, Lisa. We can’t release that information until we’ve notified the next of kin.”
Lisa continued, unashamed. “Was he a teacher at this school?”
“I’m afraid I can’t give you much right now. It was a homicide, and investigators are still going over the scene.”
Lisa persisted. “Is this related to the murder on Monday evening that took place at North Richmond High?”
“It’s too early in the investigation to tell yet.”
“As you know,” Lisa continued, “I’ve been continually broadcasting the face of Adam Thorburn, who’s wanted in that murder. And I’ll continue to do so until he’s found.”
“And we appreciate that, Lisa,” Hank said, avoiding her subtle hint. “But it’s too soon to draw any kind of connection between the two homicides.”
Jake saw Lisa’s mind at work as she wracked her brain to come up with another question. Then her eyes narrowed and she turned to Jake. “If this case isn’t related, then why is Lincoln Investigations here? I happen to know they’re looking into the murder of Nina White.”
Jake looked at Annie, who was shaking her head in disgust. She moved away, wandering toward the school. Jake grinned to himself. His wife didn’t have a lot of patience with Lisa Krunk. And truthfully, Jake didn’t either, but the camera was running, so he would be as polite as possible.
Hank turned to Lisa. “They’re here because they’re running a parallel investigation, and I can’t speak for them.”
Lisa swung the microphone toward Jake, the same question in her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Jake said. “We have to respect the rights of our client and keep the reason for our involvement confidential.”
Lisa shook her head in frustration and turned back to Hank. “Is there anything else you can tell me?”
“A complete statement will be forthcoming to all members of the press in due time,” Hank said. “I have nothing else I can give you right now.”
Lisa caught Don’s eye and motioned toward the school. Don moved the camera away, walking around the perimeter. He would be getting whatever shots might help turn what little they knew into a short news story.
Lisa turned off the mike and flashed a polite smile. “Thank you, Detective,” she said and turned to Jake. “Thank you, Jake.”
Jake and Hank turned away and went to join Annie. She gave a weak smile as they approached. “I just didn’t have any patience for that woman today.”
“That’s understandable,” Hank said, shrugging. “I wouldn’t talk to her either if I didn’t need to.” He paused, glancing toward the school. “Right now I have to find the victim’s next of kin and make a visit.” He looked at his watch. “Can I meet you guys at the precinct in about an hour to get your statements?”
Annie nodded. “We have a few things to take care of this afternoon, but we can work that in first.”
“See you then,” Hank said. He turned, walked toward his vehicle, and disappeared inside.
Jake turned to Annie. “It looks like we’re going to have a busy day.”
“That’s fine by me,” Annie said. “As long as it leads us closer to Adam Thorburn.”
Chapter 21
Wednesday, 10:31 a.m.
HANK ALREADY had Raymond Ronson’s address from his driver’s license, but he wanted a little more information on the man before proceeding with the uncomfortable task he now faced. He gave Callaway a call and waited on the line while the cop looked up the information on Raymond Ronson.
He wondered if he would ever get used to being a homicide detective. Many years ago, he’d been taught never to get emotionally invested with the victims, just do his job and get on with it. But he’d never been able to do that. He took the murder of innocent victims personally, and he knew if he stopped caring, he wouldn’t be able to do his job effectively.