Forgotten Place Read Online Free Page A

like this, or are you seriously that
unlucky?"
    For a moment, the pain in my shoulder and my
irritation at being shoved aside obscured the crime I
witnessed.  "I was leaving physical therapy."
    "This early in the morning?"
    "I apparently was mistaken thinking that the
earliest possible appointment would allow me to avoid the
public.  I was about to leave when I heard that woman
scream.  I called it in and came to render aid.  When I
stepped out from that pylon," I pointed behind me, "the perp had a
knife to her throat.  When I identified myself and ordered him
to drop the weapon, he slit her throat.  I didn't give
chase."
    "Good," Williams' eyes scanned the
area.  "Looks like he kept the knife on him.  I'd hate to
see stabbed added to the tally of injuries you've received in our
fair city."
    "I'm armed, Ned.  I think my gun trumps
his knife."
    "Let me get some gloves and we'll see if we
can put a name on our victim."
    I frowned.  "Aren't you calling Crime
Scene Division to process the scene?"
    "Hmm.  A mugging in a parking
garage.  My victim is alive and transported to the emergency
room.  I've got a puddle of blood and a handbag.  I think
Forsythe would rip me a new one for asking them to show up for
this, Helen.  We've got a digital camera in the kit. 
Don't worry.  I'll take pictures.  And while I do, you
can tell me what this mugger looked like."
    My mind zoomed into focus on what I recalled
seeing.  "He was wearing black."
    Williams poked his head out from behind the
open trunk door.  "And?"
    "The knife looked like a switchblade."
    "Helen."
    "It happened fast.  The girl had blood
squirting out of her neck, Ned.  I didn't get a good look at
him.  He was sort of behind her, you know?"
    "So the victim was obscuring the perp?"
    "Yeah.  A bit.  He was white."
    "Hair color?"
    "I..." closed my eyes.  "Shit.  He
was wearing some kind of mask.  It covered most of his
face.  Everything but his jaw and mouth."
    Ned started snapping pictures. 
"Height?  Weight?"
    "He was smaller than you.  Definitely
smaller than Detective Manners."
    "Mackenzie," he chuckled.  "Dev's not a
bad guy.  At least I don't think he is.  He's got some
ideas about people being in the way of cops trying to do their
jobs.  I'm sure he'll feel like a complete imbecile when he
learns who you are."
    "I doubt he'll care."
    Ned offered gloves.  "Shall we peek
inside the young lady's purse and see who she is?"
    I lifted the small, practical handbag off
the floor and unfastened the clasp.  "Wallet.  Car
keys.  Hospital ID.  Lancôme lipstick."
    "What's the ID say?"
    I pulled it out for inspection.  "Dr.
Journey Ireland, PsyD.  Huh.  She's a clinical
psychologist."  I stared at the photo and frowned. 
"Ireland.  Wasn't that the name of that ADA from way back when
who was assassinated downtown?"
    My eyes fell on pale and sober Detective
Williams.
    "You don't miss much, Helen.  She's his
daughter."
    "What're the odds... ?"
    "You tell me," he said.
    "I don't believe in coincidence.  From
the time I heard her initial scream, called 9-1-1 and made it over
here, this guy had plenty of time to snatch her purse and run."
    "Then we're on the same page."
    "Father gets shot in a parking garage, and
what, sixteen years later his daughter has her throat slashed in a
parking garage?  Not even the universe is that ironic."
    "Helen, today is December 18th."
    My mind scrabbled for details from a long
past conversation about ADA Ireland.  Briscoe... Orion... the
murder about a week before Christmas.  My eyes fluttered
shut.  "This wouldn't happen to be the anniversary of her
father's murder, would it?"
    "Like I said, you don't miss much."
    "This was Briscoe's perp, the guy who died
in Downey while he was being interrogated.  The one whose body
disappeared before Briscoe got the court order for expanded
toxicology."
    "Orion, but yeah."
    I didn't want to think about that.
    "Tony won't be back on duty for another
week.  He and Crevan