In the Shadow of Evil Read Online Free

evidence."
    Carson picked up the details. "As soon as we confirmed it looked like a homicide, we called Chief Samuels who made the decision to call you."
    Maddox remembered Chief Ethan Samuels from the homicides he'd assisted Officer Lincoln Vailes with several months ago. "Anybody have a clue who the vic is?"
    Thibodeaux finally spoke. "No, sir."
    Hopefully the rain wouldn't destroy any crucial evidence. Well, what the fire hadn't obliterated. "Okay, we'll take it from here." Maddox glanced at the loafers he'd slipped on. They'd be ruined as soon as he entered the scene.
    Houston chuckled and almost choked on his gum.
    Maddox took in his partner's dirty sneakers with a grimace. "Would serve you right to choke to death."
    Laughing louder, Houston followed the chief into the charred remains of what was once a house. Maddox trailed at a slower rate, pulling on latex gloves as he walked. If he took care with where he stepped, maybe he could salvage the shoes from being a total loss.
    But as soon as he saw the sprawled body, all other thoughts fled. He circled the body, committing every detail to memory, as Houston whipped out his notebook and began scribbling.
    Both men squatted. Maddox cocked his head to study the charred handgun from a better angle. "Revolver. Smith & Wesson?"
    "Or Taurus."
    Maddox glanced at Carson who'd come in behind them. "Coroner been called?"
    "On his way."
    Houston withdrew the digital camera from the crime-scene kit and took shots. He shifted, getting pictures of the body and crime scene from every angle.
    Leaving the body, Maddox turned back to the front yard. He scanned the ground around the entry and walkway. Even with the soggy terrain, they wouldn't be able to gather any footprint casts—too many firemen had tracked over the area. Somebody knew what he was doing.
    Headlights cut through the mist and smoke still wisping in the dark. The coroner's wagon sloshed into the dirt driveway.
    Maddox moved from the threshold. A spot of white against the red mud beside the walkway caught his attention. He squatted, inspecting the area. A cigarette butt, barely smoked, sat pressed into the mud. He withdrew an evidence bag from his coat pocket, bagged and tagged the butt before shoving it into his pocket, then stepped forward to greet K. C. Casteel.
    The fifty-something coroner made his way to Maddox, his assistant on his heels. "Hey, Bishop. How's it going?" He jabbed glasses up the bridge of his nose.
    "Got new specs, huh, Doc?"
    Casteel shot him a wary look. "Doctor said I need them now." He grunted and toed a rock. "Don't know why. I can see just fine without 'em."
    Maddox stifled a grin. "It's hard getting old, ain't it?"
    "Speak for yourself." He narrowed his eyes for a moment, then grinned. "So, where's your body?"
    Leading the way, Maddox filled Casteel in on what they knew. As soon as they approached the body, the coroner and his assistant slipped on their gloves and began inspecting. "Definitely a gunshot wound to the chest." Casteel turned the skull. "And in the head."
    Maddox bent over his shoulder. "I missed that." But now that Casteel had pointed it out, Maddox could clearly see it.
    "Don't surprise me," Casteel muttered.
    "Can you give us an estimate of time of death?" Houston asked.
    The coroner straightened and shook his head. "Burned like that? Not even a guess right now. I'll see what I can uncover once I get Mr. Doe here back to my slab."
    Carson grinned at him. "How are you likin' your updated digs?" Months ago funding had come through for the coroner's office to get a total overhaul. While the renovations were conducted, the coroner had to temporarily move to the only area facility that had an adequate setup—Eternal Springs. Just two weeks ago Casteel and his crew were able to return to their updated space in Lake Charles.
    "Lovin' it. Got all the newest equipment."
    "How long before you'll be able to get to our vic?" Maddox asked.
    Casteel pushed his slipping glasses higher up his