The Poisonous Ten Read Online Free Page B

proportioned lips while trying to hold back a smile, and nodded in agreement that it was safe. 
    “Anything you say, boss,” Fairmont said as he entered the room and began to take pictures of the body.
    “How’s this coming along?” asked a voice from behind Parks, causing him to turn and come face-to-face with Assistant Chief Hardwick. His superior stood before him, all six feet of her, in a cross-stitched blazer and matching pants, her styled, caramel-colored hair cut perfectly to outline the rest of her slim face. Parks had worked for Jane Hardwick during the nine years she had been with the LAPD and found her to be an extremely strict yet honest and fair superior, something he figured she learned from the first twenty years of her policing career in Chicago.
    “Chief,” Parks acknowledged. “Uh, good morning.”
    “Parks,” Hardwick said, looking past him to Jackie. “And you’re Doctor Isley of the county coroner’s office, I presume?”
    “I am,” Jackie nodded.
    “Good.” Hardwick smiled back sharply. “I talked to your superior this morning. Based on what few facts I’ve been given, you’re on loan to us until this case is wrapped up. You two will be working together. I assume there won’t be any territorial, childish behavior I should have to worry about?” Both Parks and Jackie remained quiet. “Good. Now, Doctor Isley, Detective Parks here is one of my best men.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Jackie replied.
    “And you,” Hardwick said, turning to Parks. “I think Doctor Isley’s expertise in this subject area will be of great use to you. I know you can accept help when it’s being offered in the interest of the case and the department. She’s here to help. This is a particularly gruesome killing with what I’ve been told is a particularly nasty substance. I want this perpetrator behind bars as quickly as possible, or I’m going to have all your asses.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Parks replied.
    “How long you been working in your position?” Hardwick asked Jackie. 
    “Almost six years now,” Jackie answered with firmness.
    “And what’s your assessment of this crime scene?”
    “Truth be told, poisoning isn’t all that common a way to kill someone. Hasn’t been for decades. It’s complicated. I ntricate. Requires knowledge and patience.”
    “Premeditation,” Parks commented, politely taking co ntrol of the conversation.
    “Yes,” Jackie agreed rather quickly. “Almost always. You get full of rage, you stab someone to death or shoot them. You don’t go find some poison and a syringe and i nject someone to watch them suffer.”
    “Unless that’s what you want,” Parks countered. “To make someone suffer.”
    “Correct,” Jackie continued, speeding up her words. “And that suggests planning, patience. Poisonings are considered a more intimate way of killing. Here we have a more personal connection between the killer and victim.”
    “You think this is personal?” Hardwick asked.
    Jackie wavered from foot to foot and glanced at Parks for help, theories not being her strongest suit. She liked dealing with facts, as she had admitted to him earlier. 
    “On several levels—yes,” Parks jumped in. “This body wasn’t hidden. It’s out in the open, for all to see. This shows pride. On the killer’s part. He’s not ashamed of what he did. He’s proud of his work and wanted it to be found. That speaks of a bravado that one generally considers will lead to more murders.”
    “But you’ve no proof this will turn into a serial,” Hardwick said. “And before we have proof one way or the other that this is the work of a serial, I suggest we nab the bastard as quickly as possible.”
    “Yes, boss,” Parks agreed.
    “Then I’ll leave your team to it,” Hardwick replied with a nod of her head. “Oh, there is one other thing,” she said, gesturing to a young man who had been standing behind her, unnoticed until now. “Tippin.”
    The newcomer was a kid, no more than