Page 51 of M for Murder

‘It wouldn’t hurt. We could always play it like a one-off homicide and that way, hopefully, there won’t be too much suspicion.’

‘What about the other two, Jagger and Lind?’

‘What about them?’

‘It doesn’t take a genius to connect them to Emma Keeley.’

Joel pulled a face. ‘So? If people find out, they find out. We can deal with it when it happens. No need to go handing the press everything on a plate now, is there?’

‘I guess not.’ Max glanced at the crowd, drawn to the flashing bulbs. While he liked Joel’s way of thinking, he didn’t see it working. The original Alphabet Killings had been big news in Juniper. When people found out that three students had been killed, they would have to be pretty stupid not to put two and two together.

‘I don’t know,’ he said shrugging. ‘We’ll play it by ear.’

Angell and Boaz were still at work on the Alphabet files when Joel and Max arrived back at the precinct. It had been Angell’s idea to go over the files on the original murders again and, although it was a good idea, Joel wondered if maybe it was one she was beginning to regret.

When the call had come in that a body had been found down by the river, Max had insisted that she and Boaz stay behind; while Angell had accepted his decision, she had looked disappointed, and judging from the moans coming from Boaz before they had left, Joel guessed that he had probably given her a hard time as well.

Angell looked up as they walked in the room and met his eyes. ‘Was it her?’

Joel knew she meant Emma Keeley. Nothing had been said about who the girl might be before they had left, but he knew the others were as certain as he was who they would find.

‘Yeah, it was her.’

‘Oh.’ Angell shrugged and tried to look like she wasn’t bothered. She turned back to the file she was reading.

Joel knew that Emma’s death would affect her more than the others. She had never been involved in a homicide before and, although she tried to make out she was tough, being in Emma’s room, touching her things and talking to her friends, she’d let herself get a little attached. Given time and experience she would eventually learn to distance herself and not let her emotions get in the way.

Pausing by her desk and dropping down to her level, he spoke in a low voice. ‘You know, Rebecca, it was inevitable that we were gonna find her. If it makes it any easier, the pathologist said she was dead before he started cutting her up. He killed her with a blow to the head, so she wouldn’t have known anything.’

Angell glanced up at him, a look of surprise on her face, and he immediately narrowed his eyes defensively. ‘What?’

‘You were being nice,’ she said, a smile playing on her lips. ‘I’m sorry, Hickok, it’s just I’ve never seen you be nice before. That’s all.’

Shaking her head and still looking faintly amused, she turned back to her work.

‘What? Of course I was being nice. I’m a nice guy. Jeez!’

Pulling a face at the back of her head, Joel got up. He saw Boaz grinning across the desk at him.

‘And what the hell are you smirking at?’

‘Nothing.’ Boaz’s grin widened. ‘I guess I’m not used to seeing your nice side either.’

Joel scowled at him, not appreciating being mocked by someone like Boaz. ‘Yeah? Well don’t get too used to it.’ He gave an irritated sigh. ‘I’m gonna go get some coffee. Why don’t you two hurry up and finish reading those files. It might be nice if we can get some kind of lead on this killer before the year is out.’

Boaz saluted him and Joel couldn’t be bothered to retort. Instead he just shook his head and walked away, wondering why he had been fool enough to make an effort in the first place. Max followed him over to the vending machine, a sly look on his face. He nudged Joel.

‘So, buddy. What was all that about?’

‘What was all what about?’

‘You and Angell?’ Max gave a toothy grin. ‘Is there something going on between you two that I should know about?’

Joel narrowed his eyes. ‘No,’ he answered sharply.

‘No there isn’t or no you don’t want me to know?’

‘Both.’