Fatal Intimacies (Romantic Suspense)

Fatal Intimacies (Romantic Suspense) Read Free

Book: Fatal Intimacies (Romantic Suspense) Read Free
Author: Isabelle Ali
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scratches inside the lock.”
    “Might be. But it might also be caused by the keys. Impossible to tell.”
    Garcia nodded. “I’m going with the uniforms to talk to the neighbors. Text me when the ME’s people get here, would you?”
    “Yup.”
     
     
    The f irst neighbor was stoned and so off balance Garcia nearly had to catch him in front of the door. The second didn’t answer, and the third, two doors down, said she didn’t hear or see anything and didn’t know who the hell Michelle Barlow was.
    That was life in the big city, Garcia thought. Everyone an island unto themselves.
    It took over two hours with three officers to canvas the entire apartment building and the one next door. No one knew anything helpful. Garcia checked back after receiving a text that the medical examiner’s people were in the apartment. By the time he got there, they had already placed the body in a black bag and were zipping it up.
    Candice, the assistant medical examiner, was there. She looked up at him and smiled.
    “Fun way to spend a Saturday,” she said.
    Garcia shrugged. “What do you think?”
    “At least fifteen stab wounds with a good sized knife. It was thicker than a kitchen knife, so maybe a hunting knife or something. But she was strangled, too. As she bled to death and her heart stopped.”
    Garcia moved out of the way as two people from the ME’s Office placed the body on a gurney and began to haul it out. He watched until it was wheeled out of the room and turned back to Candice who was scanning the bathroom.
    “No weapon, huh?” she said.
    “No.”
    “I bet you hate these ones.”
    “Yeah.” Garcia stepped out and stared through the windows in the bedroom. He walked out to the living room and found Michelle Barlow’s purse. He put on some latex gloves and then took out her cell phone. He searched in her recent calls and then checked her messages. Under “Contacts,” there was no listing for a husband, mother or father. But there was one for “Big Sis.” Garcia took out his own phone and dialed the number.

4
     
     
     
     
    “Yes, is this the sister for a Michelle Barlow?”
    Jessica felt a heaviness in her gut. No one ever started a conversation off that way that had good news. “Yes. This is Jessica Barlow. And who is this?”
    “Ms. Barlow, is Michelle currently residing at 56 North Street in Seattle?”
    “I think so.”
    A pause. “This is Detective Thomas Garcia with the Seattle Police Department. Are you somewhere you can come down and meet with me?”
    “I live in Texas, Detective. What’s going on?”
    Another pause. “I’m afraid your sister has passed.”
    Jessica went numb. Every part of her felt like clay and she nearly dropped the phone. Memories flooded her mind. Images of playgrounds, and schools, and dances.
    “I’m sorry,” the detective said.
    “How?”
    “She was killed.”
    “Killed how?”
    “We believe it was a homicide at this point in the investigation.”
    “By who? What’s going on?”
    “I’m sorry, but that’s all we have for now. Your sister was killed in her apartment by an intruder. Possibly someone she knew.”
    Jessica shook her head. “This can’t be happening.”
    “Is there anyone here that you know of that I can speak with? Friends or relatives?”
    “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to Michelle in almost two years. I don’t know who she was around.”
    Jessica heard voices in the background, and the detective giving some orders. “Ms. Barlow, I’d like to call you later. Perhaps tomorrow. Would that be alright?”
    “Y— Yes, that would be fine.”
    “The Medical Examiner will call you as well regarding arrangements for the body. I’m sorry.”
    “Me too.”
    She hung up and stared at her phone like she didn’t know what it was. She placed it down on the desk. The words on the computer screen in front of her didn’t make sense right now. A pain was welling up inside of her, but it wasn’t here yet. All she felt was unbridled

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