The Lost Key Read Free Page B

watch and a set of keys. Cell is password protected, I can’t access it without my tools.”
    Nicholas said, “Do you carry a UFED in the field, perchance?”
    â€œIs that British for Universal Forensic Extraction Device?” And she grinned. “Yeah, so happens I have a Touch Ultimate on the truck. Hang on a minute.”
    â€œGood,” he said. “Are there any cameras around?”
    Louisa said, “Nothing that points directly to this spot, but there’s a traffic cam at the intersection of Pine and William, and the building itself has a camera on the corner. Might have something from one of those.”
    â€œExcellent, Louisa, thank you.”
    â€œBy the way, Nicholas? It’s good to have you on board. Welcome to New York.”
    â€œIt’s good to be here.”
    In the next instant, Louisa was headed to the mobile command unit.
    Mike said, “Glad she brought it. With the UFED we’ll get the pass code broken and access the data in no time. So, Nicholas, it doesn’t appear Mr. Pearce was the victim of a robbery.”
    â€œNo, it would seem not. A fight between two men. About what?”
    â€œWhatever it was, the killer lost it and stabbed Mr. Pearce in the back with a dozen people looking on.”

3
    N icholas looked up at a sharp whistle to see a tall, beefy older man heading their way, people getting out of his way. He looked like a guided missile, ready to clear the scene and move on to his next case.
    â€œHere’s the ME, and good news for us, he’s the best,” Mike said. “You’ll like him.”
    The man reached them and stuck out his hand. Nicholas thought he meant to shake, but he was handing them both nitrile gloves.
    â€œYou’re not allowed anywhere near my body without proper protection. See to it, now.”
    Mike snapped the gloves over the ones she was already wearing. She never argued with Janovich. “Good morning, Dr. Janovich. Now we’re double protected. I’d like you to meet my new partner, Special Agent Nicholas Drummond. We worked together on the Koh-i-Noor diamond case. Today’s his first day.”
    They shook hands. Janovich immediately pulled off his gloves and put on a fresh pair. “If I remember correctly, you knew the woman who died during that case. I’m sorry, that was tough.”
    Nicholas felt a familiar stab of pain. “Thank you, it was. I was Inspector Elaine York’s superior at New Scotland Yard. But now I’m here in America, working for the FBI.”
    â€œWelcome, welcome. I don’t know why we have a foreigner working for us, but in the long scheme of things, it doesn’t matter, does it? We shook hands, change your gloves.”
    Mike said, “This particular foreigner was born in L.A. Do you remember the sitcom
A Fish out of Water,
with Mitzie Manders? She’s Bo Horsley’s sister, and Nicholas’s mom.”
    Janovich blinked, his mouth widened in a huge smile. “You’re kidding. I loved that show. She is a beautiful lady, and she had wonderful comic timing. Tell your mother she has a fan in the New York OCME, will you?” He gave Nicholas a closer look and smiled. “Since you’re a foreigner, that stands for Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.”
    â€œI’ll tell her, and thank you,” Nicholas said, amused, but Janovich had already begun examining Mr. Pearce’s body, talking as he worked. Nicholas crouched down so he could listen in.
    â€œStab wound to the right kidney. Took him down fast and hard from behind. Created quite a mess. I’d say this poor man bled out within three or four minutes. The blade would need to be at least five inches long to make a gash that deep. Not much of a cut in the shirt, I’m betting a stiletto of some sort.”
    â€œWho’s our killer, then?” Nicholas asked.
    Dr. Janovich glanced up at Nicholas and started, as if surprised to see him there at