When Rain Falls Read Free

Brunson, write this down.” Darnell called out the phone number to his partner. He slipped the phone into the evidence bag and placed his initials on the bag. The forensic lab could examine it better in a sterile setting. He’d check the phone records later. For now, he needed to focus on the victim.
    Blood had seeped into the concrete, tinting her mass of dark hair with dark reddish tones. Her chocolate brown complexion appeared ashen underneath the bright fluorescent lights.
    The medical examiner, Lou Reynolds, tilted his head to the side. Darnell knew Lou longed for his approaching retirement but remained dedicated. “Ah, Jackson, I tell you our boys started the season well the other night.”
    Darnell grinned. “Yes, they did. They need to keep it up, though.” Being a die-hard Tar Heels fan and basketball lover had its advantages. Especially with his transfer from California still being fresh. It felt good to have some common ground with guys who clearly felt passed over for the coveted detective position. “So, Lou, how long you think she’s been dead?”
    Lou looked over his rectangular glasses at Darnell. “Well, it looks like rigor mortis has set in pretty well. I estimate ’bout ten to twelve hours.”
    â€œAny ideas about the murder weapon?”
    â€œWe got guys searching the garage. As you can see, we have quite a few to examine.” Lou tilted his head toward the neatly organized back wall. Either Pamela had enjoyed being a carpenter on the side or she’d had a fetish for tools.
    â€œSo, did she die immediately?”
    â€œHard to say right now. With no immediate attention, some bleeding could’ve occurred inside her brain over time. Depending on the strength of the blow, she could’ve hit this concrete dead.”
    â€œMmm, so who found her?”
    â€œUm, well ... her dad.”
    â€œAh, man, that’s rough. Is he inside?”
    Lou exhaled. “You don’t know, do you?”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œHer dad. Judge Bill Coleman.”
    Darnell rubbed his hand across his closely shaven head. A judge’s daughter. Man, this case could get worse before they got started. A stretcher arrived for the corpse. “Thanks, Lou. Keep me updated. I guess it’s time to stand before the judge.” Darnell balked at his own humor, almost running into the fresh-faced forensics investigator with the freckles and red hair. Howdy Doody meets Forensic Files . He needed to quit while he was ahead. But he couldn’t help it.
    The Howdy Doody look-alike grinned. “Hey, Detective. I think all the essential items have been found, but I have something you have got to see.”
    Darnell glanced at some of the marked items. With her wallet, car keys, and the car still in the garage, robbery didn’t appear to be a motive. From the collected Baggies, the young man reached inside one and pulled out an item. “Check it out.”
    Darnell whistled as the pear-shaped stone caught the sun rays, projecting a shimmering reflection against the garage’s back wall. “Man, that is some serious bling-bling. Where did you find it?”
    â€œOver in the corner. Looks like it was torn from around her neck. See? The clasp is broken.”
    He studied the gold chain links. The defense attorney must have ticked off somebody close to her. He headed toward the house, thinking it was time to talk to Pamela’s father, to see if the judge knew who had it in for his “little girl.” Right now this scene had “crime of passion” written all over it.

Chapter Three
    Pamela, where are you? She better have a good excuse. Candace monitored the clock for the tenth time that morning. She’d called Pamela’s home phone, her BlackBerry, and the office phone. Nothing. Pamela had asked her if she wanted to attend the art gallery opening last night, but Candace had declined.
    Now she kind of regretted not accepting her