Read Lethal Legacy: A Novel (Guardians of Justice) for Free Online

machine, Cole took in Alan Carlson’s sun-bleached blond hair and dark tan. “Wow. Did you spend every minute on the beach?”
    His colleague grinned. “Not quite. But you can’t go to a place like the Dominican Republic and not take advantage of all that white sand.”
    “I hear you. Maybe I’ll get down there one of these days. I could use a break.”
    “It’s hard to go wrong with beaches, biking, and bikinis.”
    “I didn’t know you took your bike.”
    “I didn’t. I rented one. Let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve pedaled up a mountain on a mule trail in the Caribbean.”
    Cole grinned. “No thanks. But as long as you had fun . . .”
    “The whole trip was great.” The man’s smile faded a notch. “But it would have been better with Cindy.”
    “Yeah.” Cole didn’t know what else to say. Alan and his wife of three years had separated six months ago, surprising everyone in the department. He and Cindy had always seemed like a decent match. But the hours and risks of this business took a toll on marriages, and not all of them survived. Last he’d heard, Cindy had gone back to her hometown of Chicago. “Any chance the two of you might get back together?”
    “Maybe. I’m working on it, and we’re still in touch. So what can I do for you?”
    Cole gathered up the papers he’d been copying while he responded. “It’s nothing urgent, but once you clean out your in-box and email, I’d like to talk to you about the John Warren case.”
    As Cole turned toward him, the other man frowned. “The suicide? About five months ago?”
    “Yeah.”
    “We closed that one.”
    “I know. But his daughter came in while you were gone. When you have a minute, I can fill you in.”
    “How about now?” One side of Alan’s mouth hitched up. “I’m not anxious to dig into my in-box anyway.”
    “I hear you.” Cole flashed him a sympathetic grin. “Let me make a quick detour to my desk, then we can try and find an empty conference room.”
    Five minutes later Cole flipped on the lights in the second room they tried, shut the door, and claimed one of the comfortable chairs. Alan sat beside him.
    “So what’s the story?” Alan leaned back, crossed an ankle over his knee, and linked his fingers over his stomach.
    “About two weeks ago, Warren’s daughter got a birthday present from her father. There was a message inside. Top left.” He handed the copy of the packing slip to Alan and waited while the man read it. “Notice the order date.”
    Alan scanned it. Pursed his lips. “That’s pretty close to the day he committed suicide.”
    “Very close. The day before.”
    The man frowned. “That’s a little weird.”
    “His daughter thought so too. That’s why she brought it in. I reviewed the case notes, and I can’t argue with your conclusions. Every piece of evidence pointed to suicide. The only thing missing was a farewell note.”
    Alan steepled his index fingers. “I recall the daughter being very distraught. She did bring up the lack of a note, but I told her not everyone leaves one. It didn’t help. She refused to accept our conclusion.”
    “She still isn’t buying it. Her conviction, plus this message”—he tapped the copy of the packing slip—“make me wonder if we should take a second look.”
    The other man shrugged. “I’m not opposed to that, assuming we have something to look at. I already talked to everyone she suggested, the autopsy was conclusive, and the CSU didn’t find a thing.”
    “I know. I went over all that with her. I suggested she comb through her father’s house and see if she could find anything that might trigger some new ideas.”
    Alan’s expression grew skeptical. “That’s a little like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
    “True. But it was all I could come up with.”
    “Have you heard back from her since?”
    “No. She said she’d follow up on my recommendation, but she also said it’s been hard for her to go back to the