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- Herausgeber: Next Chapter
- Kategorie: Krimi
- Sprache: Englisch
When the Sheriff of West Feliciana Parish is found murdered in his own jail, Niki Dupre is called in to investigate.
Soon, Niki learns that a local chapter of the infamous MS-13 gang is responsible. But they are hired thugs; gangs do not kill sheriffs without getting paid.
The more Niki delves into the murder, the more entangled she gets with the local gang and their leader, Juan Valdez. And he doesn't play by the rules.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022
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MURDER OF THE SHERIFF
NIKI DUPRE SHORT STORIES BOOK 2
JIM RILEY
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Notes
Next in the Series
About the Author
Copyright (C) 2020 Jim Riley
Layout design and Copyright (C) 2022 by Next Chapter
Published 2022 by Next Chapter
Cover art by CoverMint
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author’s permission.
To the Most Beautiful
You Always Were
You Always Will Be
CHAPTERONE
The crime scene had not been disturbed. Only the forensics techs had been allowed into the jail cell where the body of West Feliciana Parish Sheriff Clem Drake was found earlier. The technicians had not dusted for prints. The cell had hundreds of prisoners run through it since it had last been washed and scrubbed.
Niki Dupre stood at the open cell door staring at the blood still splattered over the iron bars, the two cots, and the floor. Louisiana's most famous private investigator was asked to assist in the probe by Detective Steve Harris, Clem Drake's probable replacement. The strawberry blonde had just wrapped up the murder of Clem's niece.
"What do you see?" Harris asked, looking over her shoulder.
Niki held up a hand in silence and continued to stare at the scene. Then she shifted positions and resumed her vigil. After twelve minutes of silence, she turned to Harris.
CHAPTERTWO
"Two attackers," she said. "And one guy watched from outside."
"We weren't sure if there were two or three," Harris admitted. "I'm not sure I can take your word for it, though."
"What if I show you how I came to that conclusion?" Niki asked. "If you come to the same conclusion, then we'll agree."
"Sounds good, but I have to warn you. Eighteen years on this job has made me a contrarian. I don't believe anyone until they can prove their side of the argument."
"Fair enough," Niki said. "Let's get the simple stuff out of the way. Let's start with the two guys that killed Clem."
"I'm all eyes and ears," Harris said. "Lead the way."
"Look at the footprints on top of the blood. How many sizes and styles do you see other than Clem's?" Niki asked.
Steve Harris took almost as long as Niki had studying the floor. After a long period of silence, he turned to her.
"I see two of the same style, but different sizes. I also see some that are blurry. They left no prints."
"Those would be from the forensics technicians that removed Clem's body. Some blood had not completely dried, and they stepped in it with those plastic booties they wear."
"Okay," Harris nodded. "I'm on board so far with you."
"Now the guys on the outside. Look down at your feet, a little to your left. What do you see?" Niki asked. "I see some blood, but not a lot," Harris responded.
"Do you see anything strange about the pattern?"
Harris looked down again. He did not want to be shown up by an amateur detective and struggled for the right clue.
"The only thing I can see is it isn't consistent. There are some spaces with no blood. So, I guess, the blood came from different sprays. Clem's body must have been re-positioned for them to be that close to each other."
"I see another scenario," Niki said. "Do you mind?"
CHAPTERTHREE
"Not at all, but remember that I'm cynical. Please don't get upset if I don't agree with your theory," Harris said.
"Not a problem," Niki said without looking at him. "Let's look at the entire splatter outside the cell in segments."
Harris nodded.
"This show is yours to lead."
"All right, let's start with this one," Niki said, pointing to the one on her left. "It is more concentrated closer to the cell and becomes less dense the farther away it got. A familiar pattern, correct?"
Again, Harris nodded.
"There is more blood closer to the source. It dissipates with distance. I think Isaac Newton called it the law of gravity."
"Very good," Niki laughed. "Let's forget the one in the middle for now and look at the one on my right."
Harris shifted his focus. He stared for a while and then switched positions. A frowned cause wrinkles on his forehead.
"I'm sorry. I don't see any significant difference between this one and the other one. I hope you're not basing your theory on those."
"I am," Niki said. "It should be almost the same. It was made at the same time with Clem's body in the same position. That's why they look similar."
Harris had not yet caught up with Niki. He was still staring at the two blood splatters, trying to understand any significance Niki could ascertain from them.
"Okay," Niki said. “Let's look at the middle patterns.”
"All right, but I don't see what we can tell from it. There isn't much to it."
"I think there is a lot we can see. But I need your help."
"Whatever, but I'm now more cynical than before," Harris said. Niki moved over and grabbed Harris by shoulders. She led him to the spot outside the cell where the three blood splatters appeared. She placed the detective just inside the two outer streaks. Then she went back inside the cell.
"Move over that way about half an inch," she said, studying his position.
The long-legged private investigator waited for Harris to move. She crouched down with bent knees and looked at his positioning.
"Do you like my pants, or are you staring at my crotch?" Harris said with a forced laugh.
"Neither one interests to me," Niki said without a laugh. "Now, suppose I have a bucket of water, and toss it at your leg. What part of the floor would get wet?"
"Uh–over here," Niki pointed to his left. "And over here, and I guess a little. It’ll get wet between–."
