DARK JUSTICE

wood's

ithful men is they a

ting, with the cut of my dress and the careful application of makeup that makes me look nothing like Detective Elise Blackwo

ight as he signals the bartender, but it won't stay on much longer. Twenty minutes ago, he told his wife he w

hird time tonight. He smiles now, emboldened. I

ives before he does-expensive, but ap

become good at these transformations. Detective Blackwood is direct, professional, an

ern of his movements, and how many times he's done this before. The investigation into David Coleman

ing his hand. His to

usiness or pleasure?" The line i

y. "Why does it have t

ed with my respons

's important to let them talk about themselves. Men like David love nothing m

e scene I processed yesterday. A domestic homicide: husband killed wife after discovering her aff

mself. "I've been talking about

very hotel. Each detail designed to make this easier, to eliminate complications. Hotel r

asks, noticing my

here more private," I suggest, watching his pup

idens. "I'd

e would. Th

he heat of him, the eager energy. His wedding ring

forgettable. Nothing traceable. Nothing memorable. I've already p

uring to the bottle I

as he looks around the room,

en my back is turned. A carefully calibrated dose-enough to make

ing him the glass. "To

this night will end. He's right about

lnerable on the bed-confused but still conscious-I finally let h

ition and fear fight through

register. Cold. Professional. "Your wife Charlotte doesn't know about Ama

gainst restraints he di

r, removing the specialized tools from my case.

use for police interrogations. "State your name

urred fragments. Fear has a way of

when he finishes.

op my father from destroying our family with his betrayals. It didn't stop

e same motion I perform at crime scenes, though ton

gic but not uncommon end for men in your position." I explain this clinically, the way I might describe evidence to a colleague.

al now. Good. They should fe

simulate a heart attack. Painful, but no

to feel it-that moment of dark satisfaction.

hisper. "For my moth

he Westlake Hotel. I will process the scene with my usual efficiency. I will comfort the widow w

earching for the n

ends. Not while men

e I stil