Read Fire in a Haystack: A Thrilling Novel (Legal Mystery Book Book 1) for Free Online Page A

surprisingly, the late Jacob Rodety was lying in the same position, adorned with the same dancing hippopotamuses tie, wearing the same black socks, his genitals covered by the sheet.
    The redhead examined the body lying on the bed.
    “No need to check for a pulse. I’ve already checked and the man is completely dead,” said Ofer.
    The redhead did not accept his diagnosis. He checked the body himself then walked about the room and took a long look in the bathroom while maintaining the same frozen expression.
    Yoni, the hotel’s security officer, paced restlessly about the doorway with both hands on his head. Panic was written clearly on his face. There was no doubt he was new at this job. As far as he was concerned, this wasn’t a very promising start. The young police officer lit a cigarette. After a few puffs, he began to cough miserably and it sounded as if he was about to throw up. Apparently, the cigarette had influenced him more than the sight of the dead body that was gradually getting stiffer on the bed.
    The redhead seemed to be skilled in handling such situations. He began to give orders. “You make sure no one enters the room. From this moment on, this room is a crime scene,” he said and turned towards the young policeman. “And put out that cigarette, you’re on duty.
    “And you, you go and check immediately which of the hotel staff members were present on the floor today from the early morning hours up till now. I’ll also need to use the adjacent room,” he guided Yoni, the security officer.
    Then he added in his authoritative voice, “No one touches anything until the forensics people are here.” 
    Only then did he find the time to address the man who had led him to the room. “What’s your name?”
    “Ofer Angel.”
    “What are you doing here?”
    “I’m an intern at the law offices of Geller, Schneider and Associates. I came to take Mr. Rodety to the office. That’s him.” He pointed at the body on the bed. “We were scheduled to meet at six o’clock in the evening. He’s an expert we brought in to help us with one of our clients’ cases. I got here on time. I waited for him downstairs, and when he didn’t show up I came up here. To my surprise, I found the… that thing,” he said and pointed with his finger again at the rounded body whose genitalia were draped with a sheet, “and I covered his—”
    “Why the hell did you cover him up? As a lawyer, you should know that nothing is to be touched. So you’re on the side of the law as well, eh?” he asked without expecting an answer and continued right away, “Pleased to meet you. I’m Nir Alush, senior officer at the crime investigation department.”
    Ofer shook the redhead’s extended hand and felt as though his fingers were about to snap. He noticed that the vigorous officer did not miss a single opportunity to whistle his S’s.  He decided it must be beyond the policeman’s control.
    “Wait for me in the adjacent room I asked the security officer to open up for me,” muttered Alush. With a series of quick movements, he finished the job that Ofer had begun and covered Rodety from head to toe with the bedspread that was rolled up on the floor.
    Ofer went into the room the security officer had opened for Alush, sat down on the bed and waited. Twenty minutes later, Officer Alush arrived.
    “Routine questioning,” said the police officer. He took the chair next to the writing desk, turned the backrest in a way that separated them, and sat in front of Ofer. “No other choice. You were the first to find the body, so you are awarded the privilege and I am awarded the honor. Or vice versa, take your pick. We’ll start with a few background questions then you’ll slowly tell me everything you know,” he ordered and Ofer nodded.
    “Name, age, address, marital status,” he blurted.
    “Ofer Angel. Twenty-five, almost six. Single, 23 Nahalat Binyamin Tel Aviv, intern at a law firm. I’ll be taking my bar exam in a few