Read Passions of the Dead (A Detective Jackson Mystery/Thriller) for Free Online Page B

There’s so much to cover with four homicide victims.”
    “Three,” Jackson corrected. “I called the hospital and Lori is still alive. She’s not conscious yet, but they think she might pull though. They’ll call me as soon as she’s able to answer questions.”
    “Any word on Roy Engall?” McCray came in, carrying a steaming cup and looking weary. The lines in his face seemed to plow deeper every week and his hair was turning old-man white. The unit had been through several tough cases in the last year, then Jackson and Schak had both been on medical leave for a while. McCray had picked up some of the slack. Jackson wondered what the job was doing to his own appearance.
    “We’ve got nothing on Engall yet.” Jackson turned to the other detectives. “Engall never came home last night, then he bolted when he saw me at his house today. I put out an attempt-to-locate for him and an interstate alert.” Evans looked confused so Jackson added, “He’s Jared Walker’s ex-boss. McCray found a list of Engall’s wrongdoings, likely compiled by Jared. We think Jared might have been blackmailing Engall.”
    “You think he killed the whole family to keep from being exposed?” Evans’ expressive face telegraphed all her thoughts. At the moment, she was skeptical.
    “It’s just our first avenue. His behavior is highly suspicious and he’s a binge drinker. I ran a background check. He’s had two DUIs and one assault charge that was reduced to menacing.”
    Evans nodded. “I’ll put him on the board.”
    Jackson started say let someone else handle it this time, then stopped. Evans was good at it. “Put Shane Compton under suspects too.” He looked around hopefully. “Did patrol bring Compton in?”
    “Not that I know of. How is he connected?” McCray tugged on his brown corduroy pants, then finally took a seat.
    “He’s the kids’ cousin. First we need to map out the family connections.” Jackson dug out the list Carla’s sister had made at the crime scene. “Let’s put the family members down the middle. Start with Jared Walker, then Carla, Lori, and Nick.”
    As Evans printed the names in neat letters on the board, Jackson read from his yellow tablet. “Jared’s sister is Tracy Compton, who is married to Kevin Compton. Shane is their twenty-year-old son. List him first. They also have a daughter, Lisa, twenty-five.
    “Kevin Compton?” McCray asked, surprised. “A Kevin Compton was assaulted in the parking lot of the Time Out Tavern last month. Do you suppose it’s the same man?”
    Jackson’s heart quickened. He could feel this case getting sticky. “Considering the size of this town, it’s probably the same guy. What’s the story on the assault?”
    “The victim called 911 before he passed out, then someone found him unconscious and bleeding and called again. The ER doctor reported it as an assault and I was assigned the case. When I questioned Kevin Compton, he said he was drunk and fell against his vehicle. I thought he was covering for someone.”
    “Any witnesses to the incident?”
    “No.” McCray shifted, looking uncomfortable. “I didn’t go after it very hard. Compton clearly didn’t want to press charges.”
    “Whatever is going on here may have started long ago and may involve several members of the family,” Jackson said. “Dig up your notes on the case, and we’ll visit the Comptons tomorrow.” He looked down to read more of the list. “Carla’s sister, Rita Altman, discovered the bodies, and Roy Engall is Jared’s boss.”
    Evans wrote possible blackmail under Roy’s name. She turned to Jackson and said, “We’ll have to call people by first names in this case.”
    “I’ll try to remember.” He gave her an indulgent smile. The door popped open and the desk officer brought in the sandwiches he’d ordered. They ate for a minute in silence.
    “What did we find out from the neighbors?” Jackson set his meal aside and flipped through his notes from the