Read The Past Came Hunting for Free Online

life, the REM cycles never happened.
    In the hallway he passed the department secretary, who in a singsong voice said, “You have a visitor,” as she ambled on by. Joe slowed his pace and paused in the doorway.
    Bruce Bennett, the El Paso County District Attorney sat in Joe’s office poring over paperwork.
    “Shouldn’t you be out campaigning somewhere?” Joe asked.
    An unsmiling Bruce looked up from his task and handed Joe the file request form he’d sent over to the D.A.’s office that morning. “Maybe. Thought I’d save the taxpayers’ money and play department shrink instead.”
    Joe felt his gut lurch. Along with Drake Maxwell’s case file, he’d requested Melanie’s. He didn’t give a rat’s ass about Maxwell, but he’d already run a NCIC check on her and come up with nothing. Involving the District Attorney hadn’t been part of his plan.
    Bruce removed a thick Pendaflex folder from his briefcase followed by a much smaller one. “Here’s the information you requested, Lieutenant.”
    “Thanks.” Joe moved farther into the room. “I hope you weren’t counting on a tip. I wasn’t expecting such a high-paid runner.”
    Ignoring Joe’s sarcasm, the D.A. said, “When I told Sgt. Sandoval to alert you about Maxwell, I knew you’d be concerned, I didn’t think you’d become obsessed. What’s with you, Joe? Maxwell’s getting out. You’re not a rookie. It’s a done deal.”
    “Just couldn’t remember the facts of the case, that’s all.”
    Bruce shook his head. “Don’t take up politics, my friend. You’re a terrible liar.”
    “Thanks for bringing these by. Give Marianne and the kids my love.”
    “You asshole.” Bruce jabbed an index finger on the convict’s file. “Why the interest in these old cases?”
    Christ . Joe had known better than to go digging. Bruce was right. The details of his first major bust were all but seared into his brain. He was searching for clues. Big ones, as to why Melanie Norris had suddenly appeared in the Springs, his neighbor no less, with Drake Maxwell on the verge of being released.
    Was it possible, after all these years, that the two were set on revenge?
    Taking a deep breath, Joe closed the door. He glanced about the room. “Shrink, huh? I don’t even have a couch.”
    Bruce lifted a shoulder. “That’s why you’ll only get the mail-order version of my psych experience. C’mon, Joe. Between you and me. What’s going on?”
    Bruce Bennett was a bulldog of a prosecutor, but honest as any man Joe had ever known. For some reason it mattered that he spare Melanie’s reputation if at all possible. With the D.A.’s promise assured, Joe recited the bizarre happenings of yesterday.
    For several long seconds, his colleague didn’t speak. When at last he did, Bruce said, “So that’s why you ordered her file. I wondered. Statistically speaking, I’d say you’ve been hit by lightning.”
    “About as probable,” Joe admitted.
    “You think she’s out for revenge?”
    “The thought occurred to me. If she were, though, you’d think she’d do it in a less conspicuous way than moving next door. Honest to God, Bruce, she was as shocked as I was.”
    The D.A. opened Melanie’s smaller file and perused it slowly. “I recall this now. We were after Maxwell, and she was our link to put him away. Correct me if any of these facts are wrong, but this states your partner apprehended Maxwell while you ran after Melanie. It was Clyde Rogers’ testimony that put Maxwell behind bars, not yours.”
    “That’s how I remember things. Still, people fixate on the damndest things.”
    “They do, indeed.” Bruce frowned. “Melanie Daniels accepted a five-year plea, but as anticipated, she received parole after nine months. According to her case file, Maxwell threatened retaliation after she testified against him.”
    “So the revenge theory seems less plausible,” Joe said. “You think she’s running?”
    “If she is, she didn’t run very far.” Bruce