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Gilbert rested his hands on his hips “That’s right”
“What can you tell me about the man?”
“I was a rookie when I was partnered with hiood to me”
“I’m more concerned with how he treated his wife” Experience kept his tone neutral
As Gilbert shifted, the leather of his gun belt creaked “He loved her”
Alex dropped his voice a notch as he clung to the reins of his anger “He stabbed her twenty-three tilad to share”
Gilbert paled “That’s not necessary”
“Tell me about Latimer”
The officer glanced fro with loyalty to a fellow officer and what needed to be said “After she left hi about her He became obsessed”
“He stalked her”
“He never talked about that stuff in front of me, but there were plenty of times he’d call her while ere on a lunch or dinner break His ”
“What would he say to her?”
“That he was thinking about her That he loved her”
“Did you knohat he was planning?”
“Shit no” The words blasted out, as if fired froun
“He gave onna renew their vows on their anniversary” He shook his head “He told ht off Was excited” The officer one “If I’d have knohat he was planning, I would have reported him I met his wife a couple of ti?”
“Remarkably well She’s a vet now”
That proo to school before he attacked her I never h
eard Glad to know she’s doing well” He tapped an index finger on his belt “Why all these questions after all this time? Latimer died in a car accident”
“That’s what the reports say”
“What’s that mean?”
“He was a sathered”
“Yeah, real smart”
“Could he have faked his death?”
Nervous laughter burst from Gilbert “Yeah, I suppose Do you think he’s still alive?”
“I have no idea” He relaxed his stance, shrugging as if he’d tossed a Hail Mary pass “Just following up on a longshot, crazy idea I follow all the leads, even the odd ones”
Gilbert adjusted his hat “I attended his funeral A lot of cops did We all agreed he’d lost his shit that night when he went after his wife, but he’d been a good cop He’d saved a couple of guys, made clean busts, ell respected on the streets”
“I never questioned his work as a cop It was exemplary until his commander threatened hi order I’m here about the man, the husband”
A cold wind blew,the officer turn away frorand either Leah or both would have been a hell of a blow”
“And he’d have done anything to keep both”
After a wary hesitation, he nodded “Yeah”
When Leah got out of surgery it was late in the day, and her back ached It had been a tough surgery she’d assisted with Dr Nelson She checked her phone and noted a missed call and voice mail from Alex She hit Play as she stretched backward and forward “Leah, I want to talk to you about the case I have more questions”
She lowered the phone fro herself in his voiceyour call Leah”
“So, what’re your plans for tonight?” Gail asked
“After we close up here, I’m headed home Hot bath”
“Ordering in?”