Bargain Basement Homicide: A Heaven Murder Mystery (Heaven Murder Mysteries Book 15)

Paul took a deep breath and entered a name into the database. He knew it was the right thing to do but the old wounds it would open didn’t seem worth it. Kurt Adams was a lifelong criminal. Running with the gangs in Harris as a teenager, spending four years in a youth detention facility where apparently he had honed his skills and became a prolific scam artist, burglar and now escalated to fraud and attempted murder.

As page after page spewed from his printer he grew more and more apprehensive of the way this investigation would stir old wounds in Derek. For the past six weeks Derek had focused on recovering from the emotional scars left by the metal whip Adams had beaten him with.

He organized the pages and slid them into a folder, if Derek asked for them he had them but he wasn’t going to volunteer.

The outside door clicked and a moment later Derek filled his door. “Hey, did you get everything together on Adams?”

Paul took a deep breath. “Just finished printing it all out.” he said and picked up the folder. “I can go over it with you, you know, hit the highlights.”

Derek smiled. “I’m a big boy.” and he reached for the folder.

Paul nodded and took a deep breath. “It’s all in here.” he said and handed the file across the desk. The two men held each others gaze for a few seconds.

“Paul, it’s the right thing to do and maybe it’s a bit of closure for me. I can do this.” Derek said softly as he took the folder and turned down the hall.

He set the file in the center of his desk and stood for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and dropping into his chair.

He took a deep breath and focused on the information, not the person. For over an hour he read the sad and disjointed past of his tormentor. Bad home, bad parents, gangs, detention, lack of education, running scams and robbing to support himself. And, finally getting hooked up with cunning smugglers. Ultimately, he was abandoned by them at the end and the anger that was so developed throughout his life swelled, and Derek became his victim.

Three hours later, Derek closed the file and leaned back in his chair. The investigation had few clues or places to start. He pushed the intercom button. “Paul, come in here.” he said and a few seconds later the door opened.

“Yes, boss?” Paul said standing behind the overstuffed chair.

“Where would you begin to investigate the murder of a man who was by trade a killer?” Derek asked.

Paul shrugged “I guess by investigating who he was associated with and in what capacity?

“Let’s start with who he associated with ten months ago when he was in prison. His cellmate was released last month and is currently living in Harris. Check with his parole officer for an address.”

“Boss, are you sure you want to be involved in this?” Paul asked and dropped into the overstuffed chair.
“It isn’t about me, is it?”

“I think it is in a way. All I’m saying is that Randy and I can handle this and leave you out of it.”

“I’m not out of it. I’m very much in it.” Derek replied. “And as hard as it may be for me to put my emotions aside in the big picture, investigating crime is what we do and who the victim is shouldn’t matter.” He took a deep breath and got to his feet.

“Get the address and set up a meeting for tomorrow. I’m going home and see what my baby girl.”