Chapter 1

Sergeant Louie Romanelli donned a second pair of gloves before he dared touch anything in the rent-by-the-hour room. Squeaky beds and low moans from the adjoining rooms bled through the walls, even on a Sunday morning. Someone was getting it, but not him. He’d been called from home on his day off as a special favor for Commissioner Todd Blake. Sophia hadn’t been a happy camper when he told her he had to report in. His wife had planned a family outing for the day and now he had ruined the whole thing—yet again. The job is the job, he thought.

No, instead he’d get to spend his day in a diseased, bug-infested room, standing over the half-nude body of the commissioner’s lovely wife splayed on the bed. He had seen her only the night before, at a local charity ball she had organized. Her brilliant blue eyes had been alive then, vibrant, but had now started to fade as Callie Blake stared up at the ceiling with a vacant death gaze. Not for the first time, he wondered why this classy lady had been in this fleabag motel dressed like a hooker.

Louie turned, then strolled toward the door when a car screeched to a stop at the curb. The low murmur of the crowd that had gathered outside the scene grew louder. A mixture of pimps, hookers, and local residents with their cell phones at the ready waited to learn what had happened in room 142. Not that it was uncommon for a death to occur here. Most residents at the motel were druggies and many had overdosed inside their rooms.

He handed the evidence bag to the uniform next to him. He’d recognized the captain’s car. Louie waited for his passenger to step from the car. He swore under his breath when Commissioner Todd Blake climbed out. Why the hell did the captain bring him to the crime scene? Blake was a suspect, for God’s sake. The media vultures hovered outside the police lines, shouting questions at the captain and Blake. For pity’s sake, it’s going to be all over the news tonight that the police commissioner received special treatment.

Blake ignored the screaming media as if they weren’t there. Gwenn Langley, the reporter from Channel 5, stood off to the side, away from the herd. Gwenn placed her hand on Blake’s elbow and leaned close to whisper into his ear. From his place in the doorway of the crime scene, Louie rushed toward the pair to shelter Blake from her.

“Step back or I’ll have you removed from the scene. Gwenn, show a little respect. This isn’t the time or the place to approach the commissioner,” Louie warned.

“Louie, she’s fine, leave her alone,” Blake said.

Louie stared Langley down before shifting his gaze to Captain Shamus McGuire, who shrugged at the unasked question.

Louie cleared his throat before he spoke in a soft voice for Blake’s ears only. “Commissioner, I can’t let you on the crime scene.”

“That’s my wife in there, Sergeant. I’m going in come hell or high water. Now get the hell out of my way if you want to keep your job,” Todd shot back. The veins in his temples looked as if they were about to burst from his skin.

Louie was afraid the commissioner would have a stroke and become his next causality. As if a pack of lions, the media moved in closer, hoping for a sound bite for tonight’s news.

“Captain…” Louie turned to Shamus, a plea in his eyes.

Commissioner Blake was his boss, but he couldn’t allow him to muddy up the evidence. If it came to trial, Blake’s lawyers would have a field day. They’d almost be guaranteed a dismissal based on compromised evidence.

Shamus grasped Blake’s arm, and whispered something to him. Louie leaned in, trying to hear, but Blake pinned Louie with a glare.

“Callie needs me, Shamus. I have to go in,” Blake said.

“I’ll walk you in…” Louie said, conceding to his captain’s judgment, but was cut off before he could finish his warning to Blake. He understood Blake’s need. He’d want to see the body and crime scene if his wife, Sophia, lay dead in there instead of Callie Blake. The thought frightened Louie, and he blessed himself to banish it.

Shamus said, “Louie, step aside. Todd’s going in for a minute, but you have to promise, Todd, afterward you’ll wait for me in the car.”

“Shamus…”

“Todd, I can’t compromise the scene. If you don’t agree to not touch anything, I’ll have to have an officer escort you from the scene.”

Blake’s eyes narrowed as he stared down Shamus. Louie watched McGuire count down the seconds before Blake agreed.

Shamus led Todd Blake from the curb, up the path lined with the shouting media, to room 142. When Louie, his captain, and the commissioner stepped into the crime scene, Louie’s team stopped what they were doing and came to attention. Blake approached his dead wife. Louie caught a few exchanging looks and behind Blake’s back, he waved off the team. At least they have the grace to drop their eyes, Louie thought. God, this is a mess. It was painful to watch when Blake dropped to his knees by Callie’s corpse. Sobs racked his body.

“Who could do this to her?”