Pete eyed the detective. He’d had a busy night.
Baronick pulled out another paper. “I have a copy of a receipt from your purchases that day, timestamped 2:14.”
Frown lines formed around Loretta’s mouth.
Downey twiddled her pen. “I don’t see what my client’s shopping habits have to do with anything.”
Baronick ignored her and pulled out a USB drive. “I also have a copy of the security footage of you at the front counter checking out. You. And Ms. Wagner. And her soft drink right there between you.”
Pete managed to maintain his poker face. Had Baronick seen Loretta slipping something into Gina’s beverage mere hours before she got sick? How much was visible on the video?
Loretta made no move to reply, keeping her lips pressed into a thin, pale line.
Downy used the non-business end of her pen to scratch her chin. “Forgive me, but I still don’t see what this has to do with anything.”
Baronick looked at the lawyer. “Ask your client. She knows.”
Zoe gave Paulette the morning off and had the small, quiet office to herself. Ignoring the still unpacked boxes and the pile of paperwork stacked on the old desk, Zoe reclined in her new chair and studied Franklin’s notes on the Elizabeth Landis case. Pete had already told her the bulk of it.
Franklin made a strong case that Dustin would not have hidden in the backseat. The DA had made a convincing counterargument, stating it was perfectly logical for him to wish to avoid being seen. Without questioning Franklin on the depth of his beliefs, Zoe had to agree with the prosecution. She closed the file, relieved she wouldn’t have to offer an opinion in court.
A sharp rap on the closed door made her flinch. She slipped the folder in the desk’s center drawer before rising. “It’s open,” she called.
Dr. Charles Davis, a briefcase in hand, pushed into the office and stopped to take it in.
Crap. If she’d known it was him, she’d have pretended to be out. “What can I do for you?”
He made a face as if the air reeked. “This is the new county coroner’s office?”
“Temporary office. We’ll be moving into the Courthouse Annex as soon as a space becomes available.”
“For your sake, I hope that’s soon.”
Which was about the nicest thing he’d ever said to her. “So do I,” she admitted. “But you didn’t come here to inspect my new digs.”
“No, I did not.” He made his way around the stacked boxes to stand across the desk from her. “I came bearing gifts.” He set down the briefcase, clicked it open, and retrieved a printed report, which he laid in front of her. But he covered it with one large paw preventing her from reading it.
“What’s this gonna cost me?” she asked, doubting whatever the report held would be worth it.
“Can’t I share information out of the goodness of my heart?”
Skeptical he even had a heart, she pointed at the paper. “If that was the case, you wouldn’t be covering it up.”
“This is information about Elizabeth Landis.”
“You’re employed by the defense. I’m testifying for the prosecution. Why on earth would you share information?”
He lowered his voice. “Because you need me.”
“No, I don’t. I have Franklin’s notes. And I wasn’t there nine years ago, so I’m limited to only reading his official report.”
“I don’t mean that.” Davis had a glint in his eyes. “With Franklin gone, you’re the acting coroner until the county gets around to holding a special election.”
She crossed her arms. “At which point you’ll run against me.”
“Maybe not.”
Now she knew the cost attached to this “gift” was way beyond her price range.
“Hear me out,” Davis said. “I just lost to Franklin in a very expensive election. The cost of running for office is astronomical. You don’t have that kind of money, and, I admit, I don’t have the cash or the energy to go through it all again.”
Zoe continued to eye him suspiciously. She wanted to know where he was going with this but not enough to ask. She also knew she wouldn’t have to.
“You need me. You have good investigative instincts, I’ll grant you that. But you were still under Franklin’s tutelage when he died. You’re not ready to carry the burden of this office on your own.”
She recognized his flattery as blown smoke, but the rest of it rang true. She didn’t feel ready. Or able. What she felt was overwhelmed.
“I want a position on your staff.”
“I already have a forensic pathologist.”
He waved the hand not holding down the report. “I’m not talking about taking Abercrombie’s job, although I can certainly assist when needed. I want the job of chief deputy.”
Her suspicions grew. “You wanted to take over Franklin’s job, change the office from a coroner to a medical examiner system…not to mention your promise to fire me because I’m inept…and now you want to work as my deputy?”
“You’re not inept. That was all political blathering. As for the change to an ME system? I still believe that’s the future of the office. But Monongahela County isn’t ready for it yet.” He leaned closer, his eyes demonically bright. “Yes, I want the job of being your deputy. You need me. I know the job. I know the stress. And I’m gambling that you’re going to burn out. I give you five years. In that time, you’ll either be sick of the job or damned good at it. If it’s the first, I’ll be in a perfect position to take over. If it’s the latter?” He shrugged. “I’ll take credit for your success.”
Zoe hated that she was even considering his offer. She nodded at the report. “What’s in there?”
“Do we have a deal?”
“If I say no?”
“Then you are an idiot.”
“What if I say I want to think about it?”
“Sorry. This
