The Hornet’s Nest. Patricia Cornwell

career. He might even become a suspect. After all, didn’t he coincidentally happen to be

in the area every time one of these bodies turned up? He nervously glanced around him,

wondering if this might remotely occur to anyone. Dr. Odom was busy giving Hammer

and West his opinions.

“This is a fucking nightmare,” the medical examiner was saying.

“Jesus Christ.”

He ripped off his gloves, and wasn’t quite sure what to do with them.

He cast about, looking for a receptacle for biological hazards.

Catching the eye of Denny Raines, he gave the paramedic a nod, and the big, handsome

guy came through with his stretcher and crew. Raines winked at West, drinking in the

sexy sight of her in uniform. She was pretty unbelievable, and Hammer was hot, too.

Brazil’s eyes fixed on Raines. Brazil got a strange feeling as he watched the over built

ambulance attendant eyeing West and Hammer. Brazil wasn’t sure what the problem

was, but he was suddenly anxious and a little sick to his stomach. He wanted to get in

Raines’s face, beg him to start something so Brazil could finish it, or at least order Raines

to leave the scene.

“Well, it’s all yours now,” Dr. Odom went on to Hammer as stretcher legs clacked.

“I’m not releasing a damn thing to the media. Never do.

Any statement will have to come from you. ”

“We’re not releasing his identity tonight.” Hammer was adamant.

“Not until he’s been positively identified.”

There was no doubt in her mind. His driver’s license was on the floor of the Maxima, on

the passenger’s side. Hammer recognized the senator’s imposing stature, the gray hair

and goatee, and heavy face.

He hadn’t survived long enough to have tissue response to his horrendous injuries, no

swelling or bruising. Butler did not look so different from when Hammer had seen him

last, at a cocktail party in Myers Park. She was terribly upset and determined that it

would not show. She approached Brazil. He was prowling around the car, taking notes.

“Andy,” she said, touching his arm.

“I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how sensitive this is.”

He got still, looking at her as if she were the reason people went to church every Sunday.

She was God. Hammer was distracted as her gaze wandered inside the car, to the black

leather briefcase stamped with the gold initials K. O. B. It was in back, open, as were

an overnight bag and a suit bag, everything dumped out. She made a silent inventory of

keys, a calculator, US Air peanuts and tickets, a portable phone, pens, paper, address

book, Tic Tacs, lubricated Trojan condoms, shoes, socks, and Jockey shorts, all scattered

by hard, heartless hands.

“Are we sure it’s the senator?” Brazil managed to ask.

Hammer gave him her upset eyes again.

“Not sure enough for you to release that yet.”

“Okay,” he said.

“As long as you don’t give it to out to someone else first.”

“Never. You do the right thing, so will I,” she said the usual.

“Call me tomorrow at five p.m. I’ll give you a statement.”

She walked off. His eyes followed her as she left the crime scene, and

ducked under tape, walking briskly through the strobing blue and red night. Television crews, radio reporters, and mobs of reporters darted at her like barracuda. She waved

them off and got into her chief’s car. Brazil prowled some more, disturbed in a way he

did not understand as he got closer to where the senator had been killed. Raines and

other paramedics were carrying the body to the ambulance, and the Ace twenty-four-hour

towing and recovery truck was rolling in to haul the Maxima to the police department.

The ambulance beeped as it backed up, carrying the dead senator to the morgue while

cameras caught it all. Brent Webb watched Brazil with jealous eyes. It wasn’t fair Brazil

got such special treatment, and could wander around the crime scene with a flashlight as

if he belonged there. Brazil’s privileged position, his golden touch, would end soon

enough, Webb knew. The television reporter smoothed his perfect hair and lubricated his

lips with lip balm. He looked sincerely into the camera and told the world the latest

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