Hold Tight by Harlan Coben Page B

woman wore shirts, not bikini tops. And then there’s that bandana found clutched in her hand.”
    “Grabbed off the perp during the attack.”
    “No, not grabbed off. It’s an obvious plant. The body was moved, Frank. So we’re supposed to believe that she clutched it off his head while she struggled-and they just left it there when they dumped her body? Does that sound credible?”
    “Could be the gang was sending a message.”
    “Could be. But then there’s the beating itself.”
    “What about it?”
    “It’s overdone. No one beats up someone with that much precision.”
    “You have a theory?”
    “An obvious one. Someone didn’t want us to recognize her. And something else. Look where she was dumped.”
    “At a well-known spot for whores.”
    “Exactly. We know she wasn’t murdered there. She was dumped there. Why that spot? If she was a hooker, why would you want us to know that? Why dump a hooker in a well-known hooker locale? I will tell you why. Because if she’s mistaken early for a hooker and some lazy fat-assed investigator takes the case and sees the easiest route-”
    “Who you calling fat-assed?”
    Frank Tremont stood. And Cope quietly said, “Sit down, Frank.”
    “Are you going to let her-?”
    “Shh,” Cope said. “Hear that sound?”
    Everyone stopped.
    “What?”
    Cope cupped his hand to his ear. “Listen, Frank. Hear it?” His voice was a whisper. “That’s the sound of your incompetence being made obvious to the masses. Not just your incompetence, but your suicidal stupidity at going after your superior when the facts do not back you up.”
    “I don’t have to take this-”
    “Shh, listen. Just listen.”
    Muse was trying hard not to laugh.
    “Were you listening, Mr. Gaughan?” Cope asked.
    Gaughan cleared his throat. “I heard what I had to.”
    “Good, because so did I. And since you asked to record this meeting, well, I felt obliged to do so too.” Cope produced a small tape recorder from behind a book on his desk. “Just in case, you know, your boss wanted to hear exactly what happened in here and your recorder malfunctioned or something. We wouldn’t want anyone to think you’d slant the story in favor of your brother-in-law, would we?”
    Cope smiled at them. They did not smile back.
    “Gentlemen, any other comments? No, good. Back to work, then. Frank, you take the rest of the day off. I want you to think about your options and maybe check out some of the great retirement packages we offer.”

10
    WHEN Mike got home, he looked at the Lorimans’ house. No movement. He knew that he’d have to take the next step.
    First, do no harm. That was the credo.
    And second?
    That was a little trickier.
    He threw his keys and wallet on the little tray Tia had set up because Mike was always losing his keys and wallet. It actually worked. Tia had called when she landed in Boston. She was doing some prep work now and deposing the witness in the afternoon. It could go a while but she’d grab the first shuttle she could. No rush, he told her.
    “Hi, Daddy!”
    Jill rounded the corner. When Mike saw her smile, the Lorimans and everything else just slid off him in a pure, easy groove.
    “Hi, honey. Is Adam in his room?”
    “No,” Jill said.
    So much for the easy groove.
    “Where is he?”
    “I don’t know. I thought he was down here.”
    They started to call for him. No answer.
    “Your brother was supposed to babysit,” Mike said.
    “He was here ten minutes ago,” she said.
    “And now?”
    Jill frowned. When she frowned, her entire body seemed to get into it. “I thought you were going to the hockey game tonight.”
    “We are.”
    Jill seemed agitated.
    “Honey, what’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.”
    “When did you see your brother last?”
    “I don’t know. A few minutes ago.” She started biting a nail. “Shouldn’t he be with you?”
    “I’m sure he’ll be right back,” Mike said.
    Jill looked uncertain. Mike felt the same.
    “Are you still