Framed in Blood (Proper Crimes, Book 1) by Ed Teja
About Framed in Blood:
It's a messy, bloody, crime. It's a proper crime.
When
Bosco, a pimp and drug dealer, is found tortured and then shot makes
for a messy scene, but not a striking crime. An attempt to make it seem
that the prostitute who tortured him for turning her sister into a
junkie also killed him… that is something that grabs Sherry Proper’s
attention.
Anytime a crime is textured, layered, and fascinating,
it provides glimpses into the dark underbelly where people from all
social strata, as well as their money, ambition, and greed can
intersect. Sherry calls these Proper Crimes.
It’s a passion. A passion with only dark sides, and one that can take her up to her neck in danger and trouble in a heartbeat.
Excerpt:
“Why do you need my help?” Sherry asked.
She poked at the folder in front of her. “To get information that isn't in here. This is sketchy, so I need you to talk to people, dig into what really happened. There is conflicting testimony.”
“There was a fight at a strip club, where everyone was drinking like a fish, and people disagree about what happened? What a shock.”
Pietra made a face. She didn't care for sarcasm. For that matter, she didn’t have much of a sense of humor.
“I can’t do anything with what’s in the file. I need statements from clients of the club and several of the... employees. A number of the clients understandably might not want to admit they were even there.”
Sherry allowed herself a smile. Pietra would love trying a case like this but had no idea how to go about tracking down men who went to a strip club, much less how to talk to them. Interviewing a stripper would be a challenge for her. She was smart enough to see that she was unsuited for unraveling what had really gone on that night.
“You need me to twist arms?”
Pietra scowled, imagining it. “I need a clear picture of what really happened, and some idea of what evidence I can get to support the client. With that, I can evaluate the options, negotiate with the prosecutor.”
For a case like this, Sherry figured they made a good team. After all, poking around inside the lives of people like these, getting into human stories, appealed to Sherry as much as it repelled Pietra. Pietra wanted to go in and leverage it, negotiate with the prosecution, and then, if necessary, try the case. She was eager to get into court.
From Sherry’s perspective, all that was best avoided, but the investigative work would mean getting out of the office, away from the computer.
“I can do that,” Sherry said. “Have you talked to the client?”
“Chris just handed me the file ten minutes ago—along with another one. I skimmed it and decided that we didn’t have all the information—I need you checking up on the stories.” Pietra pushed the file across the desk with a look of distaste curling her lips. She didn’t look pretty that way.
“You want me to find the holes in the case?”
“Find out if there are any.” She shrugged. “Maybe he is guilty as charged.” The idea didn’t appeal to her. She’d have to advise him to plea bargain, and that wouldn’t give her a chance to shine.
“If you have any questions...”
She sent Pietra a wink to let her know she had it covered. “I think I can find your office,” she said.
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