The Echo Killing: A gripping debut crime thriller you won’t be able to put down!. Christi Daugherty

been outraged for that man. Today, she would happily have been buried next to him.

      Her gravestone could read: ‘Harper McClain, died of a hangover. What an idiot.’

      She and Bonnie had stayed at the bar after closing, drinking with Carlo and Junior, and playing half-hearted, quickly abandoned games of pool. It must have been four in the morning by the time she got home.

      She’d awoken at noon, cotton-mouthed and hammer-headed, to find her cat, Zuzu, lying on her chest like an eight-pound tumor.

      ‘Get off me, you evil fluffball,’ she’d murmured, shoving the tabby to one side.

      The cat waited until she drifted off, then got back on her again, purring maliciously.

      At that point, Harper had given up and climbed out of bed. Four ibuprofen and a gallon of water later, she’d felt able to go to work.

      When she pushed open the heavy, bulletproof door and walked out of the heat into the police station’s icy air conditioning, she didn’t remove her sunglasses.

      The front-desk clerk looked up as she approached.

      ‘Harper!’ she trilled. ‘You look mysterious today.’

      Barely over five feet tall, with glossy black curls and a curvy figure that tested the buttons of her navy blue desk uniform, Darlene Wilson’s skin was so flawless it was impossible to determine her age, but Harper guessed she was in her mid-thirties.

      ‘Please, Darlene,’ Harper said pleadingly. ‘If you love me at all. Whisper.’

      Darlene’s booming laugh threatened to split her skull.

      ‘All right, honey. I hear you,’ she said, lowering her voice a fraction. ‘Were you at a party last night or something?’

      ‘Let’s just say drinks with an old friend got out of hand.’

      As she spoke, Harper flipped rapidly through the thick stack of overnight police reports.

       Burglary, burglary, burglary, public nuisance, DUI, burglary, stabbing …

      She paused, scanning the description of the last one.

       At 0400 hours, a 34-year-old male did enter the address and proceed to utilize a sharp bladed instrument against a 32-year-old female identified as his former spouse …

      ‘Male friend or female friend?’ Darlene prodded.

      Harper turned a page. ‘Not the kind of friend you’re thinking about.’

      Darlene made a tutting sound. ‘That’s a shame.’

      ‘I would like to know,’ Harper said, without looking up, ‘why everyone is so fascinated by my love life all of a sudden.’

      Arching one expressive eyebrow, Darlene turned to her computer.

      ‘No reason,’ she said.

      It took Harper about ten seconds to decide against covering the stabbing. Baxter hated domestic violence stories. Today, she didn’t have the strength for an argument.

      Returning that report to the stack, she flipped through the rest, making a couple of notes. She was nearly finished when Darlene held up her hand.

      ‘Oh, honey, I almost forgot.’

      The hint of warning in her voice made Harper look up.

      ‘The lieutenant wants you to see him in his office.’

      ‘Now?’ Harper’s brow creased. ‘Did he say why?’

      ‘Not exactly.’ Darlene leaned closer. ‘All I know is, everyone’s talking about the shooting last night. They say you got involved.’

      Her heart sinking, Harper slid the stack of paperwork back across the counter.

      She should have known the lieutenant would hear about it.

      ‘How pissed off is he? Scale of one to ten.’

      ‘Oh, you know what he’s like.’ Darlene busied herself straightening papers. ‘He likes having something to complain about.’

      For a tantalizing second, Harper contemplated slipping out the door and back to the newspaper, but she didn’t want the lieutenant tracking her down. He’d done it before. Once, when she’d ignored his summons, he’d sent motorcycle police to pull her over and escort her back, blue lights flashing.

      ‘Damn.’

      Reluctantly, she trudged to the security door leading to the back offices. With a sympathetic smile, Darlene pushed the button releasing the lock.

      The shrill buzz it emitted was a sound-blade in Harper’s hungover head, repeatedly stabbing her cerebellum. Wincing, she pulled the door open.

      On the other side, a long corridor stretched the length of the building. Windowless and shadowy, it was lined on either side by offices. She passed the 911 dispatch room with its glowing bank of computers. Then several sergeants’ offices – each small and crowded, all of them empty at the moment.

      She was halfway down the corridor when two detectives in lightweight summer suits approached her, talking quietly. Spotting her, one nudged the other.

      Detective Ledbetter’s smile took up his whole, round face. Next to him, Detective Julie Daltrey was grinning mischievously. She was ten years younger and a head shorter than Ledbetter, with dark brown skin and endearing dimples.

      When Harper reached them, the two stopped, blocking her way.

      ‘Oh hello, Officer McClain,’ Detective Daltrey said, as Ledbetter snickered. ‘I hear you’re joining the force.’

      ‘Oh, fuck me running.’ She glared at them. ‘Is this how it’s going to be?’

      ‘Do me a favor,’ Daltrey goaded her. ‘Say, “Stop or I’ll shoot.” I want to judge your technique.’

      ‘No, that’s not what she said,’ Ledbetter reminded her. ‘It was “You’re surrounded”.’

      They guffawed. Daltrey bent over double, clutching her ribs.

      Harper had heard enough.

      ‘Will you please get out of my way?’ Lowering her shoulder she shoved her way past them with such force they had to jump aside to avoid being knocked down. ‘Don’t you have murderers to catch?’

      ‘Yeah, but you can do that for us,’ Daltrey said. ‘We’re taking the rest of the day off.’

      Their laughter followed her all the way down the hall.

      Harper knew this was only the beginning. Nobody on the planet enjoys ridicule more than a cop. They never tired of it. Last night she’d basically pinned a bullseye on her back.

      She was grateful when she reached the door at the end of the hall where the name ‘Lieutenant Robert Smith’ was written on the sign outside.

      Taking off her sunglasses, Harper stuffed them in her bag. Then, letting out a deep breath, she tapped her knuckles against the door.

      ‘It’s Harper.’

      ‘Get in here.’ The voice was a low, baritone growl.

      Steeling herself, she opened the door, already launching into her defense.

      ‘Look, Lieutenant, last night wasn’t my fault.’

      ‘I’ll be the judge of that.’

      Lieutenant Robert Smith was about fifty years old, with thick, graying hair and a square jaw made to take a punch. He was six foot two and, even sitting at a desk, he dominated a room. His charcoal suit looked expensive, as did his dark blue silk tie.

      He was one of those men who, even when no cigar was present, looked as if they ought to be holding one.

      As she approached the