Close Case Read online

  Praise for…

  Close Case

  “Samantha Kincaid…battles the system to solve a puzzling homicide. Daughter of crime writer James Lee Burke and herself a former deputy D.A., the author keeps the plot hurtling along.”

  —People magazine (in a Book Pick review)

  “A crackling legal thriller…Burke is a former prosecutor, so she knows what she’s writing about, getting the details all in place. She’s also a gifted storyteller, which makes Close Case suspenseful, thought-provoking, and a lot of fun.”

  —Chicago Sun-Times

  “Samantha Kincaid makes a welcome return in Close Case…As in Burke’s past books, seemingly simple legal cases become anything but cut-and-dried, and their consequences are always intriguing.”

  —The Seattle Times

  “This is clearly an insider’s view, authority riding on every sentence. The plot dazzles and tantalizes…Adultery, murder, community activists, and Sam’s dogged rock-the-boat tactics keep you glued to every line. Nothing is as it seems amid legal shenanigans and police camaraderie, and the shocks of the plot stun. The Burkes have become a dynasty.”

  —The Providence Journal (Rhode Island)

  “Alafair Burke upholds her family reputation for top-notch mystery writing…There is a lot more investigating and personal back story than courtroom drama in Close Case…Burke tells the story with great style.”

  —Omaha World-Herald

  “She’s tough, clever, and cantankerous as hell…In short, Samantha Kincaid is a pain in the butt…Burke has good storytelling in her genes…More, please.”

  —The Guardian (London)

  “Close Case follows Missing Justice, a novel that Burke wrote last year—and it has the same power and suspense.”

  —Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)

  “Burke delivers a fast-moving story of race and drugs and politics and prosecutors and cops and reporters—and how the volatile mix plays out on urban streets.”

  —The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

  “This novel brims with intelligence and suspense.”

  —Tucson Citizen

  “Close Case is the third in the Samantha Kincaid series by Burke, and in it she comes into her own as a writer. The first two books were good, with great characters and a nice sense of place…But Close Case is different. There’s an ease of writing, a smoothing of the hard edges, the touches that take a writer to the next stage in development, and Alafair Burke has reached it.”

  —Toronto Globe and Mail

  “Burke hits her stride…[A] big, bustling canvas with plausible moral dilemmas for Samantha and surprises that are still popping on the final pages.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “Absorbing…Burke confidently lays out the procedural details.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Burke’s first-person narration works beautifully…[a] superb legal thriller. Highly recommended.”

  —Library Journal

  “An enjoyable read. The well-limned characters, interesting plot, believability of the crime, and the way Burke brings readers right into the investigation add to the tension and suspense.”

  —Bookreporter.com

  “[Burke] is her own writer—she hasn’t tried to copy her father—and she creates strong characters and strong plots…This is a fast-moving, assured book with lots of surprises and action. Burke and Kincaid come into their own here.”

  —Statesman Journal

  “For those fans of legal thrillers, Close Case by talented Alafair Burke will fill the bill.”

  —New Mystery Reader

  “In addition to the very empathetic Samantha, Burke has created a number of engrossing characters…Well-written, with engaging characters, this is a very good legal mystery. Rating: A.”

  —Deadly Pleasures

  “With this effort, Burke has found a compelling voice for protagonist Samantha Kincaid, while offering a plot with the kind of headlong rush that’s the attraction of the genre…Kincaid possesses a winning combination of sweetness and vulnerability that’s rather refreshing—and almost unheard of in such mysteries.”

  —Willamette Week

  “[A] politically charged gritty thriller.”

  —Booklist

  “Hot, hardboiled…and highly recommended.”

  —Lee Child

  “A terrific, multi-layered novel, one that constantly surprises and delights. Everything is just right—the quotidian details about prosecutors, cops, and reporters, the richness of the Portland setting, the seamless plotting. Alafair Burke has out-done herself.”

  —Laura Lippman, author of By a Spider’s Thread

  “Close Case is a page-turner with humor, intelligence, and a kick-ass heroine. Alafair Burke just keeps getting better and better.”

  —Harlan Coben

  Missing Justice

  “Burke…is definitely a comer and a keeper.”

  —Chicago Tribune

  “Entertaining, complex.”

  —Dallas Morning News

  “Bolstered by Burke’s crisp writing and attention to detail, Missing Justice delivers a penetrating insider’s look at the law and those who have made it their career. Burke…brings such a sense of energy and enthusiasm to her story that the details of how a case comes together—and can fall apart—seem fresh.”

  —Orlando Sentinel

  “In Missing Justice, Burke really hits her stride. And so does her protagonist…She’s smart, she’s tough, and she’s unafraid—in short, just the way we like our heroines.”

  —The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

  “Samantha Kincaid is one feisty, smart, articulate soul…She is appearing in her second novel in what’s proving to be the beginning of a tough, funny, incisive new mystery-procedural series…Meticulously, Burke presents her tale with authority and expert pacing…I hope Sam Kincaid hangs around for a long time to come because she’s great company and spins a timely yarn.”

  —Providence Journal

  “Alafair Burke made a promising debut with Judgment Calls…Kincaid returns in another absorbing legal thriller.”

  —Seattle Times

  “Should be required reading for local mystery fans…Compelling.”

  —The Oregonian

  “Are you born with great genes for writing fiction? Or is it something you learn at your daddy’s or mommy’s knee? Whatever it is, Alafair Burke, daughter of James Lee, has it…Kincaid is a great character.”

  —Toronto Globe and Mail

  “As a former prosecutor herself, Burke knows the inside of a courtroom, and it shows in the details.”

  —Rocky Mountain News

  “Perfect summer escapism…Satisfying…An exciting story that has all of the unexpected twists that are necessary for a first-rate mystery story.”

  —Tucson Citizen

  “This writing is reminiscent of Sue Grafton’s mysteries: headscratchers with some humor and light.”

  —The Missoulian

  “A taut mystery/thriller with fine characters…a fine and fast read.”

  —Statesman-Journal (Salem, OR)

  “A finely wrought aggregate of the elements of a police procedural, merged with the architecture of a legal thriller and a tightly plotted ‘old-fashioned’ mystery…In this second outing for them, both Burke and Kincaid come off as very talented and justly claiming their place among the work of writers like Linda Fairstein and Jan Burke…She has the gift every writer longs for: to grab the reader’s attention on page one and hold on to it until the last page is read.”

  —Bookreporter.com

  “A delectable vehicle for Samantha. Alafair Burke advances the story with ingenuity and a sly, sexy charm.”

  —Deseret Morning News

  “Each of h
er two books can be read as a stand-alone…Buy them both. You won’t be disappointed.”

  —Reviewingtheevidence.com

  “Lively…Burke does a good job of integrating the political and personal lives of her characters, with the detectives of the Major Crimes Unit being particularly well-drawn. Witty and concise dialogue.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “A very entertaining mystery.”

  —Davis Enterprise

  “A very clever whodunit long on red herrings, shadowy motives, and sly humor. The author’s background as a former deputy D.A. in Portland lends gritty ambience to this modern parable of greed and ambition.”

  —Booklist

  Judgment Calls

  “Paints a persuasive insider’s picture of the gossip, sexist banter, dirty talk, competing egos, and office politics in Kincaid’s little world of cops and prosecutors…Hers is a lawyer’s crisp, no-nonsense narrative…This is a solid debut, and the publisher promises that we’ll be hearing more from tough, tart, sexy, high-minded Samantha Kincaid…First-rate, suspenseful entertainment.”

  —Washington Post Book World

  “A grabber of a first novel…the series is off to a start that promises a smart and significant future.”

  —Houston Chronicle

  “If a courtroom is the perfect setting in your vacation reading, Judgment Calls is the beginning of a fresh new series…Burke…makes an impressive start with this novel…If you love Law and Order, you’ll love Judgment Calls.”

  —The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

  “It’s no mystery why Alafair Burke’s first novel, Judgment Calls, is already getting rave reviews…Burke demonstrates a natural-born propensity for suspense.”

  —Phoenix New Times

  “An engrossing novel that compares to the best of the genre.”

  —Rocky Mountain News

  “Author Burke is a splendid guide through its satisfyingly twisty plot.”

  —The Seattle Times

  “Burke definitely stands on her own merits as she delivers a debut that immediately springs to life…Burke’s crisp writing and attention to detail bolster Judgment Calls…Burke’s flair for characters shines…Judgment Calls would be an engrossing read no matter whose name was on the cover.”

  —Newport News Press

  “Sure-footed, well-written, craftily plotted…Burke alternates this plot with Kincaid’s legal strategies for the courtroom in a deft, crisp style that’s smooth as silk. She happens to be the daughter of writer James Lee Burke, but her own debut stands splendidly on its own.”

  —Providence Journal

  “Clean, direct prose and a riveting knowledge of her subject…I finished the book in one gulp…Alafair Burke holds our attention with professional skill and authoritative ease.”

  —Santa Fe New Mexican

  “Fast-paced, well-plotted debut.”

  —Raleigh News & Observer

  “[Burke] has developed her own unique style of storytelling that is both fresh and wholly original. Judgment Calls is an exciting first novel and the perfect summer book to send shivers of suspense down the reader’s spine.”

  —Tucson Citizen

  “It’s the attention to the minutiae of trial tactics that illuminates Kincaid’s character and gives distinction to the novel.”

  —The Toronto Star

  “Alafair Burke has made an excellent start…We’ll be watching for the return of Samantha Kincaid.”

  —Toronto Globe and Mail

  “Burke comes out of the gate flying…This has all the makings of a successful series, and we’re looking forward to the next.”

  —New Mystery Reader

  “An accomplished and thrilling tale of her own…She writes in her own style, at her own pace, and the result is an engrossing novel that compares to the best of the genre.”

  —Peter Mergendahl, Rocky Mountain News

  “Alafair Burke is the real deal…Judgment Calls is a fine work, introducing what I hope will be a long-running series about the trials and tribulations of Samantha Kincaid…With Judgment Calls, Alafair Burke has arrived on the crime fiction scene in dramatic fashion…She’s going to go very far.”

  —January Magazine

  “Burke writes with both a clarity and a self-assuredness that belies her first-time novelist status. The plot lines are tightly woven, and she adroitly ties things together in the end. This is the first in what should be a popular series.”

  —Library Journal

  “Fast-paced debut introduces a sharp new crime series…Narrated in a crisp first person and injected with good-natured humor…tightly plotted.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Introduces D.A. Samantha Kincaid, a sympathetic protagonist and welcome newcomer to the legal-thriller landscape…Burke blends courtroom drama and criminal investigation with surprising aplomb…This promising debut augurs well for a successful series.”

  —Booklist

  “Captivating. Alafair Burke is a wonderful writer, with the kind of skill and confidence I most admire! I’m a big fan and look forward to the next novel in the series.”

  —Sue Grafton

  “A terrific debut; very different from her famous father’s work, but the storytelling DNA is all there, for sure. This is smart, savvy, expert.”

  —Lee Child

  “Reading Judgment Calls by Alafair Burke makes predicting the future easy. Burke comes out of the gate with a first novel that proves she’s got what it takes and will be sticking around. This is the most telling of legal thrillers. It expertly shows that the most gripping drama is not found in the courtroom but in the places where choices get made in the shadows cast by politics and corruption and human desires.”

  —Michael Connelly

  “A bold, brash entry into the world of crime fiction, Judgment Calls is strong, smart and shocking. Alafair Burke has been on the front lines in the courtroom and on the streets, and brings her world alive in this exciting first novel. A powerful debut from a talented newcomer.”

  —Linda Fairstein

  “Alafair Burke is, without question, a new writer to watch. Judgment Calls is a remarkable debut—a skillfully told tale with memorable characters and plot twists that will keep readers involved from the first page to the satisfying end. Take this one home with you—you’ll enjoy it, and not many years from now, you’ll be able to tell your friends that you knew she’d be a star when you read her first book.”

  —Jan Burke

  For my remarkable grandmothers,

  Mrs. Margaret Pai and

  Mrs. James L. Burke, Sr.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Acknowledgments

  He called it quits earlier than usual. He’d heard about the troubles downtown, but in Northeast Portland the streets were quiet. Cruising his contacts and getting nowhere was discouraging. Less admittedly, it was disconcerting. He couldn’t help but wonder whether sources were mum because they had nothing to say or because they were nervous.

  The truth was, he was worried too. As he drove the familiar route back to his condo, he found himself watching the rearview mirror for headlights. He also kept an eye on the speedometer, even as cars passed on either side. He was tired of cops pulling him over for speeding while he was following the traffic flow.

  It wasn’t like him, but damn if this one
wasn’t getting to him. He had the confirmation he needed, but he’d been holding off, trying to decide whether to keep his mouth shut or go forward. But it was time to put an end to this bullshit. Laying low was for punks. Here he was, watching his back while he’d been spinning his wheels. Tomorrow he’d go with what he had. He’d dealt with worse and lived to face the day.

  When he could see the lights of the Burnside Bridge glowing over the still Willamette behind him, he felt some of the tension ease. He was on the west side now, almost home. He continued monitoring the mirrors for lights as he climbed the steep hill to Vista Heights, looking forward to a quiet night alone. A little ESPN, then the clean sheets he’d placed on the bed that morning, would hit the spot. In the morning, he’d start taking control. Rise up and get this motherfucker over with.

  He’d given so much attention to the approach of other cars that he didn’t notice the feet step from the parking lot into the darkness of his carport.

  “Nice car, Snoop,” he heard, as he climbed out of his Benz.

  Three minutes later, he felt a pool of his own blood warming the cement beneath him. He thought about his phone, still in the car, but knew he would never get to it. I’ll be fine, he told himself. Someone’s calling for help, and by this time tomorrow I’ll be writing a story about this shit.

  1

  Hotshot reporter Percy Crenshaw died on the last day of my thirty-second year.

  I’m crystal clear on the timing, because I remember precisely where I was when I got word the following morning. I was slogging away in the misdemeanor intake unit, issuing criminal trespass after criminal trespass case, thinking to myself, This is a shitty way to spend my thirty-second birthday.

  The way I saw it, I had no business working at intake. I have been a prosecutor for seven years, three federally as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York City, and four in my current position as a Deputy District Attorney for Multnomah County. Only someone with a local connection would know where Multnomah County is, let alone how to pronounce it. It’s the county whose seat is Portland, Oregon, the rainy city in the Pacific Northwest. Not the big one with the needle in the skyline, the smaller one south of there.