page26 (1/2)

She had one option: Lance

She drove home distracted, her mind on the case, and pulled into her driveway as if on auto-pilot No one was home She checked her watch Not even lunchtis, the house was typically empty Gianna had dialysis, Sophie was in preschool, and Grandpa played chauffeur

Grabbing her purse, Morgan climbed out of the van and went up the front walk Her phone buzzed with an e She was opening her email app as she approached the house

She was nearly to the door before she saw it Her phone slipped froers and hit the brick path

It couldn’t be

Her brain refused to believe what she was seeing She squeezed her eyes shut for a second then opened theain But it was still there

Just below the rammed pewter knocker, a bloody heart was pinned to the door with a knife

Chapter Fifteen

“A knife through the heart?” Anger surged through Lance as he viewed the photo Morgan handed him

“The syan rubbed her biceps and perched on the second folding chair he’d brought into his makeshift office

By agreeing to defend Nick, in the neighbors’ eyes, Morgan had turned on them

“It’s a cow heart I reported it to the police” Morgan shivered and crossed her long legs “They took pictures and filed a report I doubt anything will come of it No one in the community except Bud is on Nick’s side” She pressed a hand to her forehead “Where can you get a cow heart? I called the local grocery stores and butcher shops No luck”

“Have you called the ethnic markets? There’s an Asian superoes there to buy sweet potato greens I know they carry more than the usual cuts ofheads” Lance handed the picture back to her “What about your grandfather’s surveillance camera?”

“It’s not working” She slid it into her briefcase “The alarm company came the other day but they couldn’t repair it They’re replacing it on Monday”

As disturbing as it was, he sensed she hadn’t come to discuss the cow heart someone had nailed to her front door So as she here?

Footsteps sounded in the hall

“Lance?” Sharp called

“In here,” Lance answered

Sharp appeared in the doorway, and Lance introduced them

“I’an said “I really need to speak with you both”

“In that case, let’s go into estured across the hall “Can I offer you a cup of tea?”

“Yes Thank you,” she said

Sharp ushered Morgan into his office “I’ll be right back” He went into the kitchen

Lance settled in the chair next to Morgan Back in the kitchen, water rushed and an igniter on the stove clicked