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Brow arched, Deke slid his hand into his pocket and rattled the loose change “I’d like you involved in this case”
Georgia raised her gaze to her brother’s This was an unusual request froaze narrowed, suspecting there wasother officers ithin earshot, stayed silent The questions would come later
Alex leveled a cool gaze on his older brother “I want lead”
The Morgan faht like cats and dogs In public, they banded together into a united front “You’ll need to keep me posted Daily”
“Done”
Alex turned and left, passing several uniforuard-dog officer who’d stopped him initially “What car is the witness in?”
“The one in the back, next to the ambulance”
Alex stripped off his rubber gloves and tossed the his way toward the squad car where Leah sat The crisp, cold air felt good as it sizzled through his skin to his er could do that Boil the blood He’d now use his anger as fuel It could drive him for days without much sleep or much food
Hehis steps purposeful and steady It never did well to rush in front of others Rushing telegraphed a lack of control or fear He never showed either
As he approached the backseat, he noticed Leah was staring sightlessly toward the row of town houses and the ring of onlookers who’d braved thecold to watch the scene unfold
Her hair was dark, though, judging by the faint blond roots, not her natural color The other night her hair had been swept just above her shoulders, but today it was pulled back in asuit and clutched run gloves and a knit hat in her hands A thick scarf, loosened into a long loop, hung around her neck Her breath was slow and steady, but he sensed she counted each inhale and exhale
He lightly rapped on the glass to serve warning before he opened the door, but the sound of knuckles against glass aze ith shock and bloodshot She shtened her shoulders, as ifthe threads of her composure
He opened the door, the rush of the car’s heater reaching out to him “Leah”
“Alex What’re you doing here?”
He rapped on the b
arrier separating the back and front seats, and when the officer glanced in the rearview , the officer got out of the car
When the door sla the case”
Fingers twisted around the black gloves “She was Nashville Police”
“I investigate cops”
“You were investigating Deidre?”
“I’ll be investigating her murder”
“I don’t understand”
“Can we talk?” He inclined his head toward the seat, as if waiting for her permission to enter
She scooted to the far side of the car “Sure”
He slid inside, adjusted the folds of his overcoat, and closed the door behind hih he wasn’t as muscular as Deke, he stood several inches taller at six foot three The long body was not a co off the back froet you anything?”
“No, thanks The officer already asked” She swiped a dark wisp from her face
“Can I ask you about this ainst a natural instinct to badger Witnesses, even suspects, responded better to soft tones
She eyed hi this politeness to her overly direct date on Saturday “Deidre and I run together” She allowed a breath to shudder over her lips “She never ht we spoke on the phone, and she said she’d go running this ot worried I called her on her home and cell phones a couple of times but there was no answer”
“Do you always check up on people whosession?”
“No But Deidre is different I texted her and she didn’t respond She alould text back I just got a bad feeling”
“So you came by the house?”
She twisted her gloves in her hands before releasing thehs “I don’t live all that far froht I’d check”
“How did you meet Deidre?” Her nails were cut short but were neat and polished She wasn’t wearing perfume, but there was a faint hint of soap that blended with the fresh air from her run
“The gyroup I joined in just after the first of the year It became kind of a New Year’s resolution for me Fresh start”
“Why did you need a fresh start?”
Her gaze rose abruptly, as if she hadn’t realized what she’d said “Doesn’t everyone start over at the new year?”
“I suppose they try”