Cold Blooded by Lisa Jackson Page A

behind the steering wheel.
    "Maybe. And while we're at it, maybe we can find one with a rap sheet for arson and murder," Bentz joked.
    Montoya snorted a laugh as he started the car. "The nutcase's vision was right on the money, wasn't it?"
    "Either that or she was involved."
    "Ya think?" \
    Bentz shook his head as he conjured up the desperation in Olivia's eyes, the genuine fear in her expression, the way her teeth sank into her lower lip and worried it when she was telling her story. "I don't know what to think."
    Montoya backed up and jockeyed the Crown Vic between the other rigs. "If
    she was involved, why come to us? Nah, that doesn't wash."
Bentz didn't think so either, but weirder things had happened.
He wasn't leaving anything to chance. "We'll see."
"Yeah, I'll check with DMV, Vital statistics, the SSA."
"Once I get the preliminary information on her and the ME's report, I'm
    going to have another chat with her."
"Man, she really nailed this one. I mean nailed it. Ten to one we find a
burned-out radio and some necklace on the shower head, just like she
    said." Montoya's dark eyes held his for a second. "Somethin's up with
that woman."
"It sure is, Diego."
"Hey, that's what I go by these days," Montoya shot back as he turned
    off the side street.
"Why?"
"My heritage." He patted the video sticking out of his jacket pocket.
"My ass." Bentz stared out the window. "Diego," he snorted.
"It just sounds good, don't ya think?"
"Whatever." Bentz didn't care. Chewing his tasteless gum, Bentz glanced
    at the video cassette and wondered what it would show. Probably nothing. Unless the tape caught the image of a fleeing suspect, or someone in the crowd of curious onlookers at the scene whom none of the neighbors recognized, and who might be the killer watching the aftermath of his destruction. Or possibly one of the neighbors himself. Either way, Olivia Benchet was the best lead they had.
    Chapter Six.
    The phone was jangling as Olivia opened the front door.
    Dropping her bag on the kitchen table, she swept up the receiver while hairy streaked into the living room. "Hello?" she said, cradling the receiver between her shoulder and ear as
    she unwrapped the cover to the bird's cage.
Green feathers ruffled as Chia, the parrot, gave off a sharp whistle.
"Liwie?" Sarah's usually upbeat voice was soft. Sober.
That could mean only one thing. Trouble with her husband.
Again. Leo Restin had a problem with fidelity. A major problem. Monogam
    y wasn't in the man's vocabulary. He just couldn't seem to keep his hands off other women. He'd even had the nerve to come on to Olivia, his wife's business partner, a few months back. Leo's unwanted attention was one of the reasons that had propelled her from Tucson. She'd told him to back off, threatened to confide in Sarah, but he just pressed on.
    Insufferable jerk.
"What's up?" Olivia asked with a wink at Chia.
"It's Leo."
Big surprise.
"He's disappeared again."
That usually meant he was with a woman. Olivia wrapped the cord of the
    phone around her hand and stared out the window to the mists rising off
the bayou.
"He just doesn't give up, does he?" She didn't respond.
"You know what you should do, Sarah." Sarah sighed. "I don't believe in
    divorce, Olivia. I know it's crazy, but I still love him."
"He's using you."
"I just have to wait until Leo grows up."
That could well be forever. "He's thirty-five," Olivia pointed out. "How
    long do you think it'll take?" "I don't know, but I really love him," she said. Her voice wobbled a bit. "I know, I sound pathetic, like one of those loser women who puts up with everything because she loves the jerk. But I really do care
    about him and ... and you don't know what he's like when there's no one
else around.
He can be so sweet."
"That's why so many women fall for him."
Sarah sucked in her breath.
"Sorry--I couldn't help it," Olivia said quickly. "I hate to see you
    keep getting hurt. If you keep letting him, he'll keep doing