DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS by Mallory Kane Page B

fear inside her. “In danger. From the murderer?”
    “He knows who you are. I’m going to have one of the police cruisers in the area drive by your house every few hours, just to be safe.”
    He reached around her and opened the door. She caught the clean scent of soap and shampoo. “I’ll walk you out.”
    As they walked down the hall from the interview room, two well-dressed men were standing near the front entrance to the station, straightening their ties and talking in undertones to each other. Laney recognized one of them, Senator Myron Stamps.
    Beside her, Ethan muttered a curse. He laid his hand reassuringly on the small of her back.
    Reassuring, yes. His warm hand felt like a promise of safety, but she couldn’t help but be suspicious at the timing. Had he set up this accidental meeting to see how she would react when confronted by one of the two members of what Senator Sills had called the “Good Ole Boys” club? It had been long rumored that Sills, Stamps and Whitley, a trio of older politicians in the Louisiana Legislature, had taken bribes and kickbacks from businessmen and lobbyists in the import/export businesses to keep taxes low and look the other way when certain illegal substances were brought in through the Port of New Orleans. In fact, the kidnapping of Dr. Kate Chalmet’s little boy had been a warped plan to keep Stamps in office so the graft and corruption could continue.
    As if he could hear Laney’s thoughts, Senator Stamps turned. Unsure what to do or say, meeting him in the middle of the police station, Laney pasted on a small smile and nodded.
    Senator Stamps stepped forward. “Laney,” he said, reaching out a hand toward her, but Ethan stepped in front of her. “Excuse us, Senator,” he said evenly.
    “I just wanted to speak to Laney,” Stamps countered, and spoke to Laney as if Ethan wasn’t there. “My dear, you must be in shock and terrified.” Stamps squinted at the bandage on her head. “Oh, my dear, were you shot?”
    Laney opened her mouth, but Ethan deflected the senator again. “I’m sorry, Senator. It’s probably best if y’all don’t communicate.”
    Stamps frowned as Ethan guided her past him. Beyond, Laney saw the other man, probably Stamps’s lawyer, scowl. Was his disapproval aimed at Stamps, at Ethan—or at her? She nodded to him as well, but he just glared at her.
    Laney held her tongue until Ethan had opened the door to the squad room and guided her through and out the front door of the station house.
    “Why did you do that?” she demanded, once they were walking down the concrete steps.
    “Do I have to remind you that you are a victim in this case, as well as my only witness, and Senator Stamps is a person of interest. You shouldn’t be talking to him.”
    “Not that. Why did you walk me right past them?”
    Ethan frowned. “That was an accident.”
    “You mean you weren’t hoping for an encounter? You weren’t hoping someone would say something incriminating?”
    “It didn’t hurt my feelings that Stamps confronted you.”
    “He wasn’t confronting me. He was offering his condolences.”
    “His lawyer should have stopped him. Didn’t you see the look he sent him?”
    “I can’t say if it was aimed at Stamps or you or me.”
    Ethan said, “Listen to me. You need to be careful. Don’t take any unnecessary chances. Don’t go out alone at night.”
    “So you do think I’m in danger. But not from Senator Stamps, surely?” she asked. “I thought you figured any threats would come from Buddy Davis. Assuming he was the man in black.”
    Ethan glanced around as they stepped off the bottom step and onto the sidewalk. “Watch what you say in public. And as for threats or danger, until I have some concrete evidence, I’m considering everybody dangerous, especially to you.”
    Laney frowned at him. Suddenly, his voice had gone harsh.
    “You’ve got my number. If anything, and I mean anything, odd or unusual happens, you call me. Got