Love Inspired Suspense April 2015 #2 by Dana Mentink, Tammy Johnson, Michelle Karl Page A

him.”
    Mick caught the bile that dripped from the last word. “About Tucker?”
    John didn’t answer, but Mick saw the look on Keeley’s face as she studied him.
    â€œDr. Bender,” Mason called. “Would you mind answering a few questions now?”
    John squeezed Keeley around the shoulders, pressed a kiss to her temple and trudged off.
    Mick stared after him, and Reggie, who had sauntered closer, did, too.
    â€œGuy’s a coiled spring,” Reggie said. “Must have had it bad for LeeAnn.”
    Mick watched Keeley, whose eyes changed from blue to pewter in the shifting rays of sun. “I wonder.”
    Reggie ran a thumb under his eye patch. “What?”
    â€œJohn was so concerned about Keeley that he stopped me as I was on my way up, and then he risked getting himself shot by interrupting you.”
    â€œYeah, so?”
    â€œSo if he was deeply concerned,” Mick continued, “why did he wait so long to call the cops?”
    Reggie considered. “Dunno. Doesn’t trust them, maybe?”
    I’m not sure I do, either
, Mick thought.
    Chief Uttley joined them. “Photographed everything, took the roof diagram, but in my opinion Tucker’s been staying here alone. There’s some other trash, but it’s old.”
    â€œBut...” Keeley said.
    Uttley cut her off and looked at Reggie. “Mr. Donaldson, I’m looking forward to hearing your part in this messy little encounter. There will be a nice bit of paperwork to go through, especially since you discharged your weapon twice. We’ll secure the scene and drive back to the station. I trust that won’t ruin your plans?”
    â€œNah,” Reggie said with an airy wave. “I’ve got to call my travel agent and book a cruise, but it can wait.” He winked at Keeley and headed for his car. “Catch you later, Mick.” His tone hardened, probably imperceptibly to anyone, but not to Mick. “We’ve got some things to talk over.”
    Understatement. Mick still burned inside at Reggie’s negligence. He was so bent on revenge that he was willing to endanger Keeley. Mick was going to have to keep tabs on that escalating problem.
    Further, Mick was going to have to figure out why Uttley was protecting whoever was holed up in the building with Tucker. But the bigger issue at the moment was, who had sent the text that delivered Keeley to the rooftop? Was it Tucker, or did he have someone else helping him?
    * * *
    Keeley’s knees were still shaking, but she insisted on driving herself to the police station. She wanted to be away from Reggie and John and, most important, from Mick, to sort out her feelings. How was a person supposed to put their emotions in order after being cornered by their sister’s killer and told her child was the real target?
    She gripped the wheel and used the hands-free phone to dial Aunt Viv.
    â€œThe police have already been here,” Aunt Viv reassured her. “They’re not anyone I know, I think they’re on loan from another department, but the chief is coming later.” She shushed Cornelius, who loved to chatter away when she was on the phone. “I think Cornelius knows I’m taking him for a wing and nail trim soon. It’s not his favorite thing.”
    She knew her aunt had a tendency to rattle on when she was overwrought. “Aunt Viv, are you and June okay?”
    â€œYes,” she said. “Our lives are perfectly normal except for the police car parked outside. They said we’re completely safe. They came inside to check all the locks and such, too. So embarrassing. I hadn’t gotten around to dusting in the family room for ages, and my violin sheet music was all over the study.”
    Keeley smiled through her worry. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.” Her voice wobbled.
    â€œHoney,” her aunt said quietly. “It’s going to be okay. Junie is safe