Minutes to Kill by Melinda Leigh

if the president was on the line. “I thought you were out West.”
    “I was. I’m in town for Faith’s birthday party tonight.”
    And she’d called him?
    Don’t get excited. She probably needs to discuss her brother’s case.
    Brody tried not to get personally involved with the people in his cases, but every once in a while, a case came along that he couldn’t shake. The murders of Lee and Kate Barrett had been the most intense of Brody’s career, and he’d kept in touch with the family.
    He’d seen Hannah a few times since he’d arrested her brother’s killer. She’d arrive in town wearing a conservative, high-style suit, and change into jeans as if she changed her identity upon her return to Scarlet Falls, like Superman ducking into a phone booth. But when he imagined her, which was more often than he liked, her polished corporate attorney mode wasn’t what he pictured. No, he saw her barefoot and mud-streaked, having just chased a potential kidnapper away from her nephew. Hero tendencies seemed to be hardwired into the Barretts. Hannah was fierce and fearless like a primitive protective female, and no fancy clothes or law degree could fully hide her don’t-mess-with-mine attitude. It was hard to resist a woman like that. Damned hard.
    Thinking about her warmed him again in a way no deep breathing was going to cool.
    She hesitated. “I need your help.”
    Brody straightened, his interest piqued. “What can I do for you?”
    She didn’t answer right away, and he pictured her face turning serious. He pictured other things about her, too. Her long, lean body was constantly in motion. Short blond hair framed an angular no-nonsense face. Those bright blue eyes snapped to attention when she focused on a problem. And most of all, Brody pictured the few brief moments of vulnerability that seeped through her competence when she was with her niece and nephew.
    “It’s a long story,” she said. “Do you have time to meet?”
    “Are you at Grant’s house?”
    “I am.”
    “Why don’t I drop by later? I have some news for you and Grant anyway. Not good news, I’m afraid.”
    Chet tapped Brody’s sleeve.
    “I’m sorry, Hannah,” Brody said. “I have to go. I’ll see you in a few hours.” He ended the call and turned to his partner.
    Chet stuffed his phone in his chest pocket. “Judge Marks is meeting us at the courthouse to sign the warrant.”
    Brody pulled away from the curb. Ideally, they’d have a patrol car babysit the Brown house while they picked up the warrant, but Scarlet Falls didn’t have the manpower for such luxuries. There were times they operated on a cross-their-fingers budget.
    “Who was that Hannah woman who called you?” Chet asked.
    “Hannah Barrett. Her brother was murdered last spring.”
    “That’s the case you caught while I was on vacation?”
    “Yes.”
    “So why is she calling you?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “What’s she look like?” Chet waggled an eyebrow.
    Scorching hot . Instead, Brody said, “I’m sure this is a professional matter.”
    “You’re going to see her later?”
    “When we’re done.”
    “I can get someone else to help me,” Chet offered.
    “Because everybody is dying to spend their Saturday afternoon searching a junkie’s room for stolen goods?”
    “Because I don’t remember the last time I saw you distracted by a woman.” Chet lowered his sunglasses. “Besides, I’ve been a cop on this force for more than three decades. Plenty of people owe me favors.”
    “Good to be the Godfather.”
    “I wish I was seeing a pretty woman later,” Chet said wistfully. His wife had suffered a heart attack and died years before. On the rare occasion he talked about his family, he said his wife’s heart had broken the day their teenage daughter, Teresa, had run away and gone missing.
    “I expect she’s calling me about her brother’s case.” Brody would have to give her the bad news he’d learned from the prosecutor this week.
    Chet shook