away. Bad guy got what was coming to him. End of story.”
A rush of relief forced his breath out. But that relief was short-lived when he remembered what
she’d said earlier. Which ones?
He focused back at the fresh bruise near her eye. “What about the new bruises?”
She bit her lip again.
“Don’t even think about holding out on this, or your boyfriend out there’s gonna be in serious trouble.”
Her lips flattened. “Are you asking because you’re concerned for my well-being or because you
need a statement from your top suspect?”
Her beauty and killer curves almost made him forget she’d been a cop herself. “You’re not a suspect.” Not yet, anyway.
“But I’m a person of interest. Semantics, don’t you think?”
“We’re talking to everyone related to this case, not just you.”
She studied him a long second. “How did he die?”
He hesitated. “We’re not sure. Autopsy hasn’t come in.”
She knew he was lying. She could read it in those crystal blue eyes. “I’m not answering any other
questions without my attorney.”
His back went up. And whatever affable mood he thought they’d been working toward imploded.
“That’s entirely your choice. But there’s no reason—”
“Yeah. There is. Now if there’s nothing else, Detective, I’d appreciate it if you’d go. I have several
calls I need to make. Family to notify and responsibilities to see to. If you have any other questions,
have Detective Chen call my secretary and I’ll cooperate in any way I can. With my lawyer. Otherwise, this conversation is over.”
His eyes raked her battered face. Ran down to the V of her robe and back up again before he could
stop it. She saw, and pulled the lapels together.
This was better. Keeping things professional. Not falling back into lust with her like he’d been in
Florida. Or Puerto Rico. Or damn…in his apartment last night. She was right. She was a person of
interest in their case, and he was a detective investigating a crime he knew instinctively she was
somehow linked to.
Better. Easier. Definitely safer. Especially for her.
He pulled a card from his back pocket and handed it to her. “If you think of anything else, give us a
call.”
He stopped with one hand on the doorknob. But didn’t dare look back at her. “Why didn’t you just
tell him you were with me last night?”
Silence.
Then quietly she said, “Why didn’t you?” When he didn’t answer, she added, “That’s what I
thought. As far as either of us is concerned, it never happened.”
C HAPTER FIVE
Hailey’s hands were shaking as she reached out to grip the edge of the couch. She wasn’t going to
hyperventilate, dammit.
Bryan was dead. Just like her father. Your participation is a matter of life and death. You’re the only
one I can trust. A chill slid down her spine. What if her father had been trying to tell her something
in that note? Was it possible his death hadn’t been an accident?
Heart racing, she reached for the phone and dialed the one real friend she had in the Key West PD.
Alice Hargrove answered on the second ring.
“Funny farm. What’s your emergency?”
Hailey’s mind spun. And because she’d been conditioned, she rattled off the first thing that came to
her. “You talking to me?”
“Better, H. But you need to come up with something more original than Taxi Driver. And a little humor in your voice would help. A takeoff on Paris Hilton would work better. Try, ‘I’ve lost my pinktutu’d Taco Bell dog.’”
Hailey closed her eyes. Normally Allie’s jovial personality eased whatever was bothering her. Allie’s humor had made her laugh when she’d been rejected for the detectives program, when she’d
been going through her divorce, even after the death of her father two weeks ago. But today it didn’t
do a thing to ease the sickness in her gut. “Allie, I need a favor. A big one.”
Allie’s tone grew serious. “What is it? And where are you? I
A rush of relief forced his breath out. But that relief was short-lived when he remembered what
she’d said earlier. Which ones?
He focused back at the fresh bruise near her eye. “What about the new bruises?”
She bit her lip again.
“Don’t even think about holding out on this, or your boyfriend out there’s gonna be in serious trouble.”
Her lips flattened. “Are you asking because you’re concerned for my well-being or because you
need a statement from your top suspect?”
Her beauty and killer curves almost made him forget she’d been a cop herself. “You’re not a suspect.” Not yet, anyway.
“But I’m a person of interest. Semantics, don’t you think?”
“We’re talking to everyone related to this case, not just you.”
She studied him a long second. “How did he die?”
He hesitated. “We’re not sure. Autopsy hasn’t come in.”
She knew he was lying. She could read it in those crystal blue eyes. “I’m not answering any other
questions without my attorney.”
His back went up. And whatever affable mood he thought they’d been working toward imploded.
“That’s entirely your choice. But there’s no reason—”
“Yeah. There is. Now if there’s nothing else, Detective, I’d appreciate it if you’d go. I have several
calls I need to make. Family to notify and responsibilities to see to. If you have any other questions,
have Detective Chen call my secretary and I’ll cooperate in any way I can. With my lawyer. Otherwise, this conversation is over.”
His eyes raked her battered face. Ran down to the V of her robe and back up again before he could
stop it. She saw, and pulled the lapels together.
This was better. Keeping things professional. Not falling back into lust with her like he’d been in
Florida. Or Puerto Rico. Or damn…in his apartment last night. She was right. She was a person of
interest in their case, and he was a detective investigating a crime he knew instinctively she was
somehow linked to.
Better. Easier. Definitely safer. Especially for her.
He pulled a card from his back pocket and handed it to her. “If you think of anything else, give us a
call.”
He stopped with one hand on the doorknob. But didn’t dare look back at her. “Why didn’t you just
tell him you were with me last night?”
Silence.
Then quietly she said, “Why didn’t you?” When he didn’t answer, she added, “That’s what I
thought. As far as either of us is concerned, it never happened.”
C HAPTER FIVE
Hailey’s hands were shaking as she reached out to grip the edge of the couch. She wasn’t going to
hyperventilate, dammit.
Bryan was dead. Just like her father. Your participation is a matter of life and death. You’re the only
one I can trust. A chill slid down her spine. What if her father had been trying to tell her something
in that note? Was it possible his death hadn’t been an accident?
Heart racing, she reached for the phone and dialed the one real friend she had in the Key West PD.
Alice Hargrove answered on the second ring.
“Funny farm. What’s your emergency?”
Hailey’s mind spun. And because she’d been conditioned, she rattled off the first thing that came to
her. “You talking to me?”
“Better, H. But you need to come up with something more original than Taxi Driver. And a little humor in your voice would help. A takeoff on Paris Hilton would work better. Try, ‘I’ve lost my pinktutu’d Taco Bell dog.’”
Hailey closed her eyes. Normally Allie’s jovial personality eased whatever was bothering her. Allie’s humor had made her laugh when she’d been rejected for the detectives program, when she’d
been going through her divorce, even after the death of her father two weeks ago. But today it didn’t
do a thing to ease the sickness in her gut. “Allie, I need a favor. A big one.”
Allie’s tone grew serious. “What is it? And where are you? I
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