Deadly Exposure. Cara Putman

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СКАЧАТЬ She squinted at the techs working in the victim’s box.

      “What happened? You didn’t kill her, did you?” Andy’s rapid questions made Dani smile.

      “Of course I didn’t kill her. But I found her.”

      “Okay.” He quieted, and Dani imagined him processing the information. “You holding up?”

      “I’m fine. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a body. Just the first time I’ve seen one first.”

      “What can you tell me?”

      “I had a brief conversation with her before the show started.” Dani walked Andy through the night. “Nobody heard or saw anything. And the police won’t like the fact that so many people invaded the box. It’ll make evidence collection a nightmare.”

      “Hmm.” Rapid-fire tapping on a keyboard echoed in the background. “As soon as the police let you go, find our truck. It should be there now. If the police harass you, give me a call. We’ll get the station’s attorney there ASAP.”

      Dani fiddled with a knot in her purse strap. If she did her job right, the attorney wouldn’t be necessary. “I’ll keep you posted.”

      “Talk to people and make sure you connect with Logan. We’ve got a story to prepare.”

      Dani closed her phone, returned it to her purse and looked toward the other box. She rubbed the back of her neck. How could she take care of Aunt Jayne and deliver the story Andy expected? So much for a night off.

      Investigators bent over the body in the taped-off box. A bright flash lit the scene as one photographed it. Another scribbled in a notebook. She wanted to look over his shoulder, see what required careful notes.

      Caleb stood in the corner and anchored the controlled chaos. He looked even better than he had as an eighteen-year-old kid, and that thought rankled. Maybe if he wasn’t so jaw-dropping, she’d have moved on.

      No, she couldn’t move on because of the lines they’d crossed. Color flooded her cheeks at the memory of what she’d willingly given him. And then he’d left. Without a backward glance. She’d prayed he’d call, show any indication he remembered her. Then she’d spent years trying to forget and move on. With one glance, all of that was swept aside.

      The emptiness she’d fought flooded back in. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and doubled over, fighting memories of the baby being ripped from her arms. Did the baby have his green eyes? Did she have Dani’s blond hair? Only Aunt Jayne had held her as her heart broke. She’d fled Lincoln and avoided Caleb since. Only Aunt Jayne had brought her back. And now he’d collided into her world. She took a deep breath, then another.

      She looked up and caught him watching her. Heat climbed her cheeks and she glanced away. When she looked again, he’d disappeared from the box.

      A moment later, a soft knock clicked against the doorframe.

      “Ready to talk?” Caleb stood in the doorway, concern filling his eyes.

      Dani bristled and glanced at Tricia and Aunt Jayne. “It’s about time. I don’t know anything that’ll help, so let’s get started.”

      He motioned for her to follow him to a bench across the foyer. He cocked his head and slipped a slim notebook from his inside jacket pocket. “Tell me what happened.”

      Dani told him about the rush to the theater. Finding the box. Trying to talk to the woman in the neighboring box at intermission. Walking into the box when she didn’t respond.

      “Why did you go in there?”

      Dani closed her eyes, images of how vibrant Renee Thomas had been during the interview filling her mind. “I interviewed her last week. And she seemed so different tonight. She was worried about something. Maybe fearful.”

      “Why fearful?”

      “Last week she couldn’t talk enough about her research project. She vibrated with life. Tonight, well, she looked everywhere but at me. If I remembered her, I know she remembered me. It isn’t every day that a grad student gets interviewed.”

      “Did you notice any changes between your first visit to her box and the second?”

      “The air was spicy the second time. Maybe from cologne or aftershave.” Dani paused a moment. Even though he might think her suspicious, she had to mention her concern now.

      “The only other strange thing was the usher.”

      Caleb looked up from his notes. “An usher?”

      “After I discovered the body, a man in a navy blazer kept me corralled next to the box. He insisted I stay in the foyer until you arrived. But others going into the box didn’t bother him.”

      “Do you know his name?”

      “No. He didn’t tell me and didn’t wear a name tag.”

      “Could you describe him?”

      Though she complied readily, Caleb searched her eyes as if she was concealing more about the case. She fought the urge to squirm under the intensity. Her gaze darted to his left hand. It was bare of a ring, not even a shadow of one. “Looks like you’re still single.”

      That ended the scrutiny. “What?”

      “Nothing.” Dani tightened her lips. How could she have said that? The last thing she wanted to do was relive the past.

      “Okay.” Caleb dragged the word out. “That’s all. Where can I reach you?”

      She slipped a card from her purse. “Channel 17. Otherwise, I’m at Aunt Jayne’s house.” Her cheeks flushed with the memory of their good-night kisses on the back step.

      “Is Logan meeting you here?”

      “Huh?” She startled, then stilled. “Yes. Why?”

      “Could you take Tricia with you? He can drop her off for me. Otherwise, she’ll be stranded here for a long time.”

      “Ever heard of cabs?” Dani bit her lip the moment the words escaped. “That’s not what I meant. If she doesn’t mind waiting, we can get her home.”

      “Thanks. Her house is on the way to the station.”

      Dani shrugged and rolled her eyes. She roused Aunt Jayne from her chair while Caleb told Tricia of the change in plans. In moments she led the others from the box. When she stepped outside, Logan’s wave hailed her from a line of trucks.

      “Hey, Logan. Hope you brought some coffee.”

      “Got a café mocha just for you. I’m sorry I didn’t bring a couple extras.” He’d tucked his polo into rumpled khakis, with a Channel 17 baseball cap covering his buzzed hair.

      “Aunt Jayne, this is Logan Collins, the best photographer in town. And I take it you already know Tricia.”

      “Nice to meet you, ma’am. Good to see you again, Tricia.”

      Aunt СКАЧАТЬ