Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021 Karen Whiddon (best fiction books to read TXT) 📖

“I’d love both,” he said, unable to hold back his smile. “I’ll come down and let you in.”

“Don’t bother,” she said. “Throw down your keys.”

He laughed but opened the window and tossed the keys to Julia. She’d set down the beer and caught the keyring one-handed. “I’ll be right up,” she said, and then ended the call.

Seconds later, there was a knock on Luis’s door. “Come in,” he called out. “It’s open.”

“Hey,” said Julia. Aside from her beer, she still had the duffel bag from earlier in the day. She set both on the kitchen table. With a purr, Jinxy sauntered out from her hiding place. “Hi, kitty,” said Julia as she bent down to pet the cat. The feline wound her lithe body around Julia’s legs.

“I think the cat likes you better than she likes me,” said Luis. “She says hello to you. All I get is scratched when her food dish is empty.”

Julia ruffled Jinxy’s ears.

Gesturing to the sofa, Luis said, “Game’s on. Have a seat.”

Carrying the cat and beer with her, Julia sat at the end of the sofa. “Who’s playing?”

“Colorado. Is there another team?” Dropping into a recliner, he asked, “Everything okay?”

“Today has left me jumpy. The thought of sitting at home alone wasn’t appealing.” She twisted off the bottle cap and took a swallow of beer. “I thought of where else I’d like to be and, well, it was with you.”

Was that an invitation? Had Julia felt the connection Luis felt in the evidence locker?

Or was he just hoping she’d say the things that he wanted to hear?

His phone rang and shimmied across the table, interrupting whatever he couldn’t bring himself to say. Luis glanced at the screen, then answered and turned on the speaker function.

“Wyatt,” he said. “I’m here with Julia. Do you have some news for us?”

“Actually,” said Wyatt, “I do. I looked through all of files on Darcy’s victims and searched for someone who wasn’t identified immediately because they didn’t have a wallet with them.”

“Like Tom Dolan? Did you find someone?” Julia’s eyes were bright.

“I did and I didn’t.”

Luis asked, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“All of the confirmed victims had their wallets with them when their bodies were found. Moreover, each of them had the half two-dollar bill inside of the wallet, as well. But there was one person I suspected she killed but have never had any proof. It’s her father.”

Wyatt continued, “It took a little digging. According to the police report from Frank Owens’s death, he didn’t have any ID on him when he was brought into the morgue. His wife filed a missing person’s report and the police assumed—rightly so—that they had discovered the man’s identity. When the wife arrived, she brought her husband’s wallet with his driver’s license. The contents were cataloged then.”

“Let me guess,” said Julia. “There was half of a two-dollar bill inside.”

“Just a footnote on the report,” Wyatt replied.

“So what does that mean for this newest investigation?” Luis asked.

“It means that whoever killed Tom Dolan knew intimately about the murder of her father, and yet they hadn’t been connected with her in years.” Wyatt paused. “We assumed that already. But this is proof positive.”

“That should be good news,” said Luis. “But you don’t sound happy.”

“Recent murders are hard enough to solve, much less one that happened more than a decade ago.”

“Actually, we do have a witness to the murder of Frank Owens,” said Julia. “It’s Darcy.” She exhaled slowly, as if trying to control her pulse or work up the energy for an amazing feat. Luis supposed that she was doing both. “We have to talk to her and see what she’ll say.”

Luis knew that Julia was right—they were going to have to talk to the killer. But it didn’t mean he had to like it.

In order to solve Tom Dolan’s murder, Julia would have to face Darcy Owens—her worst nightmare. And there was nothing Luis could do to protect her...and that was a nightmare all his own.

CHAPTER 13

The six-pack was empty, and the game was over.

“I meant what I said on Saturday,” said Luis to Julia. “I can give you tips on the grip you use on your gun. That’ll help you aim.”

The comment seemed out of the blue. But it was undeniable: Julia needed help. She’d been a fool not to take it once, but she wasn’t about to be a fool again. And there was no time like the present.

“Thanks,” she said, rising from her spot on the sofa. She’d stowed her firearm in the duffel bag and now removed it. She withdrew the magazine before pulling back on the slide and taking out the single chambered round. “I’d love some pointers.”

“Pick a target.”

Julia aimed at the TV.

“Anything other than my big screen. Jeez, you do know how to injure a man’s soul,” he teased. “Honestly, find a smaller target.”

Julia laughed and picked a lamp.

Luis stood right beside her. “Now aim.”

She lined up the sight. Luis touched the spot where the barrel pointed. The shot would’ve gone wide and punched a hole in the wall. “There are two problems,” said Luis. “First, you’re used to drawing the gun across your body from the right. For the left...” He put his hands on her arm and the shoulder and elbow. Her flesh warmed and tingled with his touch. “You need to put the gun here.”

Julia felt the pull in her back as she lined up the sight for a second time.

“See the difference?”

She nodded. “I do.”

“The second thing is in your shoulder. The left is your weaker side, so when you pull the trigger, your shoulder is thrown off by the recoil. You need to keep your shoulder stronger.” He pulled her arm back and to the side. Luis stood so close that his chest brushed against her back. His breath washed over her shoulder and she couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like if his lips were on her neck.

Cripes. She shouldn’t be thinking about