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

brought up more questions. “How could someone with this level of psychosis function well enough to lead a normal life? Get married? Have kids? Hold a job?”

Wyatt shook his head. “Most serial killers are highly functional. How could they get close to their victims if they don’t appear to be healthy, functioning people? With Carpenter, it’s even more so. His psychosis has been latent, with the tendencies awakened by Darcy’s reappearance in his life—most specifically her arrest.”

“Plus, Anna told us that Robert always seemed a bit detached,” Julia added. “Remember Liam and Holly found Darcy’s old yearbook, and her diary. Robert was her only friend. He sheltered her from her father’s abuse. Maybe he’s always been her protector. Maybe he still is, in some way he imagines.”

Luis wasn’t convinced. “And now Darcy’s, what? Telepathically messaging him from jail?”

“I have my doubts that something so mystical is even possible. But I’m sure Carpenter believes there’s a kind of psychic connection. Think about it this way, by being Darcy’s selection.” Wyatt hooked air quotes around the word. “Carpenter can more than emulate her—a person he sees as having power. He can become her.”

“That’s not very reassuring,” said Julia.

“No,” said Wyatt, getting to his feet. “It’s not. And here’s what’s worse. Darcy, as a killer, at least lived in the real world. If left unchecked, Carpenter will lose this tether to reality. If that happens, there’s no telling what he might do next.”

Luis cursed.

Wyatt continued, “I have some more research to do, unless you two need anything else.”

“Go,” said Julia. “You’ve been helpful.”

After Wyatt left the office, Luis turned to Julia. “No leads to follow. No statements to take. Not even a report to review. I hate sitting around and waiting for something to happen.” He gestured to Julia’s desk. “What’re you doing?”

“Like you said, there’s nothing new for us to do. So I’m going to catch up on some paperwork. Sitting here is going to get boring. It’s late. You can go. I’ll call you if something comes up.”

He checked the time. It was 7:30 p.m.

After a moment, he stood. “Come on. Let’s get something to eat. Afterward, we’ll check back in.”

“Fine, I’ll go but only because we skipped lunch and I’m starving.”

They left the building. The sun had slipped below the mountain peaks, leaving the sky awash in pink and orange. Sally’s was just down the block. It was one of the things he liked about Pleasant Pines. He was able to walk almost everywhere—completely the opposite of Denver.

They approached the little restaurant. From the front window, he could see that all the tables were full. “You know,” said Julia, “I’m not really in the mood for a noisy room. I don’t think I can stomach shaking hands tonight.”

“You want someplace quiet? I know where to go.” They walked two blocks off Main Street, where a house had been revamped into a restaurant called Two Brothers Chicago Pizzeria. With a red-and-white awning, a sign on the door proclaimed Best Pizza Ever.

Luis opened the door. The whole lower level of the house had been gutted to create the restaurant. Counter. Tables. Pizza oven in the back. Two men who actually were brothers stood behind the counter. “Hey, Luis,” said one of them.

“Dan. Steve. I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, Julia McCloud.”

“You the sheriff?” Steve asked.

“I am.”

“Then you’re a celebrity. Tonight, your dinner is on the house.”

“You really don’t have to do that—” Julia began.

“We insist. What’ll it be? Cheese, pepperoni or sausage?” Dan asked.

Steve added, “Or pepperoni and sausage.”

“Pepperoni it is,” she said.

“Just give us a whole pizza and two beers,” said Luis. He led Julia to a table in the corner and they sat.

Silverware rolled in paper napkins sat on the table. Julia twirled a set through her fingers and back again.

“You’re quiet tonight.”

She shrugged. “Just thinking.”

“About the case? Or what happened with Darcy at the jail?”

“All of it, I guess. Plus, the future.”

Now his interest was really piqued. “Oh?”

“I spoke to my mom on Sunday night. She said that the US attorney in Connecticut is looking for A-USAs.”

Dan delivered beers in plastic cups. Luis didn’t like the way the conversation was going, and he drained half of his beer in one swallow. “Assistant US attorneys. That’s interesting, but how’s that part of your future?”

“I’ve seen some things—not just with RMJ, but in Afghanistan, as well. Until now, I’ve been able to handle it, but the thing with Darcy...” Julia shrugged and sipped her drink. “I’m not able to shake what happened in that bunker.”

Luis’s pulse began to race. The beer sloshed around in his empty stomach, giving him an early hangover. “You can talk to someone,” he said.

Folding her arms over her chest, Julia leaned back in the chair. “For months, I’ve done all kinds of therapies. Physical. Occupational. Talk. It might be time to admit the truth. Being attacked by Darcy has changed me.”

“You’ll find ways to cope.” He’d been starving only minutes before, now his appetite was gone. Was Julia really planning to leave Pleasant Pines?

“Luis,” she sighed. “You’re not listening to me. I am looking for ways to cope, and it’s called making a change.”

“You can’t work for the US Attorney’s office. You aren’t a lawyer.”

“I finished my first year of law school. I can do two more. There will be jobs after that, or I can work while I’m in school. I have some money that my grandmother left to me.”

Steve brought over a square pan filled with thick pizza. “Best pizza in town. Our own recipe that we brought with us from Chicago.”

“Looks great. Thanks.” She gave a smile, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

The food did look good and smelled better, yet Luis didn’t have an appetite. He picked up a slice. Cheese slid back onto the pie. He ate, chewing slowly. “What are your plans?” he asked, trying to smile. “I know you have some.”

Julia shrugged. “I was hired as the interim sheriff. My term only