Harlequin Intrigue April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 Carol Ericson (short books to read TXT) 📖

tattoos on her forearm itched for attention, but that was an itch she’d never be able to scratch. Not as long as she kept running from the past.

“I doubt Daniel Nguyen killed any of those victims, including Del Howe. His shift schedule won’t match up with the conference dates and the credit card company will reveal his identity was stolen. I’m sure of it. Whoever killed the New Castle Killer used his identity in order to frame the sergeant and to get access to the department’s personnel files. The killer learned he was the uncle of one of the victims and made him the perfect fall guy.” Remi started toward the captain’s office.

A strong grip surrounded her arm and twisted her into a wall of muscle. Dylan’s exhales swept across the overly sensitive skin of her neck as he lowered his voice, and her nerve endings caught fire. “Everyone involved in the case has been targeted and killed. I’m not going to wait for him to catch up to you.”

His body heat penetrated her long-sleeved shirt and warmed her insides, and Remi fought the urge to lean into him more, to revel in the connection between her and another human being. Not just any human being. Dylan.

She’d left Delaware behind for a reason, but her heart had yet to catch up with her logic. She’d run from the past, but a piece of her held fast to what they’d had together. However casual she’d written them off then, the same couldn’t be said for now. She lowered her voice, sure to keep their conversation between them. “You know as well as I do, anything we find in that house won’t be admissible in court if we don’t wait for a search warrant.”

“If we have Daniel Nguyen’s permission to search, we don’t have to wait,” he said.

Confusion flooded through her. “Then why have Paulson call the judge for a search warrant?”

“Because I want the captain focused on clearing his sergeant’s name instead of on the fact you could still be a suspect.” Dylan’s grip loosened, but he didn’t release her completely. Steel-gray eyes lifted above her head, distant. He was trying to protect her. But, truth be told, he was more at risk of becoming a suspect in Del Howe’s murder than she was. The surveillance photos proved the New Castle Killer had been closing in, but the forensics was sure to prove Dylan had been in that cabin before the body had been discovered by Annabell Ross and her hiking partner.

Remi shifted her stance to keep the captain in her peripheral vision. “The killer is either law enforcement or is using Sergeant Nguyen’s identity to access law enforcement files. Once the captain confirms his officer was working during the dates and times the victims were killed, the suspicion will be back on me. The more evidence Gresham PD uncovers, the less we’ll be able to convince them I’m not involved.”

“I’d guess we’ve got about thirty minutes before he realizes where we’ve gone,” he said. “Should be enough time to get a head start.”

“Okay.” She had to think through this and ensure the consequences of investigating on their own didn’t blow up in their faces. “You get written permission from the sergeant for us to search his property. I’ll get the gear.” Setting her hand over his heart, she pressed her fingertips deeper into the hardened muscle. His pulse beat strong beneath her palm. “Be careful.”

Dylan set his hand over hers and squeezed. “I’ll meet you in the parking lot in five.”

She handed him the file and headed for the bullpen of officers, ringing phones, witnesses and offenders. Nervous energy skittered down her spine as the captain’s door swung open, but she’d already reached the glass double doors leading to the parking lot.

Pushing outside, Remi sucked down a lungful of fresh air and headed for her SUV.

Shadows surrounded the single parking lot light illuminating her vehicle. Unnatural light from the station’s doors reflected off shards of glass as she closed in, and a knot of warning twisted in her gut. She studied her SUV and slowed her pace. Something wasn’t right. She adjusted the weight of her weapon a split second before she turned back toward the doors leading into the station.

A fist slammed into her face.

Lightning shot across her vision, and the world slipped out from under her.

Remi shoved off the pavement with both feet to use his own weight against her attacker. They hit the asphalt together. Oxygen crushed from her lungs, but she couldn’t wait for him to make the next move. Catching her breath, Remi spun him toward her and launched her fist into the perpetrator’s face. She knocked him off balance as he tried to stand. Wrapping both hands around his wrists, she threw him into the light pole and drew her weapon. “On your knees, hands behind your head. Now!”

A low, even laugh penetrated through the sound of her pulse pounding in her ears. “Did you really think you could run from me, Sheriff Barton? That you wouldn’t have to pay for your failure like the rest of them?”

Her heart shot into her throat as she reached for the cuffs at her lower back.

“You killed them. Everyone connected to the New Castle Killer case. Why?” Nausea churned in her gut, hot and heavy at the same time. Forgetting the cuffs, she slipped her finger alongside the trigger of her weapon. “Who are you?”

“I’m the one who made sure Del Howe couldn’t take another innocent life.” The suspect straightened against her orders, standing at well over six feet. He rushed her, and Remi squeezed the trigger. The bullet grazed his neck but didn’t slow him down. He shoved his shoulder into her midsection, hauling her off her feet and slamming her into the side of her SUV. Her weapon fell from her hand and slid under the vehicle, out of sight. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, as he pressed his hand into her throat, pinning her