A Silent Fury by Lynette Eason Read Free Book Online Page A

waved her down. A pretty, petite woman in her late thirties, she was part of a team that did their job well. She’d also been one of the people covering Tracy’s murder.
    The woman’s brows arched under her shaggy bangs. “Catelyn? What are you doing here?”
    â€œTrying to solve a murder and find a missing girl. This is my partner, Joseph Santino. He’s working on the case with me.” Joseph and Sandy shook hands, then Catelyn said, “We need to know if anything’s come back on the blood found on the ring.”
    â€œHmm. I’m not sure. We had that murder-suicide on the other side of town and things have been a little crazier than usual around here.”
    Great. “I hate to be pushy, but do you mind putting a rush on it? There’s a killer out there and a missing girl.”
    Concern flickered across the woman’s face. “I heard. I know Greg was working with the ring. Come on and let’s see if he’s in the lab.”
    The three marched down the hall and Catelyn couldn’t help feeling the thrill, the excitement that came with her job. Sure, she hated the deaths, the psychos out there who caused such pain and misery to others, but she knew she was right where she was supposed to be.
    She was born to be a cop. A detective. Her mission in life was to put the bad guys away. She didn’t have time for romance or a family—or Joseph.
    Right, God? God had been strangely quiet with the answer to that question lately and she wondered if the pang she felt in the vicinity of her heart meant she wasn’t exactly on the right track. Lord?
    She looked at Joseph, his rugged profile so familiar; one she’d never tired of looking at during the time they’d dated. Pain seared her. The loss of his presence in her life left a gaping hole she realized she’d never completely filled.
    It was too bad he’d never understood that part of her personality, the cop part; it grieved her that he couldn’t accept she’d never be the traditional happy homemaker he envisioned when he pictured his wife.
    Unfortunately, she knew this all too well. After all, it’s what had broken them up two years ago. Joseph Santino had wanted her to stop being a cop, stay home and be his wife. A mother to his children. Part of her regretted that it wasn’t enough; she grieved the loss of his companionship, her best friend.
    But there was no way she’d ever give up her career. Not even for the man she loved.
    Just wasn’t going to happen.
    Â 
    Joseph watched Catelyn in action. She loved her job, that was obvious. He saw her disappointment when Sandy returned with no news. “But I promise to let you know as soon as it’s processed. I’ve got your cell number, and I’ll call you myself.”
    Catelyn agreed and then she and Joseph were headed back out. He asked, “Where to now? Billy Franklin?”
    â€œYes. Esterman High School.”
    He climbed behind the wheel again without asking. He knew she preferred to ride rather drive. He was falling comfortably into old routines.
    As they drove through the streets, Catelyn looked out thewindow. He decided to touch on the past a little. “How’s your mom?”
    If he’d zapped her with a Taser, he wouldn’t have gotten more response. Her head whipped around and she seared him with her gaze. “What?”
    â€œYour mother. How is she?”
    â€œIn a nursing home. Dying.”
    Oops. He hadn’t expected that one. He should have done his homework before venturing into uncharted territory. “Aw, Catie, I’m sorry.”
    She looked back out the window. “You didn’t know. Did you let the school know we were coming?”
    Her way of saying “Back off.” Another topic not up for discussion. But he remembered her mother and genuinely wanted to know about her. Give it time, he told himself.
    â€œYes, I did.” He let the subject drop.
    He