Christmas Cover-Up by Lynette Eason Read Free Book Online Page A

along?” he asked.
    “Not at all.”
    “I wonder what he’ll have to say about the diner.”
    “Good question. But until then, I’m curious to see if Mr. Wray has anything to add to his story about why he was in my house.”
    “Shall we find out?”
    She glanced at her watch. “Let’s see if we can catch him before he heads to dinner.”
    * * *
    Jordan followed Katie into the jail. The usual chaos—ringing phones, chattering of law enforcement and curses from recently arrested criminals—filled the air. It reminded him of his detective days before he’d applied to the FBI and gotten the case that had turned his life upside down.
    But he wasn’t here to think about that. Right now he wanted to know if Mr. Wray had anything else to add to his story.
    Katie had called ahead and asked for him to be brought into one of the private areas where prisoners met with those involved in their legal activities. Katie paced the length of the small room while Jordan leaned against the table.
    She said, “I wonder if he’s retained a lawyer yet.”
    “Probably a public defender. I looked a little deeper into his past last night. He was on probation. His latest crime will land him here for a good long while.”
    “Then maybe he won’t have anything to lose by talking to us now.”
    “Maybe.”
    She shot him a glance and then looked at her watch. “Wonder what’s taking so long?”
    “He’s probably at dinner.”
    She grimaced. “Is it already that time? I forgot how late it was.”
    “Your headache gone?”
    “The one from this morning is. However, I have a feeling Mr. Wray may spark another one.”
    The door opened and Jordan straightened.
    An officer said, “Mr. Wray won’t be coming in.”
    “Why’s that?” Katie asked.
    “Because he’s being transported to the hospital. There was a fight on the way to the dining hall. He was stabbed in the throat.”

FIVE
    K atie pushed the rotating door of the hospital and stepped into the emergency department waiting room. She flashed her badge to the woman behind the desk. “Wesley Wray. He was just brought in from the prison. Stabbing victim.”
    The woman got on the phone. She looked up. “I’m sorry. He died in the ambulance.”
    Katie let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She nodded. “All right. Thanks.” She looked at Jordan. “Great. Just great.”
    “Yeah.” He placed a hand on her lower back as he directed her to the door. Now that her adrenaline rush was ebbing, disappointment flooded her. As did her awareness of the man beside her. Their moments together flashed in her mind. He’d been nothing but kind and considerate with her, thoughtful and selfless. Spending time with him was giving her a new perspective of him and she liked it.
    “What are you plans tomorrow?” he asked.
    “Thursday. I plan to have breakfast with my parents and then work late. You?”
    He gave her an amused look. “Something along those lines. I probably won’t see my parents, but I’ll definitely be working late.”
    “Do you see your parents often?”
    He paused. “Most Saturdays. You?”
    “Most Thursday mornings.”
    He opened the car door for her and she lifted a brow in surprise. He shrugged. “Chivalry’s not dead, in spite of what most people think.”
    She smiled. “I like chivalry.” She slipped into the passenger seat and buckled up. When he settled behind the wheel, she said, “Probably because I don’t get much of it.”
    “Because you’re a cop or because you just pick the wrong guys?”
    She shot him a perturbed look. “Partly because I’m a cop, I suppose. I’ve chosen what was once a male-only field. My feminine side gets ignored mostly.”
    He turned the key and pulled from the parking lot. “Does that bother you?”
    She hesitated. “Only sometimes. Depends on the circumstances.”
    “Like?”
    “If I’m on a date and it gets ignored, yes, it bothers me. Working a case with a fellow officer, I don’t even think