Dangerous Passage (Southern Crimes Book #1): A Novel by Lisa Harris Read Free Book Online Page B

be able to get up for school if you don’t go to bed now. Six will be here before you know it.”
    Tess groaned and took Avery’s hand, making her wish she could freeze the moment so she could hold on to it forever. It wouldn’t be too long before the boys started calling, independence completely set in, and her tween was ready to fly the coop. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready.
    Avery squeezed Tess’s hand, then helped her off the couch. “Go get ready for bed. I’ll come say good night in a minute.”
    Tess hugged her aunt and stumbled toward her bedroom, already half asleep.
    Emily started helping Avery clear off the coffee table littered with the remains of microwave popcorn and lemonade cans. “Thanks for letting me hang out tonight.”
    “You know how much Tess loves having you here, and so do I. And besides, I’m the one who should be thanking you. You saved me from having to help her clean out the mice cage. There aren’t very many things that really bother me, but mice . . .” She exaggerated a shudder.
    “Those mice are adorable.” Emily dumped the cans into the recycling bin in the kitchen and laughed. “You know, I’m not sure I’ll ever understand you. You work at crime scenes and attend autopsies but can’t stand the sight of a harmless little mouse.”
    “They’re not adorable, they’re creepy.” Avery grabbed a washcloth for the counter and got it wet. “She’s lucky to have you as an aunt, and not just because you’re willing to help clean out animal cages.”
    “And she’s lucky to have you as a mom.”
    Familiar pangs of guilt jabbed afresh. “I’m not sure how much credit I deserve. I’ve been working far too many hours.”
    “Don’t even start with the guilt act. Besides, I hardly think you have to worry about that. It does her good to spend time with Mom and me. She loves it and so do we. And you’re always there when she needs you.”
    Avery finished wiping down the counter. Being a single mom had always been someone else’s struggle until one day it had been thrust upon her and she’d had to deal with it head-on.
    Emily picked up her purse. “You know I try not to be the nosey sister, but you never said anything about what happened with Jackson, or why you didn’t go out.”
    Avery rubbed the back of her neck, trying to erase the lingering headache. She’d have to take a couple more aspirin before she went to bed. “We were going to, but my day didn’t exactly go as planned. I was given a new case, which meant I missed lunch with Mom, missed Tess’s tryouts. Trying to add a new relationship into the mix . . . I don’t know. I just don’t see how it’s going to work.”
    “So you panicked?”
    “I didn’t say that . . . I’m just not sure there’s going to be another date.”
    “You’re not serious, are you? This guy is perfect for you. Smart, incredibly good-looking . . .”
    Avery raised her brow. “Then why don’t you ask him out?”
    “Very funny.” Emily crossed her arms, clearly not impressed with her excuses. “What happened tonight, Avery? What really happened?”
    The last thing she wanted to talk about was Jackson. How he’d almost kissed her. And how she’d panicked. She looked down at the floor. There was a stain in the carpet. How long had it been since she’d had it cleaned? Six, eight months? She made a mental note to call the carpet cleaners.
    “Avery? What happened?”
    “You want to know what happened? A girl was murdered. We found her dead behind a Dumpster. No ID. She’s nothing more than another Jane Doe for now.”
    “Wow. I’m sorry.”
    “Some cases are tougher than others. This is one of them.”
    “Listen, I really am sorry, but what does any of that have to do with Jackson? Because I also know how important it is for you to have a life of your own outside work.”
    “I know, but I can’t lose focus on this case, and Jackson is turning into a distraction.”
    “He’s become a distraction, so