Faces of Evil [4] Rage by Debra Webb Read Free Book Online

the Sylvia Baron issue. Sylvia Baron had reveled in setting her iPhone to speaker so Jess could hear the words straight from the horse’s mouth. So far there hadn’t been time in Jess’s day to demand an explanation from Burnett. But she’d get around to it.
    “I’ve lodged my objections with Leeds as well,” Davenport added. “I suspect we haven’t heard the last on that issue.”
    Burnett assured Grayson and Davenport that he would stay on top of the matter. Jess waited until Grayson and his attorney were gone before turning to Burnett. Here they were, just the two of them, with a few minutes on their hands. She decided now was as good a time as any to question him about Sylvia Baron.
    But she’d have to tread carefully or he would see right through her motives. No one wore jealousy well. And as much as Jess would love to say that distasteful emotion had nothing to do with her curiosity, she tried not to lie to herself too frequently.
    “This is going to be a tough one,” Burnett said before she could launch her interrogation. He plowed his hand through his hair. “Grayson’s holding up a hell of a lot better than I would, I can tell you that. The guilt over not being there to protect his family has to be eating him alive.”
    “It’s the kind of nightmare no one ever wants to face,” Jess agreed. “And speaking of which, I should get to my office so we can begin building a case board.” She could ask him about the haughty ME later. Right now she had far more important things to do than whine about the women in his life, past or present. Besides, Wells or Harper could get the skinny on Sylvia Baron. Being armed with a little more info before questioning Burnett would be a good thing. To bring it up right now would simply look petty.
    As Jess gathered her notes, he moved closer, making a deep breath ridiculously burdensome. Damn it. She hated that she had absolutely no control on her most basic reactions when it came to him. But after nineteen days back in Birmingham she had no choice but to admit defeat on some level.
    There was still something between them, even after two decades apart. She could deny that until the day she died and it would be a lie. It had been there ten years ago when they’d run into each other in that damned Publix the night before Christmas and it was there now.
    And, much to her dismay, she had learned that every cotton-picking southernism she’d ever heard as a child still lived somewhere in the far recesses of her brain. Evidently changing latitude and longitude had somehow propelled her vocabulary into some sort of time warp.
    “You okay? You need anything?” he asked softly.
    And Burnett knew just how to make her squirm. His simple question wouldn’t have carried nearly as much impact had he not moved in close enough for her to smell that subtle yet sexy aftershave he wore. “I’m fine. Thank you.” She hefted her bag onto her shoulder and scooted away a few inches. “I should be prepared to brief you by the end of the day. Say five thirty?”
    “We’ll need a statement for the press before the department briefing at six. I’ll need time to prepare. So how about five?”
    “Why don’t I just give you a statement for the press now?” She gifted him with a big old smile. “We are doing all we can to solve this heinous crime,” she said in her most authoritative and somber tone. “Any information that might facilitate that effort would be deeply appreciated. Otherwise, stay out of the way and keep your innuendoes and unsubstantiated claims to yourselves.” She flashed another fake smile. “How’s that?”
    He ignored her question. “Whatever you do, be careful. I’m not happy with you moving forward as if Saturday night didn’t happen. You’re still a target, Jess. Your face has been all over the news. You really should be lying low for a while.”
    She made a derisive sound. “And let Chief Black hijack my case? I don’t think so. Besides, you know you