Hardheaded Brunette by Diane Bator Read Free Book Online Page A

How?" Kane's jaw hardened.
    Thayer opened his mouth as Mena began to wail. When Kane reached to console her, she jerked out of his arms and flew toward Mick, who held his hands up away from her.
    Fabio bowed his head. "We're not at liberty to say, but we need to question everyone in this building, especially if they were at the party last night."
    Gilda's knees softened to foam rubber. The way Thayer looked at Kane, she assumed the police already had a few suspects.
    Mena sobbed on Mick's shoulder, soaking the front of his shirt. He gave her a few small pats on the back before he finally handed her off to Gomes, who'd come out of the dojo to see what was going on.
    "Come back inside," Fabio said. "We'll tell everyone at once."
    Bewildered, Gomes handed Mena a box of tissues before he led her toward the octagon, where they sat on a bench while Fabio and Thayer made their announcement to everyone in the school. Two officers closed the front doors and stood guard, one inside and one outside. No one was allowed to leave the school without being questioned.
    Still shaking, Gilda hid behind her desk to be alone for a few short minutes and to do some research. It didn't take her long to remember not only was Charlie Hunt intimidating, he was a retired fighter with an impressive record of his own and a renowned philanthropist too.
    He was also Kane Garrick's former coach.
    Her stomach sank as she read about a very public display that occurred before Kane fired Charlie. What would make a fighter haul off and punch his coach in front of the paparazzi? Once Thayer and Fabio did their homework, Kane would be the first guy cornered for questioning. That he'd spend the next several hours or even days in a tiny, hot interrogation room didn't bother her in the least. At least she'd know exactly where he and his grabby hands were.
    When she pulled up another website, she almost fell off her chair. Mena, Razi, Mick, Charlie, and Kane smiled for the camera in the center of an octagonal ring. Kane's face and shoulder were bruised and bloody, his teeth covered by a black mouthguard with a white skull and crossbones in the dead center. Razi wore a shiny belt draped over one shoulder. Mena hung onto Mick like he was first prize at the county fair.
    Where Kane was suspect number one, Mena, Razi, and Mick suddenly became numbers two, three, and four, in spite of her not knowing how they were all connected yet.
    "Gilda." Mick appeared next to her.
    She jumped and let out a shriek, her heart hammering against her lungs so hard she was breathless. "What?"
    He frowned. "Take it easy, honey. I was just going to ask you to make a call for me, but I'll do it later. Are you sure you're okay? You look a little pale."
    "I guess so. It's just…" Her hands shook. "More bodies."
    Mick moved her aside. The picture of him and the others was still on her computer screen. "And some old news. No wonder you're shaking. You don't waste any time, do you, Sherlock?"
    "How well did you know Charlie Hunt?"
    His face softened as he pulled her into a hug. "Well enough to be upset, but too well to fall apart in a blubbering heap." He kissed her. "Charlie was a good man to a lot of people. He donated thousands to help sick kids as well as kids from the poor parts of Detroit. Google him, then we can talk about all this over dinner later, okay?"
    "You're not leaving again, are you?" Gilda winced. The last time someone died, the first thing Mick did was disappear and leave her to deal with the police and forensics.
    "No, you are. I'll stay to keep an eye on things here." Mick kissed the top of her head. "Believe it or not, I've learned a little in the past couple months. I'll get Fabio and Thayer to question everyone here. I'll see if the tournament, such as it is, can go on while they talk to people. If you'd like to go home, you're welcome to, provided you grab a huge carton of coffee first. This may be an even longer day than we'd planned, seeing as how it's gone from a party