Haunting Whispers by V. K. Powell Read Free Book Online Page B

already retired because of it. Why do you think they gave it to a junior investigator, no offense intended?”
    “If it’s such a good thing, why aren’t you more excited?” Deb passed around the guacamole dip and chips.
    “I am excited.” Rae took another swig of beer, and when she lowered the bottle her friends were all staring at her. They weren’t buying it. “Mostly excited.”
    This group of women had been the only consistently stable thing in her life for the past five years. When she and Janet fought or when she changed positions in the department, they were there. Each of them brought something different, something she needed. Stephanie’s passion reminded her to grab life by the throat and squeeze for all its gusto. Ronni personified integrity. And Deb was the best best friend—fiercely loyal, brutally honest, nurturing, and kind. If emotions flowed, Deb wanted to share them. They were all good, reliable, trustworthy companions.
    “If the most-decorated detective in the department couldn’t solve this case, what makes me think I have a chance?” Rae couldn’t admit the extent of her self-doubt even to them. Years of betrayal by her parents, associates, and lovers had taken a deeper toll than she realized. She didn’t just distrust others now; she couldn’t even trust herself.
    “God, I hate her!” Stephanie jumped from the sofa and grabbed another beer. “That fucking Janet. She’s made you question everything. Can I kill her?” Despite her rough exterior Stephanie didn’t even hurt insects she found inside her house, so no one worried about an actual homicide.
    Deb answered with a steely calm. “I’d prefer to handle it.” She had everyone’s attention. “I don’t care that she’s part Italian. The mafia’s got nothing on a Southern redneck.”
    “Right,” Rae said. “What can you do, twang her to death with your accent?”
    The group cackled but Deb wouldn’t be outdone. “I have deadly relatives. They could blind her with chewing tobacco juice at twenty paces or cold-cock her with a polecat before she knew what hit her.” It took several minutes for the laughter to die down.
    “It’s a complicated case and I don’t want to let these victims down.”
    “And that’s why you won’t,” Ronni said. “Fresh eyes and that kind of compassion go a long way. You’ll figure it out.”
    They sat in silence for a few seconds, as everyone seemed to let the truth of Ronni’s statement sink in.
    “Now, have you met anyone you’re interested in yet?” Deb asked.
    Anything except total honesty right now would undermine her cherished friendship with these three women. If she expected their allegiance, she had to give hers. “Maybe, I’m not sure…” The room suddenly went very quiet as they gathered closer for the scoop, but she didn’t know exactly what to say about Audrey Everhart. “She’s a victim in an assault, but not really. I think she’s holding back information, but I’m not sure. She’s different. I think she’s attractive.”
    Deb responded first. “How did you meet her? How long have you known her? What’s her name?”
    “We met in her rookie school class over a year ago. I felt an attraction and that was all. You know, that immediate zing you get sometimes that usually doesn’t mean anything. I hadn’t seen her again until four days ago.”
    “And now she’s a victim in a case?” Stephanie asked. “Well, you’ve got to nip that.”
    “You said, not really. What does that mean?” Ronni wanted to know.
    Rae explained the situation with Audrey as best she could. The story didn’t make any more sense out loud than it did rumbling around in her head. “Isn’t this perfect? The first woman I like after Janet and she’s obviously hiding something. I can’t deal with any more deception.”
    The room was too quiet. Her friends didn’t have any answers and they refused to give her false hope. Their silence confirmed what Rae already knew—run as fast