Merciless by Mary Burton Read Free Book Online

anything. Plastic surgery made sense. But to use Dixon … what woman would allow him to cut into her flesh? “Dixon has a lot of patients.”
    “When is the last time you saw him?”
    She frowned, annoyed. “It’s been a couple of years. He’s not my client anymore.”
    “Did Sierra ever mention Dixon?”
    Until she spoke to Sierra she had to walk a fine line and not breach her attorney–client relationship. “Do you believe Dixon is linked to your Jane Doe?”
    “Let’s just say when Dixon’s name comes up, I pay attention.”
    “So there is no evidence connecting Dixon and your Jane Doe? And your links between Jane Doe and Sierra Day are slim.”
    He frowned.
    “You don’t have squat.”
    “I will soon.”
    “Don’t let me stop you.”
    Kier tensed. “I’ll be in touch.”
    It took effort not to take a step back. “I can’t wait.” She moved to leave.
    He blocked her path, and for a split second she glimpsed his gnawing anger and frustration. “Do you even give a shit that your client is missing?”
    A burst of air from a vent above hit her skin puckering it with gooseflesh. “I’m not the bad guy here, Detective.”
    “So you say.”
    The jab was intended to piss her off and make her say something she shouldn’t. She’d used the technique herself. “Call me when you have proof.”
    Angie moved around Kier, walking toward the ladies’ shower room with careful assured steps.
    When she was abletostrip off her bathing suit and duck under the hot spray of the shower, she was trembling. Sierra was missing. Was this just another Sierra stunt? Did the connection to Dixon matter? Both bits of evidence could be totally unrelated. Likely they were not linked.
    Still, she decided to make a few phone calls when she got back to the office and see if she could find Sierra.
    Malcolm got into the waiting gray unmarked car parked in front of the gym and glanced over at Garrison, who sat behind the wheel. His body was relaxed back against the seat, and his wrist rested easily on the top of the steering wheel. He’d kept the car running and the heater blasting. “How did it go?”
    “How do you think? She gave me nothing.”
    Garrison sighed. “I should have talked to her. It’s no secret you two don’t care for each other.”
    “Yeah.” Kier wondered that himself as he’d left the gym and strode across the parking lot. He’d been too anxious to drop the bad news on Carlson to see her reaction. He’d wanted to see her tossed off balance and upset.
    “She might have been more polite if you’d asked the questions, but the bottom line doesn’t change. Carlson is one smart attorney and she won’t give away shit until she’s looked at all the angles.” Kier glanced at his notes. “We need to find Sierra Day’s husband.”
    “I made a few calls while you were inside. Brian Humphrey works at a nonprofit in Arlington.”
    “I thought he was an actor.”
    “Only on nights and weekends. Computer technical work pays the bills.”
    Malcolm checked his watch. “Yeah, I want to get to him before Burgess or one of his friends tips the guy off, and he lawyers up.” He shook his head. “Damn, I hate lawyers.”

Chapter 4
    Wednesday, October 5, 9 A.M.
    Malcolm and Garrison arrived at Humphrey’s office building near Van Dorn Street. The square building had a smooth façade made of pressed uniform brick. Tinted windows, which likely did not even open, lined each of the five floors. The boxy structure was so nondescript Malcolm would have missed it if not looking at it. “9901. This is the place.The Parker Pest Control Building.”
    The detectives got out of the car and crossed the parking lot. The bright sun had taken the edge off the morning chill, but the air still had a bite. They moved to the lobby, checked the floor for Computer Science Arts, and took the elevator to the fifth floor.
    A receptionist sat behind a gray desk, a phone cradled under her ear as she maneuvered through a series of calls.