Ruthless by Debra Webb Read Free Book Online Page A

snatched open a folder and stared at the photo of the innocent young girl inside. God, how could she be worrying about Dan and his overprotectiveness when there were nineteen more little girls out there whose families wanted desperately to bring them home again?
    Dan peeled off his suit jacket and joined her on the floor. She realized then that he’d apparently just left the office. “You haven’t been home yet?”
    “No. I’ve been at the morgue.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me?” If there was news he should have called. Damn it. Those frustrating feelings of desperation and helplessness warred with her determinationto stay focused and strong. How was she supposed to do this if he kept treating her like she was a porcelain doll instead of a cop?
    “That’s what I’m here to do, Jess. Somehow I thought it was important to tell the parents first.”
    “Oh my God.” The few bites of pizza did a somersault in her belly, and she felt like a total ass for feeling sorry for herself. “Then it is Dorie Myers?”
    He nodded. “It was pretty simple. We already have dental records on file for all the missing children in that case. Over the years when we had unidentified remains we checked for these kids.” He stared at the piles of folders. “Sylvia stayed late to do the confirmation.”
    Sylvia Baron was a new and unexpected friend… sort of. She was also the associate coroner. And Dan’s ex-sister-in-law. More small-town coincidences.
    “I’m sorry. I know that was difficult.” No one wanted to have to tell a parent their child was dead.
    He shrugged those broad shoulders of his. “It’s been thirteen years. This outcome was what they were expecting. They just want to bring her home.”
    Somehow Jess had to make sure this Man in the Moon never got the chance to take another child ever again. “Did you figure out how word got out to the parents who showed up at your office?” The last they spoke about it he was still furious with Gina Coleman.
    “The receptionist at Channel Six. She went to school with the mother of one of the missing kids. She made the call.” He heaved a weary breath. “I had to apologize to Gina.”
    A hint of jealousy pricked Jess. Gina and Dan’s sort of relationship had never been a big deal, he insisted, justrecreational sex between two consenting adults. Still… she was another of his exes. The man seemed to have one on every corner.
God, Jess, get over it.
    Men who looked like Dan Burnett and had the kind of financial and public power he wielded were always highly sought after. Not to mention he was kind and a gentleman and sweet… and charming as hell.
    Unlike frumpy ex–special agents who were persnickety and grouchy and thought they knew everything.
    “She wants to be more closely involved in this case,” Dan said. “Maybe do a special on the Man in the Moon mystery.”
    Jess’s hackles rose hard and fast. “Who?” He’d better not say what she thought he was going to say.
    “Gina.” He shrugged, trying to play it off. “She could be a useful resource, Jess.”
    Jess opened her mouth to lower the boom but quickly snapped it shut. Allowing any trickle of jealousy to get between her and a possible
resource
was just dumb. She was tired. She needed to sleep. Otherwise she would never be slipping down such a petty path. And she wouldn’t be half as mad about him showing up when Harper was here if she hadn’t felt guilty. He would blow a fuse if he found out she’d sent those texts to Spears.
    “Gina seems to be okay after what happened with her sister,” Jess ventured, feeling contrite. Last week’s big case revolving around a tight-knit little group of Birmingham elitists who called themselves the Five had left the city’s upper crust a little ragged around the edges. The best part was that an old case involving bullying and murder had been solved.
    What was happening to this world? Where were all the normal people?
    Never mind. Considering she was a little south