See No Evil by Allison Brennan Read Free Book Online Page B

take me to bed.” He let his eyes roam from her head to her full breasts, down to her narrow waist and long, long legs. He wished he didn’t find her so damn attractive; it would be much easier to hate her.
    She reddened at his obvious perusal and he gave a half smile. “There’s at least five hundred certified dicks in San Diego, I’m sure one of them would be more than happy to take your money and do whatever
job
you have.”
    “May I come in for a minute?”
    “No.”
    “Connor, please. This is important.”
    “It’s always important with you.”
    “I don’t want to have this conversation standing here.”
    “I don’t want to have this conversation.”
    The change in her demeanor was almost imperceptible, but Connor watched carefully. Her left hand clutched her purse, her right flexed. “If it weren’t for Emily, I wouldn’t be here at all.”
    “Don’t do that. Don’t use Emily as a way to get to me.” Why did he expect better from her?
    “I’m not, it’s just—”
    “I heard about Montgomery’s murder on the news. I have no desire to get involved in a police investigation. Missing person? Sure. Bring it on. Emily ran away? I’ll find her. Write out the check and leave it in my mailbox. No need to show up here again.”
    He turned, put a hand on his doorknob, hating himself for wanting to know why Julia had come to him. He wanted to go inside, shower, eat breakfast, and head back to the gym to work with the high school dropouts who thought gangs were the answer to their problems. He didn’t have a regular job, thanks to Julia Chandler, but damn if he was going to hide for the rest of his life.
    “Judge Montgomery was murdered in his home office.”
    “Tell me something I don’t know.” He slid his key into the lock.
    “Emily was found unconscious. The police think she tried to kill herself.”
    He stopped, glanced at Julia. Little could have surprised him more. He’d kept in touch with Emily. Irregularly, because she
was
Julia’s niece. But suicide? Against his better judgment he asked, “Is she okay?”
    “She’s in the hospital, but I don’t think she tried to commit suicide. I don’t have the doctor’s report yet.”
    “Why do you need me?”
    “The house was secure from the inside. She was apparently the only one home when Victor was murdered.”
    “They can’t think Emily killed him.”
    “They do, and they think she had help. Detective Hooper is in charge and he knows about the threats Herman Santos made on Montgomery’s life. Maybe someone threatened Emily, she had to let them in. I don’t know what happened. All I know is that Emily didn’t kill him. I know it. You know it. But I can’t be involved in the investigation. Stanton warned me off right away. But I
am
Emily’s aunt and no one can keep me away from her.”
    The bastard Stanton didn’t know the meaning of the word
family.
Though Connor couldn’t disagree with his reasoning on this case. Julia had to stand back. Something Connor knew would be virtually impossible for her to do. “And you want me to do
what
exactly?”
    “Stay apprised on the investigation. Prove Emily didn’t have anything to do with it.” She paused. “I hired Iris Jones.”
    “That bitch? She takes pleasure in keeping the bad guys out of prison.”
    “She’s good at her job. Someone needs to protect Emily’s rights. She’s already retained Dillon to evaluate Emily.”
    Against his better judgment, he asked, “How did Montgomery die?”
    “It wasn’t on the news?”
    Connor shook his head.
    “His penis was amputated.”
    He shifted uncomfortably. “Amputated?” he repeated.
    “It was shoved down his throat.”
    “Good God.”
    “Gage hasn’t said it flat out, but I know what he’s thinking. I’ve worked with him and Hooper enough. They think Emily had help, that she let people into the house to kill Victor.”
    “And you?”
    “How can you even ask me that?”
    “You’re her aunt. You don’t see her every day.