The Sholes Key (An Evans & Blackwell Mystery #1) by Clarissa Draper Read Free Book Online Page A

recently appeared as a missing woman on the database. Her mother filed the report.” Crystal glanced at her paper before she finger-spelled the woman’s name. “Lorna McCauley.”
    “She’s dead?” Sophia asked.
    “As far as the police are concerned, no. Until this picture turned up, she was considered a missing person. The men downstairs in forensics just texted me, and they believe she’s dead. Also, we have the code running through our computers. Hopefully they will have it decoded soon.”
    “I’ve never heard of her, have you?” Sophia replied, staring at the name on the page. “I just don’t know. Either way, it still means the killer knows my identity and where I live. Or else, why would they send me a code?”
    “I have more information if you want it.” Crystal raised her eyebrows.
    Sophia held out her hand. The pages contained the DI’s case notes and all related information regarding the officer in charge. “DI Theophilus Blackwell. Wow, how do you find this information? Did you hack into H.O.L.M.E.S. again?”
    Crystal raised her eyes to the ceiling and shrugged.
    “Amazing detail. This report lists what color trousers our diligent Detective Blackwell wore today. How could they possibly have this much information about a person? I’m going to have to discover what’s out there on Sophia Evans.”
    “There’s a lot,” Crystal signed. “I check regularly. In fact, I’ve created a program to collect the information so I can make sure you stay safe while undercover, and beyond. Only what we want them to know, that’s my motto.”
    “I love you, Crystal. You know that, right?”
    Crystal curtsied. Before she went to her workstation, she discreetly signed, “The top file.” She pointed to Liam’s desk.
    When Crystal walked away, Sophia rose and crept into Liam’s dark office. She caught sight of the bright orange file that lay atop a stack of unopened letters and envelopes. She opened the folder and flipped through the contents of the McFee case. Liam’s case.
    “What are you looking at?” Liam said behind her. The lights went on in the room.
    Sophia lifted a photo from the file. “This is the picture I took with my mobile. These men followed me through the forest this morning trying to kill me. Your case, Liam, your case.”
    He nodded and sat down in his chair.
    “What, no explanation? Why the hell are they following me? Why are they trying to kill me? How do they even know we work together?”
    “We don’t know yet.” He put down one of the coffees and held out his hand to her. Sophia handed him the file.
    “Those men could have sent me the letter. They could’ve killed me today,” she said, her voice rising with every word.
    “I don’t think they work that way, Evans.”
    “They had a gun, they shot at my car. What do you mean, they don’t work that way?” She slammed a palm down on his desk and coffee spread over the papers.
    “That’s not what I mean.” He stood up. “I don’t think the men chasing you and the dead girl are related.”
    “How do you know?”
    He put his hand on her arm. “Look, I know you’re scared.”
    Sophia turned her head away from him. Exhaustion was making her emotional and she did not want to cry in front of him. She bit down hard on her upper lip. “I don’t know how my life became so complicated. Five months ago this was a desk job, Liam.”
    “Do you know the name of the dead woman?”
    “I just want my quiet life back,” she said. She felt his hand touch her back, and she turned toward him. His face betrayed nothing. She allowed him to nudge her face into his chest. For just a moment.
    Almost as quickly, she pulled back and sat down. “The woman’s name is Lorna McCauley,” she whispered.
    “Do you know Lorna McCauley?” he asked, as he plopped loudly in a chair beside her. “Are you sure it’s not Marc? He could have planned this to distract us from the bomb he’s planting.”
    “Marc commits a murder to prevent us