When a Secret Kills by Lynette Eason Read Free Book Online Page A

the air like they’d been disturbed. I wanted to know what disturbed them.”
    “Disturbed birds? We’re alive because you saw—” He shook his head. Unbelievable. “It could have been a dog or—”
    “I know that,” Jillian snapped. She pulled in a deep breath and said with less heat, “I know that. But for the past ten years I’ve been in the habit of checking every little thing that seems . . . off.”
    They had no more time to talk. Fire trucks screeched to a halt in front of Serena’s house. Fire chief Hayden McDonald bolted from the truck and started yelling orders as hoses were hooked up.
    Police cruisers pulled up and Colton waited for the unmarked cars to arrive within a few minutes.
    He and Hunter had plans to make.

    What was she going to do? Jillian watched the firefighters get to work on Serena’s house and shook her head at the senseless devastation. The cut on her forehead stung, but it wasn’t deep and had already stopped bleeding. The flames reached higher.
    Oh, Serena, I’m so sorry! She paused in her thoughts, then prayed, But thank you, God, we’re still alive.
    Officers swarmed the area, an ambulance arrived, and the neighbors clustered in a tight group to watch the action. Panic started to close in on her and Jillian took a deep breath, reaching for calm in the midst of the chaos. She could do this. She’d planned andtrained for this. God willing, she would accomplish her goal and survive doing it.
    But at what cost? What about those who wanted to help her? Who placed themselves around her? People she cared about, people like Jeff back in California. Someone had already died because of her.
    “Having second thoughts about coming back?” Colton’s quiet question jarred her.
    “Yes.” She looked at the burning house and hardened her resolve. “Yes, but I know it’s the right thing to do.”
    He studied her long enough to make her start to squirm. Finally, he said, “Then come on, let’s go give a statement. And while we’re out there, I want you to scan the crowd. See if you recognize anyone. Anyone suspicious.”
    She snorted. “It won’t be anyone I know. Whoever did this was a hired killer. Your uncle’s not going to do his own dirty work.”
    Colton’s nostrils flared, but he held his tongue and simply nodded. “Still, I want you to look.”
    “Fine.”
    They climbed from the truck. As they approached, two officers stood outside the taped-off area, far enough from the house so as not to interfere with the work of the firemen. Steady streams of water surged from the hoses. Colton flashed his badge, gave his name to the officer, and together they walked to the fire trucks.
    Jillian spotted Alexia, her firefighter uniform making her look like something from an alien movie. She’d removed her helmet and sweat ran in small rivers down the sides of her face. Marks from her mask still creased her forehead and cheeks. When she spotted Jillian and Colton walking toward her, her eyes went wide and she broke away from the chaos to meet them halfway. Alexia threw her arms around Jillian.
    “You’re all right?” Alexia asked.
    “Yes. Scared and shaken, but alive.”
    Concern in her eyes, Alexia shook her head. “What happened? Was there a gas leak or something?”
    “Not exactly,” Jillian muttered.
    Colton said, “I’ve called Hunter and a buddy at the ATF. He said he’d handle the case.”
    Alexia’s eyes narrowed. “ATF. Someone blew up the house on purpose.”
    Jillian shivered. But of course the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms would get involved.
    Colton gripped his phone. “I’m asking Dominic to help as well.”
    “The FBI?” Jillian asked. “But this wouldn’t be an FBI case.”
    Colton lifted a brow. “It’s an FBI case if someone requests FBI assistance.” His jaw tightened as he looked at the house. “I’m officially requesting assistance. And besides, he’s going to want to be involved in catching the person who did this to Serena’s