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

house.” He looked at Jillian. “I think I’m convinced there’s merit to your story. Parts of it anyway.”
    Relief swelled inside her as Hunter pulled up to the scene. She looked at the house being soaked by several high-powered water hoses, then back at Colton. “The part where I insist someone wants me dead?”
    “That would be the biggest part.” He shook his head and punched the touchpad. She heard him mutter, “I think we need to go fishing.”
    “What?” she stared at him, puzzled. Had she heard him right?
    “I’ll explain later.” His attention focused on something behind her as he made a quick call to Dominic.
    She turned. Katie and Hunter. Serena should be here soon, but thankfully, her medical services weren’t needed at this scene.
    Hunter caught her eye, then looked past her to motion to Colton.
    Colton nodded and said, “I’ll be right back.”
    “I’m going with you.”
    She could see the protest in his eyes and simply notched her chinhigher. A sigh slipped from his lips, and without another word, he headed in Hunter’s direction. Giving the burning house a wide berth, Jillian followed Colton around the outside of the fence that separated Serena’s backyard and her neighbor’s. She saw Katie standing next to a large playhouse.
    Colton nodded toward the main house and asked her, “Is anyone home?”
    “Nope. I knocked several times. Nothing. We’ve got uniforms canvassing the area, questioning the neighbors. Hopefully someone saw something.”
    Colton nodded and looked at Jillian. “Was this where you saw the birds?”
    She thought about it, closed her eyes, and pictured them taking flight. “Yes.” She opened her eyes. “I think they came from the tree, though. I was looking out the window and they just all scattered like something scared them. And that—” she shrugged—“scared me.”
    He looked from the playhouse to the tree. “I want the crime scene unit over here before we start messing with this area.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and punched a speed-dial number. “Rick? Colton here. How far away is your unit?”
    “Right behind you.”
    Jillian turned to see Rick.
    Colton pocketed his phone. “Thanks for not wasting any time. If you’re here, you must be short staffed again.”
    “I am. What do you have?”
    Colton filled him in while Hunter and Katie discussed various possibilities about how the “bomber” had launched an explosive device from this yard without being seen or heard.
    “How far do you think it is from here to Serena’s?” Katie asked.
    Hunter shrugged. “A football field length? A little less?”
    “Yeah.” She glanced up at the trees on either side of her.
    “Let me get to work over here,” Rick said. He pulled out a flashlight and got to work on the playhouse.
    Jillian focused her attention on the action surrounding Serena’s house. She caught sight of Serena making her way toward the cluster of officers in front of her house. Anger and frustration combined themselves with the anguish she already felt at her friend’s loss. Jillian took a step to go back to the house and beg Serena’s forgiveness, but stopped when she saw Alexia turn and throw her arms around Serena as she reached the group. The sight gave Jillian a measure of relief, knowing Serena had support right now. Jillian decided her begging could wait.
    She turned back to listen to the detectives’ discussion. For the last twenty minutes, the only chatter had been about the possible evidence being collected. She glanced at her watch. 8:02. They were running out of daylight. In less than fifteen minutes, it would be dark. And still the sweat pooled under the weapon at her back and in between her shoulder blades. She glanced up into the tree to the right of the playhouse and a light flutter caught her eye.
    Rick finally stood and said, “I think we’re good here. I don’t know what I was looking for, but if it was left here, I’ve got it now.”
    “Did you find