Page 72 of Lethal Danger

“We investigate.” Phoenix’s statement in her deep, emotionless tone nearly made Jazz start.

She’d almost forgotten the boss was there. Though not all the way.

Phoenix’s presence gave the room a tense, vigilant vibe that nobody could forget. “Cora.”

The blonde nodded to the boss and lifted her open notebook computer onto her lap. “I tracked down all the veterans who served with you in your Army unit, Jazz. There are none in this area specifically. The closest lives in Michigan. A Brad Grayson.” Cora’s blue eyes lifted to Jazz. “Do you remember him?”

Brad. The company jokester. He’d tried to make her the brunt of the jokes until she put him in his place. Knives were handy for that. She’d earned enough respect to make him leave her alone from then on but hadn’t earned his friendship. No one in her unit had granted her that.

She cleared her throat. “Yeah, I remember him. I don’t think he’d be any trouble. He was a decent soldier. Obeyed orders. Pretty clean cut.”

“All right.” Cora nodded at Jazz’s assessment. “We’ll move him down the list.” She cast Phoenix a glance that Jazz couldn’t read. Asking for permission or needing to know something?

Phoenix looked at Cora but didn’t so much as blink.

Cora seemed to have learned something anyway, as she turned to Jazz with resolve firming her features. “I know you’ve suffered a great loss in your family, and I want to convey my deepest condolences.”

Jazz blinked. Okay. Not what she’d expected her to say. Had Phoenix wanted Cora to do that? Jazz glanced at the boss instinctively, but, of course, couldn’t detect anything from her.

“We’re all sorry for your loss.” Bris glanced at the others, who nodded as they watched Jazz.

An itchy feeling crept up Jazz’s neck at the attention. Hopefully, they weren’t expecting her to burst into tears or something. “Um, thanks.” Jazz shifted her gaze to Nev, a safe landing spot.

Sadness also shadowed Nev’s eyes, but at least she got it. Jazz was upset about Aunt Joan. It was awful. But they hadn’t been close. Aunt Joan hadn’t even loved Jazz. Not like the PK-9 women were thinking.

“I need to ask you a question that may be difficult, and I’m sorry for that.” Cora captured Jazz’s attention with her earnest tone. “But we do want to find out who is putting you in danger.” Cora’s tongue slid over her lips before she took a breath to speak again. “Did either of your parents or your aunt and uncle—any family member—have an enemy that might want to harm you?”

That wanted Jazz dead, she meant. After all, that’s what hitmen were hired for. But that didn’t mean she wanted to chat about her parents in front of everyone. Way too personal and…vulnerable. So she stuck with the safe topic. “Well, we talked about someone wanting to threaten my aunt by going after me. To try to get her to shut down the fair.”

“Yeah, but that didn’t make sense when they kept trying to kill you after she was dead.” Nev gave Jazz a look that said she was surprised Jazz had forgotten they’d discussed that.

Jazz tried to insert the hint in her return gaze that it was a distraction. That Nev should help steer clear of her parents as a topic.

But Nev’s eyebrows lowered, and her lips pressed together in a stubborn pucker. Great. She didn’t think that was a good idea. Of course, Nev had felt comfortable enough with these women to share her deepest, darkest memories and fears when she’d told them about the assault she’d suffered. And Jazz had been proud of her for having the courage to share and face the pain. The PK-9 team had responded well, rallying around Nev and supporting her like they should.

But Jazz wasn’t Nevaeh. These ladies didn’t care for her like that. Nev was fun and awesome—she fit in everywhere she went. Jazz was the total opposite. A misfit with everyone. Especially in a tight-knit group of smart, confident, super skilled women who were also mostly all Christians now. One more reason Jazz didn’t belong.

“Agreed.” Phoenix drew everyone’s attention, as she always did when she actually spoke. “We can dispense with that theory.” She aimed her gaze at Jazz.

At least Jazz thought that was the direction she was looking from under the bill of her cap. The feeling of being scrutinized backed up the guess.

“Though there could be someone with a vendetta against you due to family ties. You could also be a means to threaten your uncle in his pursuit of election.”

Hadn’t thought of that. Could a person mistakenly think her uncle would be bothered if they threatened her? Enough to give up his campaign for governor? It was almost laughable. Although he had acted like he might be starting to care about her a little now.

The memory of his gentle hold on her hand and his kind, almost fatherly smiles yesterday warmed her chest. Maybe he would be bothered if something happened to her. “I suppose they could want to stop Uncle Pierce from running for governor.”

“I’ll look into it.” Cora typed something into her computer. “I don’t know that people in his campaign will tell me if he’s received threats, but I’ll see what I can do. Could you talk to your uncle about the possibility, as well?”

Jazz had to think about that a second. Did she want him to know she was in danger? The warmth in his eyes yesterday as he’d talked about family, including her as his family, blocked her vision for a moment. “I remember Aunt Joan said he’s gotten what she called harmless threats. She said it was typical for politicians. Didn’t sound serious.”

Cora frowned. “That is sadly true, I believe. But I’ll try digging to see if he’s received any the police are taking seriously.”

“Did your parents have enemies that you know of?” Sof delivered the variation on Cora’s question. Probably because she’d noticed how Jazz had sidestepped it when Cora asked.

“No.”

“Father was in the Army.” How did Phoenix know that?

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