Page 14 of I'm Watching You

‘Not ready to release that yet.’

‘Harold had a lot of enemies. He’d sell anyone out for a buck.’

‘Then why was he murdered behind the shelter?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Any of your residents have a drug problem?’

‘No. We test all who want to stay here. They’re clean.’

Always one to play his cards close to his vest, Zack simply nodded. ‘I think his body was positioned behind the shelter for a reason.’

Jordan. ‘Just because Turner’s body was found behind the shelter doesn’t mean his death had anything to do with me.’

‘I’ve never put much stock in coincidence.’ He ran his hand down his tie as he leaned back in his chair. ‘Where were you last night and this morning?’

His proprietary tone rankled her nerves. He didn’t have any rights to her time now. ‘I was home asleep. And I overslept this morning.’

He lifted an eyebrow, amused. ‘As I remember it, you rose at five every morning come hell or high water.’

‘A power outage knocked out all of the electricity in my row of town houses. My alarm didn’t go off.’

‘I also never remember you sleeping through the night.’

‘I did last night.’

‘Can you prove you were home last night?’

He didn’t trust her and that hurt more than it should. ‘Do I have to?’

‘It would be nice.’

Very few knew Lindsay had taken on Nicole Piper as a roommate. Her former college roommate had shown up two weeks ago on Lindsay’s doorstep begging for a place to stay. Nicole had left her abusive husband and was hiding from him. Lindsay had taken her in without question. If Zack knew she had a roommate, he’d start checking into Nicole’s past. And that could tip off Nicole’s husband as to her whereabouts.

‘Sorry, I can’t prove anything. I was home alone. You’ll just have to take my word for it.’

He studied her and then deliberately glanced around the office. ‘How many women does the shelter serve each year?’

She rolled with the change of topic. ‘We saw about a hundred women last year.’

‘Impressive.’ He scratched a few words in his notebook.

‘Sadly, business is booming.’

He nodded thoughtfully as if remembering that afternoon in Byrd Park when she’d confided her own horrific past to him. She’d told him of her mother’s murder, of her father’s suicide, and of her running away. He, better than anyone, understood her drive to protect the women and children under her care.

‘I want a list of everyone who was here last night,’ Zack said. ‘I want to see records of all the women who’ve been through the doors since you opened.’

‘Only when the warrant arrives.’

He looked annoyed. ‘You always have to be so stubborn.’

With an effort, Lindsay kept her tone light. ‘It’s what I do best.’

His lips flattened as he rose. ‘Thanks for the coffee.’

She stood. ‘Always happy to help.’

---