Page 21 of Trick's Trap

“And?” Trick was on the edge of his seat.

“Well, Maia distinctly remembers two occasions when Tahlia wanted to leave some location because she thought she saw one of them here in town.”

“Just seeing one of them was enough to make her bolt?”

“Apparently. So we had retested the blood for a familial match, but there was a big backlog.”

“And?” Was Ethan trying to give him an aneurysm?

“It was a match, probable first cousin.”

Unbelievable.“Why am I just hearing about this now? Have you arrested him?”

The agents exchanged a glance. Ethan crossed his arms. “It’s complicated.”

Trick swore. “How complicated can it be?”

Why weren’t they jumping up, ready to chase down the bad guy? It was what they did—what they lived for.

Jason held up a hand. “Tahlia has at least a dozen cousins. And they are loaded and lawyered up the wazoo. For fuck’s sake, they have more lawyers than Calen. Plus, there’s one more thing you seem to have forgotten.”

Trick waited, biting the inside of his lip.

“What?”

“Based on the limited sampling, most of the blood was male, not female. If anyone is dead, it’s this cousin. Which means she may have done him in.”

What the hell weren’t these two telling him?

“So what does that mean? Now you know she’s alive, you’re after her for murder?”

Jason and Ethan exchanged another loaded glance.

Fuck.

Chapter 12

Tahlia limped along the street, taking the back entrance to the shelter. She checked her reflection in all the storefront windows she passed. Unless someone stared closely, they couldn’t tell she was injured. There was no hint of her bruises on the surface, at least not yet. Tahlia didn’t know if that was a blessing or a curse.

Being beat up might help garner some sympathy with the shelter staff, but bruises wouldn’t help her get work, not in catering. Servers were required to be presentable and nondescript. That was why she was going to the shelter. It was Gina’s day to volunteer in the kitchen.

“Jesus H. Christ.” Gina took one look at her before wrapping her in a bear hug against her expansive bosom.

The uncharacteristic show of affection crumpled what little resolve she had. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she sobbed in the older woman’s arms.

“What happened? And why are you limping?”

Tahlia sniffed hard. “I fell. Or to be more precise, I was pushed. Two men mugged me and took my bag. I have nothing left now.”

“Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry.” Gina ushered her into the adjoining office. She sat her down on the little couch in front of the desk adorned with an ancient PC computer. “Wait here. I’m going to make you a hot coffee with extra cream and sugar.”

“I take it black,” Tahlia said, scrubbing at her wet cheeks.

“Not today you don’t. You need the calories.”

She caught Gina’s sleeve. “Wait. Can I do some more work for you, please?”

Gina tsked and patted her on the head. “Not today, sweetie. You can barely walk. But don’t you worry, once you stop limping, I’ll be slapping a tray in your hand. Now, why don’t you go ahead and do some faux online shopping? Pick out a pair of shoes and a hot dress you can’t afford. That always cheers me up.”

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