Page 44 of Wild Justice

“You.”

Dare Turner was also a man of few words.

“Care to elaborate?”

“I wanted to see how you were settling into the job. If you had any questions, since your dad is on vacation.”

Dare wasn’t fooling anyone.

“You’re being awfully transparent, Uncle Dare. I have a murder on my hands, and you came to see if I needed any help.”

“Do you?”

“No. Can I ask you a question? Did you call my dad?”

“On a cruise ship?” Dare’s lips turned up in a half-smile which was a lot from him. “No, I didn’t call Seth on his retirement cruise with your mom because you have a dead body on your hands. I just came to check on you. See if you wanted a hand or advice, but I can see you’re all over this, and that I’m unneeded.”

“Uncle Dare, you are always wanted and needed.”

“You know what I mean. You’ve got this. I know you do.”

He spoke like a man filled with confidence. In her. It was wonderful and humbling all at the same time.

“I wouldn’t mind some wisdom,” she admitted, sinking back into her chair. “Can I ask you a second question?”

Dare sat in the chair opposite, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

“Shoot. I don’t know if I have any wisdom, but I’m happy to talk it out with you.”

“My victim…I found out this morning from the medical examiner that she was pregnant,” Lulu confessed. “I have a possible suspect waiting in the interview room. He’s her ex-husband. Should I bring it up with him when I question him? I haven’t told the family yet.”

Dare nodded as he seemed to ponder her query. Sighing, he stood and walked over to the window that overlooked a tree that in the summer was lush and green but now looked brown and dull.

“It would be ideal to tell them first, but I’m guessing your suspect isn’t going to sit still while you do that. You need to ask him about it. See his reaction. That’s important. When you’re done, hightail it to her family and let them know. But this is a material part of the case, Lulu. You have to question him about it. If you don’t, you’ll only have to talk to him a second time, and he might not cooperate again. You have to strike while the iron is hot, so to speak, and sometimes that means we piss off some people.”

“I’ve been doing that my entire life,” Lulu laughed shakily. “I should know how by now.”

“Your mom and dad were never so much pissed off as scared to death,” Dare said, giving her one of his patented scowls. “We all were. We had visions of being character witnesses at your parole hearing. But your mom kept saying that you were just going through some growing pains, figuring out your life. She was right, as usual. Presley is a woman who sees deeply into people. She’s smart like that.”

“Rayne is amazing, too.”

“My wife is the most patient woman on the planet,” Dare declared. “Anyone else would have shot me and hid the body. But that’s not the discussion for today. I’m going to let you interrogate your suspect before he changes his mind. If you need anything, you know where I am. Anytime, Lulu. Day or night. And come by for Sunday dinner one of these days. You and Chase both. You can bring your roommate, too. What’s his name? Harry?”

“Henry,” she corrected. “I’d like that.”

“And your man, as well. Everyone’s welcome.”

“What makes you think I have a man?”

Had gossip spread that fast? Dare was in a completely different town, for heaven’s sake. Had Kai put it in the newspaper or something?

Extra, extra. Read all about it. I slept with Lulu Reilly last night.

“Because you’re happy and glowing,” Dare said with a smirk. “And you have an unsolved murder in your town. The only people who would be that happy with an unsolved murder is someone in love. Or falling in love. I remember looking in the mirror when I first fell for your Aunt Rayne. I see that in you this morning. Either way, he’s invited, too.”

Dare made his way to her office door but then paused and turned back to her.

“Can I give you some advice? I’m not trying to tell you what to do, and feel free to ignore the fuck out of me because I’m no expert.”

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