Page 4 of Last Seen Alive
“Just following Sergeant Graves’s orders.” Wyatt wasn’t even meeting her eye.
“You and I know each other and—”
“I’m not sure what you expect me to do. She’ll have my badge.”
Amanda was practically vibrating with rage. It wasn’t like she was some first-day rookie who didn’t understand the fragility of a crime scene. She was with the Homicide Unit.
She pivoted to join Logan, at least feeling like she might be useful there. But there was a voice inside cautioning her again. That same voice she should have listened to earlier. She had witnessed Logan’s face when he saw the body; she didn’t think he was the killer, but the fact remained that his wife was shot in his bedroom. And wearing very little. She needed far more information than she had before she could race to his defense in good conscience.
Another vehicle pulled to a stop in front of Logan’s house, and Trent Stenson was in a half-jog coming toward her. Trent was her partner on the job. Trent was the other call Amanda had made, but she wasn’t feeling so confident he’d be allowed inside either. After all, Amanda and Trent worked as a team. With Amanda blocked, Trent likely would be too, but it was worth a try…
She walked down the driveway.
“You all right?” Trent stopped in front of her.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
He angled his head. “You’re tapping a foot, your hand is on your hip, and you’re tense like a jungle cat.”
“Graves.” One word should be all it took for him to get the picture.
“Ah. She’s put up the wall.”
“Yep. Won’t let me inside.”
Trent glanced over at Logan, back at her. “This is Logan’s place?” They’d met, and Trent knew they were seeing each other before.
“Yep.” She realized how limited her vocabulary had suddenly become, but whatever.
A few seconds passed in silence. Maybe he didn’t know what to say, as no doubt, the imagery played out in his mind.
“It’s not what you think,” she rushed out, hoping to stop him before his imagination got too carried away.
“Well, unless you came here for book club and the other members are just running behind…” Trent’s words disappeared to nothing.
“Fine, it is what it looks like,” she hissed. “But I’ve got nothing to feel bad about.” And here she was defending herself again, like it was some knee-jerk reaction.
Trent made a funny face that had his lips pressing together, almost as if he found her rebuttal strange. “No one says you do.”
“I know that. It’s just… You know what? Never mind. You’re here. Go in and take a good look and update me, would you?”
“I’ll see what I can do, but don’t be surprised if I’m tossed out.”
“Just go. Give it a try.” She was so uncomfortable standing there with Trent, given that she was busted with Logan.Busted?
“First, tell me what I need to know.”
“Logan says the woman is Claire Hunter, his wife.” She paused there, giving Trent the opportunity to say something as opposed to talking over her if she’d carried on, but he said nothing. She continued. “She was shot in the bedroom, on the bed.”
“What’s Logan saying?”
“Not much.” She could have saidnothingfor the number of useful syllables that had left his mouth since their macabre discovery.
“All right, well, I’ll go in, take a look around. Hang in there.”
“Yep.” Apparently, that was her word of choice for the moment, but it was about all she had the energy for. She was bombarded with shock, indifference, betrayal, empathy, and on the list of conflicting emotions went.
She wanted to go to Logan, stand by his side, but her legs wouldn’t move. He glanced at her, even waved her over, but she stayed put. Until she knew more, she was best to stand as neutral as Switzerland and not give her loyalty to any side.
