Page 15 of Silverstorm

Susan, along with one of the corporals from Missoula, had been dispatched to break the news to Iliana and her husband and take down any details that might be pertinent to Tango’s death, find out if their father had any enemies in town, that kind of thing. Susan had cast Jude a sideways glance as she made her way to the police cruiser, and he knew she was thinking, if you listened to Tango, just about everyone in the county was an enemy.

“I just want to get this completely clear,” Jude said, turning to study Brady in the driver’s seat. “We’re just informing the next of kin about the death of their father, aren’t we?”

“Yep, that’s why you’re here,” the man said, flicking him a raised eyebrow. “You’re going to break the sad news to her. I’m just tagging along because I’m interested in her reaction to the news.”

Jude bristled at his tone. And not for the first time today, he wished Missoula homicide had sent someone else to work this case. Anyone else. “You’re not about to drag her in for questioning, are you?”

“Not unless she gives me cause to.” This guy was infuriating. Jude had the sense that Brady suspected Aria had something to do with her father’s murder. As if. It was ridiculous. Yes, he could see why Aria might be on the suspect list, family were nearly always at the top when it came to the death of a loved one. But this murder had been so shockingly violent, Jude knew Aria wasn’t capable of something like that.

Although, in Brady’s eyes, the violent way in which Tango died spoke to him of a deep passion. Hate. Often the more violent of killings were rooted in deep-seated emotions, perpetrated by people close to a family member who’d been hurt in some way, or who were holding a grudge. All of which applied to Aria.

Jude squared his shoulders and led the detective up the stairs to the reception area in the lodge. It was never easy telling someone that their loved one had died, even if that loved one wasn’t particularly…loved. It was still a shock. But because it was Aria, it’d be much harder for him to utter the words and then stand by and watch as the meaning hit. To a bystander, it might look like as if he and Aria were mere acquaintances. Old friends renewing an attachment from their school days. They’d effectively only known each other for a few days. But to Jude, their connection went much deeper than that. From the first time he’d seen her sitting in her car, staring up at him with those big, brown eyes, it was like there was a force from somewhere deep inside pulling him toward her. A recognition of who she’d once been and the woman she’d now become. An attraction. But also more than that. More than just owing her a debt from when he’d been a dickhead teenager. He didn’t want to see her get hurt, which was inevitable with the news that he brought today. Jude braced himself.

“Hi, Penny. This is Detective Brady. Is Aria around?” Jude dispensed with his normal friendly greeting. It was enough to show Penny that he was here on business.

Penny’s eyes widened as she studied the detective standing slightly behind him, a smug smile hovering on his lips. “Oh, ah. Yes. She and Naomi are in Dean’s office.” Penny indicated the door behind reception.

“Good. Can you let her know we’d like to speak to her privately, please?” At least they could break the news in the seclusion of Dean’s office, a small concession, but better than nothing.

They followed Penny to the door, and he glimpsed Aria kneeling on the floor, picking up piles of paper. His guts tightened at the sight of her.

When she looked up, her face was pale, almost as if she knew he was about to deliver some terrible news. Slowly, she stood and shuffled back a few steps, her eyes never leaving his face.

“Thanks, Penny,” Brady said, pushing past Jude and striding into the room. “You can go now,” he added brusquely as Penny continued to hover in the doorway. Jude clenched his fists by his sides. This guy seemed to have his default constantly set at rude. Jude was yet to hear a considerate word to come out of Brady’s mouth.

He shot Penny an apologetic glance as she went back to the reception desk, and she waggled her eyebrows as if to say, don’t worry about it.

“I’m Detective Brady.” The man stood in the middle of the room, sizing the two women up, but not offering his hand in greeting.

“And I’m Naomi Williams, joint owner of Stargazer Ranch.” Naomi stood a little taller, almost like David squaring off against Goliath; she was so petite next to the tall detective.

“We’re here to see Aria Cusack, so if you don’t mind, we’d like the room for a moment.”

Aria flinched and nearly dropped the pile of papers she was hugging to her chest. “What…? Why…?” Her eyes darted from the detective to Jude and back again.

“What’s going on here, Jude?” Naomi turned to him, ignoring the tall man behind her.

“We have some…news we need to share with Aria,” Jude said, taking a step forward, effectively placing himself between Brady and the women.

“And some questions we’d like to ask,” Brady added from behind him.

“What news? What questions?” Jude could see slight tremors running through Aria’s body and had to stop himself from reaching over and touching her arm, telling her everything was going to be okay.

“If Mrs. Williams would leave the room, then we can tell you,” Brady said haughtily.

Naomi completely ignored the man towering over her. “Would you like me to stay with you, honey?” she asked, taking one of Aria’s hands in hers.

Aria looked at her new boss in confusion. It’d be better for her if Naomi stayed. It’d force Brady to be more circumspect in his questioning, but Jude couldn’t explain that to her. Instead, he inclined his head ever so slightly, hoping she’d take a hint.

“Yes, please,” she finally said.

“You can’t—” Brady began, but Jude cut him off.

“She’s entitled to have someone here as a moral support.” He turned around to glare at Brady, hating the fact he had to look up to meet the man’s eye. Brady pursed his lips but said no more.

“Come and sit over here,” Naomi suggested, leading Aria by the hand toward the two comfy chairs by the window. Jude followed and hunkered down next to Aria’s chair.

“Tell me what’s going on. You’re scaring me.” She turned wide eyes to him, lips trembling slightly, and again, he had to stop himself from reaching out.

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