Page 19 of Mine to Share

That was all it took to erase all concerns of the hypothetical neighbor friendship, douse the smoldering flames the thoughts of Slade, Jameson, and me together stoked, and make me forget all about the dead body waiting for me at the morgue.

I found you

“Damnit,” I whispered, the paper shaking between my fingers.

Was my dad right about being worried for my safety?

Was I in danger?

6

JAMESON

Itrailed a step behind the large detective as he lumbered up the short concrete walkway to the cottage-style home’s front porch. Based on his stiff posture and occasional glares he’d shot my way since we started canvassing the neighbors, the man desperately wanted to ask how in the hell I knew Rain. And like the cheeky asshole I was, I wasn’t about to give up any information until he finally broke down and asked.

I shouldn’t find it entertaining to withhold the information, but there was an instant camaraderie with Slade that made me want to mess with him like I would my best friend, Tallon. And fucking hell, it had been a while since I had someone I could say that about.

The soles of my leather shoes scuffed along the porch as I slowed to a stop right behind Slade, rocking onto the balls of my feet with a wide smile when he lifted a massive hand and pounded it against the wooden front door.

“What the fuck are you smiling about?” he grumbled. Reaching into the inside pocket of his jacket, he pulled out the small spiral-bound notepad he’d used to take notes at the last few houses. “Murder scenes your happy place or some shit?”

I huffed a laugh, shaking my head. “Not my kink.” He twisted to look over his shoulder, a single brow lifted. “I’m just wondering how long you’re going to resist asking me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The click of a deadbolt being disengaged snapped our attention to the front door, and all my earlier humor faded.

Time to work. I can harass his stubborn ass after.

A blue-haired elderly woman peered through the three-inch gap between the slightly open door and frame. “What do you want?”

I held up my badge at the same time Slade did, introducing himself first, then me.

“We’re here because of an incident about two houses down. Did you notice anything odd the last few nights? Anyone lurking around you didn’t recognize, or a car, maybe?” Slade asked, his tone warm, the earlier annoyance gone. Though that didn’t stop the look of sheer horror on her face as she stared up at Slade, who towered over her.

I sighed, knowing what was about to happen.

“No, sorry.” With that, she slammed the door in Slade’s face and quickly secured the lock.

And another one bites the dust.

“I should ask the questions from now on,” I said, turning around and heading back toward the street. “All we’ve gotten so far is he was loud and had female visitors often. Pretty sure they’re scared you’ll grind their bones to dust if they don’t answer right.”

Slade chuckled behind me. “You say thisafterwe’re done canvassing the area.” Up ahead, blue lights still flashed on the cruisers parked out front of the victim’s home. “We’ll have all the information on the victim pulled by the time we get back to the station. By the look of the other bedroom, he had a roommate who we’ll need to question.”

“Odd, isn’t it?” I mused, stopping to take in the entire block of houses as questions filled my mind. “Some are killed outside bars, others in their homes. Once we get everything laid out in chronological order, hopefully it will make sense why.”

“I’ll do whatever you need to help identify this fucker,” Slade stated, and I nodded my thanks. “You hungry?”

“Starving.” My stomach twisted at the mention of food. “That shit motel didn’t even have a vending machine to grab a granola bar out of this morning.”

Back in his ugly-ass car, I buckled in as he turned the key, starting the engine. But instead of pulling away from the curb, he stared out the windshield, knuckles white from where he held the steering wheel in a death grip.

I sighed. “Come on, ask me. I know you’re dying to know.”

His low, annoyed growl made me smile. “Fine. Fuck it. How do you know her?”

“Her being…?” Of course, I knew who he referred to, but if he wanted the details on Rain and me, he needed to fucking ask the right questions.

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