Page 25 of Built of Illusions

Roman spoke again. “Did you call her or were planning on scaring the shit out of her by arriving like the hounds of hell are on your heels?”

“I’m more worried they’re on her heels.” What if she wasn’t there? What if she hadn’t stayed home?

They rounded the corner and Nico spotted a car right outside Josie’s tiny house. Relief soared through him as he saw her exit the car and wave to the driver as she turned toward her walkway.

The driver was male, but that’s all Nico could see. He committed the license plate to memory and slammed to a stop in the place the car had just left.

Josie whirled at the noise of the brakes. Eyes wide and hands up, ready to defend herself, it took a moment for her to recognize him and Roman as they jumped out of the car.

Nico rounded the hood and rubbed his hands up and down her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

She frowned at him. “I was until you came barreling in like Marty McFly and Doc Brown. What’s wrong?”

Her Back to the Future reference had both him and Roman grinning. Nico pulled her in for a quick hug, ignoring his partner’s raised eyebrows. “Let’s go inside.”

Josie shuddered in his arms and then took a deep breath and turned to walk up the path and unlock her door. She walked in and they followed.

Josie moved to the kitchen island and set down her purse and the bag she was carrying. When she turned to face them, her face was carefully blank. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

Roman pointed at the chair. “Have a seat. I’ll make some tea.”

Her eyes widened but she didn’t move. “Who’s been killed?”

Nico moved forward to take her hand. “No one. Sorry. Didn’t mean to make you think that.”

“Everyone’s okay? The Midnight Lake people? Your family? Everyone?”

“Yes. I promise.” Ignoring Roman again, Nico stepped into her and wrapped his arms around her. He whispered in her ear. “Everyone is fine. I promise. And we’re going to keep it that way. Now, come on and sit down.”

She hadn’t relaxed into the hug and her body was stiff as she sat. He didn’t know if it was her artist’s eye that made her so perceptive, but she knew the news was bad.

Unless he was being an idiot. He pulled the other chair over to face her and took her hands in his. “Okay. I may have overreacted.”

Roman snorted in the kitchen but Josie kept her eyes on Nico.

“I found what may or may not be a clue about the murders we’ve been investigating. I made a bit of a leap.”

Roman laughed. “If you can call a major panic attack a bit of a leap, sure, that’s what happened.”

Josie frowned. “I don’t understand. What’s the clue?”

Nico was never this bad at explaining himself. His heart rate had settled once he’d seen her, but adrenaline was still shooting through his veins.

Roman set their mugs on the table and Nico took her hands again. “That lighter that I found on your porch last night. Was it yours? Do you still have it?”

Her frown deepened. “It wasn’t mine. I think the mail carrier dropped it.”

Doubtful. “Do you still have it?”

She nodded. “I put it in a drawer in the kitchen.”

Roman was up in an instant. “Which one?”

When she told him, Roman found it and used gloves to pick it up and put it in an evidence bag.

Josie looked back at Nico. “You think the killer left it on my porch? You think he’s targeting me?”

He wished she wasn’t so damn smart. “I’m probably being overly cautious, but I’m not taking any chances. Not with you.”

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