Page 24 of Sweet Sin

“I hope so too.” He rises. “I’m going to go check on Jack and your lady friend there.”

Savannah and the other officer are out on the deck.

I follow Officer Bandy.

“Jack, I’m done with Mr. Bellamy here. How are you doing?”

Jack taps on his tablet. “We’re just wrapping it up. I think Ms. Gallo here may need a doctor’s attention.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Savannah? You okay?”

She nods. “I think I was in shock for a while, though.”

“Perfectly understandable,” Jack says, “considering what you’ve been through.”

Jack grins at Savannah, and I don’t like the way he’s looking at her. My hackles rise.

But I know better than to mouth off to an officer. Not at this point in my life. And not under these circumstances.

“We’re going to need to get forensics over here to brush for fingerprints and other evidence.”

“Why do you need to brush for fingerprints?” I ask. “You’ve got the two guys in custody.”

“Sorry. Fingerprints and other evidence is just what we say. Other evidence.”

“What other evidence? You’ve got the two weapons. You’ve even got the piece of glass Savannah used. You know who we are. You’ve already got my fingerprints on file somewhere.”

“Standard procedure, Mr. Bellamy,” Jack says.

Savannah gives me a weak smile. “Falcon, it’s okay.”

“Fine.” I let out an exasperated sigh. “Vannah, let’s get you to the doctor.”

She nods. “All right.”

Jack hands a card to Savannah. “You need anything at all, you just call me.”

“Thank you.”

Over my dead body.

“I’d say welcome to the area,” Jack says, “but this has been a harrowing first week for you. A new job, the death of a friend, and now this.”

What all did Savannah tell him?

The officers both rise. “We’ve got all we need for now. Like I said, forensics will be over—”

I raise my hand to stop him, but he continues to talk over me.

“—yes, I know you think we have all the information we need. But you’re an ex-con, Mr. Bellamy, and Ms. Gallo here works for the law. So we’ll be out here on investigation. Just leave everything as it is. Good day.”

8

SAVANNAH

“We’ve got all we need for now. Like I said, forensics will be over—yes I know you think we have all the information. But you’re an ex-con, Mr. Bellamy, and Ms. Gallo here works for the law. So we’ll be out here on investigation. Just leave everything as it is. Good day.”

Right.

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