Trial by Fire Read Online Free Page B

two.”
    “I was out with friends tonight. I didn’t get to come over earlier today, and the stop was on my way home.” She shuddered. “After calling 911, I thought I heard a scream. Very creepy. Which is why I ran to the house, but when the sirens sounded in the distance, I thought I was mistaken.”
    “Any idea whose body is inside? Do the Hargraves have children, anyone who might’ve let themselves in for a rendezvous?”
    “No. Their kids are grown and scattered. Greg always talks about how the house is much too big for the two of them with everyone gone, but Joan doesn’t want to sell. She loves this place,” Kat said sadly. “But who’d want to stay after someone was murdered in their home?”
    Cold fingers brushed the back of Howard’s neck for the second time this evening. Something evil had taken place here tonight, and Kat knew the family who owned the house. And if she’d been a minute or two earlier in arriving . . .
    “Oh, Christ.” He glanced around, searching beyond the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles.
    “What?”
    “Think. Did you see anyone on the way into the neighborhood, either walking or driving?”
    “Just a man in a dark truck—wait a minute! You don’t believe I passed the killer, do you?” She paled, pressing a trembling hand to her mouth.
    “I don’t know. I’m not a cop. It’s possible, though, so I want you to tell them everything you can remember. And be extra cautious for a while. Be sure and leave when the cops finish questioning you. Don’t stick around, and when you come back to check your parents’ house, bring a friend along, okay?”
    She nodded, eyes round. “All right.”
    He’d scared her. Hell, he’d scared himself. But better paranoid than dead.
    “Speaking of cops, here they are. Guess I’d better go talk to them.”
    “Sure.” He glanced to where a black-and-white had pulled up on the street, next to the curb. His heart squeezed at the thought of letting her go without knowing whether she’d be safe. “Are you feeling better? Should I transport you to the hospital, maybe have them take a good look at your lungs?”
    “Oh, no. I’m peachy, really. Help me up?”
    Pushing to his feet, he offered his hand, which she took with a smile. Her small palm completely vanished into his as he hauled her up. Staring into her pretty face, he searched for one excuse, no matter how lame, to see her again. Before he could form one, Kat stood on tiptoe, leaned into his chest, and planted a kiss on his cheek.
    “Thanks for rescuing me, big guy.” She reached for him, touched his face thoughtfully, as though weighing an important decision. “Bye, Howard.”
    She turned and started across the lawn, toward the potbellied policeman emerging from his patrol car. And like an idiot, he stared after her, speechless, the soldier below his belt primed for a twenty-one-gun salute. His skin tingled from her kiss and blood rushed in his ears. Stop her!
    But she’d deep-fried his brain and run it through a blender. Or maybe he was hopelessly inept at communicating with women like Kat. Nice women with smarts and sex appeal. Right about now, he’d sell his soul for one ounce of Julian’s suave charisma.
    Suddenly, Kat turned to face him again. “Oh, and Howard?”
    “Yes?”
    “FYI—my number is listed.”
    With her parting shot, she sashayed off, hips swinging, leaving him with his mouth hanging open. Slowly, a big, sappy grin spread across his face. He scores! Nothin’ but net.
    Beside him, a soft, appreciative whistle floated in the air. “ Caliente! A little more junk in the trunk than I usually go for, but so what? I’ll bet blondie’s never experienced the unequalled pleasure of a Latino lover with hot Italian blood running through his veins. The best of both worlds, eh?”
    His chest tightened. “You could try, Jules. But then I’d have to squash you like the pesky gnat you are. Painfully.”
    “Touché,” he laughed. “You know, maybe Howie’s