Page 9 of Hunting Justice

She turned serious. “You know about my murder board and the cold cases. No one, not even Lizzie, knows that.”

Jonah placed his hand over his heart. “And I’m honored.” His brown eyes bored into her blue ones. “But I don’t know all your secrets.”

She sucked back the gasp that threatened to escape. How did he know?

“Elle.”

She mentally shook off the panic. “I have to say the same about you. You’re holding something back.” He opened his mouth, but she put a finger on his lips to stop him. “And that’s okay. I don’t have to know everything.”

He seemed to mull over her words and nodded.

“Now, why don’t you give me a hint at what you need my help with.”

Jonah ran his fingers through his hair, then glanced around as if to confirm no one would hear him. “Ken did something he wasn’t proud of and wanted me to reopen a few of his cases.”

Noelle’s stomach jumped to her throat. What had Ken gotten himself into? And now he’d put Jonah in danger by bringing him into the mess.

She blew out air between pursed lips. “I think you need to tell me everything.”

* * *

Tucked behind a tree down the street, Jack watched the flurry of activity. Dark-gray smoke danced toward the sky, and a hiss from the water hitting the flames filled the air. When the house had splintered into pieces, a smile had bloomed on his face. Then he’d seen the smoldering body in the yard and wanted to scream.

The explosion should have blown to bits that ungrateful… He gritted his teeth. His blood boiled at the unfairness. The bullet he’d placed in Ken Dodson’s heart had solved his problem and given him a sense of satisfaction, but he’d had no intention of leading the cops to his door. A gas leak to eliminate any evidence of his presence had been the perfect plan—until it wasn’t.

The rigged natural gas line had ignited as planned and should have destroyed the evidence of his presence in the house, including the cause of Ken’s demise. Somehow, he’d messed up, or the universe had conspired against him. Either way, the mistake spelled disaster. He sagged against the tree and thumped the back of his head on it. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

The doctor’s coworker, Harris, had arrived moments before the house detonated. Not an odd occurrence for Dodson’s friend, but not exactly normal.

Jack scratched his jaw. Why had the man shown up today? The good ol’ doctor had hung up the phone when Jack walked in to confront him. Had Dodson told Harris about the agreement?

His heart rate spiked. No! He wouldn’t have. Would he?

He wiped the sweat from his brow and peeked around the tree, spotting Harris with some lady.

If the chief medical examiner had spilled the blackmail, he had to stop the flow of information. He couldn’t risk the truth coming out.

Options flitted through his mind. He nodded. Decision made. Dr. Jonah Harris had to die.

TWO

WEDNESDAY, 6:30 P.M.

“Not here.” Jonah scanned the fire scene from his position next to Ken’s body. He had no idea why icy fingers crawled up the back of his neck, but he’d heed the internal warning. “Let’s go somewhere else to talk.”

Noelle cocked her head to the side and studied him. “You think your mystery suspect is lurking?”

He ran his fingers through his hair, not bothering to smooth down the mess he made. “Honestly?”

“Of course.”

“I have no idea. But I can’t shake that creepy feeling of someone watching.”

“Okay. I won’t question your gut.” She gestured down the street. “Why don’t we grab a quick bite to eat at Ricky’s Café around the corner. You look like you could use something to settle that stomach.”

He grimaced. The thought of food made him want to hurl. “Maybe a ginger ale and some toast.”

Noelle scowled. “That bad?”