Page 99 of Midnight Secrets

Mina walked up. “What’s going on?”

“Weird things,” I answered. “Ellis is calling Ozzie.”

“Should I go unlock your gun safe?”

“Not yet,” Ellis said just as the call connected. He touched the speakerphone icon.

“I know, I know. Dinner. I’ll be there soon.” Ozzie’s voice came over the line with a touch of exasperation and amusement as well as a healthy dose of distraction.

“It’s not about that.” Ellis met my gaze, and I could see he was taking my concerns seriously. It wasn’t even that big of a deal, but it just struck me as strange.

“Okay?”

“There was an Officer Turner here a minute ago. He was looking for you.”

“Oh. Riggs said he was going to ask him to come in at some point. We had a couple questions for him about something. I must have missed him.”

“But why did he comehere?” I asked.

A beat of silence passed. “That’s a good point.”

“Where are you?” Ellis asked. “I told him you were working a lead and to check your house and call dispatch, but that you might be out somewhere.”

“I’m at home. I needed my photo-editing software. You said you sent him here?”

“Yeah. He said he tried to call you first but didn’t get an answer.”

“Really?” Several seconds of silence passed. “I don’t see a missed call.”

A moment later, he sucked in a sharp breath.

“Oz?”

My heart thumped as my gaze connected with Ellis’s.

“No way,” Ozzie whispered. “Son-of-a-bitch. It all makes sense now.”

“What does?” I took a step forward, as though I could step through the phone and see what he did.

The sharp clatter of glass shattering on the other end made me jump.

A low grunt of surprise and a thud quickly followed.

“Oscar?” Ellis brought the phone closer to his ear.

Ozzie didn’t answer. Instead, a quick series of pops and thuds filled the air.

Ellis cursed. “Those were gunshots.”

“What?” With round eyes, I just stared at him. He wasn’t serious. Couldn’t be.

“Call Chief Riggs.” He reached for the door.

“Wait!” I snagged his sleeve. “You can’t go unarmed. Or alone.”

Mina had already turned around and was running up the stairs.

“Where’s she going?” He pointed.

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