Page 94 of Near Miss

Lachlan stumbled to his feet with a snarl. He swiped the side of his neck and examined the smear of blood.

A crimson stain ebbed slowly around the blade’s hilt, spreading across the white fabric of Jared’s shirt.

Sophia couldn’t tear her gaze from the gruesome tableau as Jared’s breath rattled, then stilled.

Church bells rang from the clock, followed by six sonorous chimes.

She spun toward the windows. It didn’t help. Storm clouds had rolled in, darkening the sky. The glass reflected the horror at her like a funhouse mirror. The sirens in the distance grew louder. Blue and red flashes streaked through the gloom, then scattered in the nearby trees. One, then two police cars raced up the driveway.

Lachlan’s reflection approached her in the glass.

She turned to the flesh and blood man. Lines of pain bracketed his mouth and the corners of his eyes. His lips were a grim slash, his gaze somber. He raised bloody fingers to her cheek.

Were they trembling?

Or was she the one shaking?

Maybe they both were.

“I’m sorry you had tae see that, but I’m no’ sorry he’s dead.”

The room spun.

Lachlan grabbed hold of her before her knees could buckle. “Sophia, I—“

“Lachlan.” Nathan’s voice came from the doorway. He glanced at Jared’s body, then at Lachlan and Sophia. “The police are here. And so is—“

Before he could say more, a tall, dark-haired man in a suit brushed past him into the room.

The man stopped short when he caught sight of Jared. He knelt, placed his fingers on Jared’s neck, then turned piercing blue eyes on Lachlan in a glare. “Jesus, Mackay.”

Sophia’s eyes widened in recognition. It was the man Lachlan had met with the night of the art gallery reception.

“It was self-defense, Lucas.” Aggression still colored Lachlan’s voice. “The bastard kidnapped Sophia and tried to kill us both. He murdered at least two people that we know.”

Nathan chimed in. “We’re pretty sure the guy downstairs murdered Roshan Haider. He was in London when Haider ate that bullet.”

Two uniformed police officers entered the room and stopped short. They looked at the body on the floor, at the living occupants, then at the man Lachlan had called Lucas before one mumbled words Sophia couldn’t make out into his shoulder mic.

Lucas stood and approached her and Lachlan. She caught the faint whiff of tobacco. “Miss Russo, I’m Assistant Director Lucas Caldwell with the FBI. Are you all right?”

FBI?She leaned into Lachlan’s broad chest and tried not to fidget under the AD’s scrutiny. “If by okay you mean alive and unharmed, then yes. I was drugged but not injured.”

The fact her life had been turned upside down, her boss was dead, and she was feeling exposed and vulnerable? By that measure, she definitely was not all right.

AD Caldwell gestured to one of the officers who’d now stepped into the room and was examining Jared’s body. “Take Miss Russo to the hospital and have her checked out. Detective Johnson can interview her there and then see that she gets home.”

He scowled at Lachlan, then at Nathan, still hovering by the open doors. “You two are with me.”

“Hold up a minute.” A man who looked to be in his fifties joined the group. He had thinning brown hair, a brown sport coat that did little to obscure his middle-aged paunch, and a harassed expression that looked so at home Sophia suspected it was his resting face. “We got a guy downstairs who needs medical attention and—“ his gaze traveled the room before landing on Jared. “Nice office.” He pointed at Jared while looking at the FBI agent for confirmation. “Dead?”

At Caldwell’s nod, the detective heaved a weary sigh, then withdrew a small, spiral-bound notebook and pen from his breast pocket. “This is a crime scene. No one goes anywhere other than Fairfax County PD Headquarters.”

“These people are involved in an active federal investigation, Detective. I’ll need to be present when you interview them.” The Assistant Director gestured toward Sophia. “Miss Russo was forcibly abducted by the deceased. I suggest you get an officer to take her to get medically cleared before you interview her.”

The detective’s mouth turned down at the corners. “Fine.” He motioned to one of the uniformed officers. “Escort Miss Russo to Fairfax Hospital.”

Sophia turned in Lachlan’s arms, digging her fingers into his biceps to anchor herself to him. “I don’t want to leave you.” Why did she feel if he left here without her, she might never see him again?

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