Page 25 of Dark Terror
“She had no place else to go, Harry. What was I was supposed to do? Leave her in her house, unprotected?”
Wasn’t Harry the name of his partner? Not sure what to do, she started to slip back out to the patio before they saw her, but stopped. She had no reason to hide and wasn’t going to act like she did. She walked into the living room to see Gabe talking to a stunning blonde woman.
“Well she can’t stay here with you. You should’ve gotten her a hotel room.”
“I offered to go to a hotel,” Cara said. They both turned to look at her. The woman eyed her the way a scientist might study a bug under a microscope.
Cara lifted her chin, refusing to be intimidated. She didn’t want to cause friction between Gabe and his partner, but it wasn’t her fault she had witnessed a murder. Well, it kind of was considering she had chased a dog into the park at night.
“Cara, this is my partner, Delaney Harrison.”
“Pleased to meet you, Detective Harrison.” Not really. There was no warmth or humor coming from the woman. Cara wanted to say,Hey, I’m traumatized here, lady. I saw a man stab a woman to death, and now he’s turned his attention on me. A little empathy would be welcomed.
The detective sighed, her eyes growing softer. “I know this is an awful thing for you, Cara. You must be frightened.”
“Wow, you can read minds.”
Something that sounded a lot like a snort drew Cara’s attention to Gabe. She was pretty sure he was trying not to laugh. “Well, I guess I’ll leave you guys to it and get back to my research.”
“Cara’s seeing what she can dig up on Sherman Enterprises,” Gabe said.
Detective Harrison raised a brow. “And have you found anything of interest?”
“Actually I have, Detective.”
“You might as well call me Harry. Everyone else does. Gabe, why don’t you whip us up some lunch while Cara tells us what she’s got,” Detective Harrison said.
“I can do that. How does a grilled chicken salad sound?”
“That works.” Detective Harrison gestured toward the kitchen’s island. “Let’s have a seat, Cara, while he does his magic.”
Gabe leaned toward Cara. “Harry can’t cook worth beans. She’s always mooching food from me,” he said in a stage whisper.
Harry shrugged. “True that.”
The two seemed to have a close relationship. Cara tried not to be jealous but failed miserably. Gabe’s partner was gorgeous. Although she wore her hair in a tight bun at the back of her neck, the striking colors—several shades of blonde—were visible. Even though she wore minimal makeup, maybe a little mascara, blush, and clear lip gloss, Delaney Harrison was a woman who would turn the heads of any man crossing her path. Her brown eyes were the color of rich dark chocolate, and her skin tone was creamy and flawless. How could Gabe not be attracted to her?
“Be right back. Need to get my laptop.” After grabbing her laptop, she called Cricket to come in with her. As soon as he saw Gabe, he gave an excited bark.
“Wondered where you were, Ugly Dog,” Gabe said, leaning down to scratch his ear.
“What in the world is that?” Harry said.
“That’s Cricket, Detective. He belonged to the woman who was killed.” Cara frowned at Gabe. “And stop calling him Ugly Dog. You’re hurting his feelings.”
“Am I hurting your feelings, Cricket?”
Cara rolled her eyes when Cricket wagged his tail and gave a happy bark. She slid onto the bar stool next to Harry. “If no one claims him, you know, the family, do you think I can keep him?” She’d grown attached to the little thing.
“I don’t see why not,” Harry said.
Gabe’s phone buzzed, and he picked it up from the counter. After glancing at the screen, he said to his partner, “Benjamin.”
“Whatcha got?” As he listened to whatever Benjamin was saying, Gabe’s lips thinned and he shot Harry a look that seemed to say there was trouble. “We’re on our way.”
He disconnected and stared at his phone for a few seconds before lifting his eyes to Cara. “Your house was broken into last night.”
Cara’s stomach cartwheeled. It had to be the killer. What if she’d been home? “I-I…”
