Echo’s Crusade

JM Dragon

Affinity E-Book Press NZ LTD

Back of the Book

Echo Radar is outgoing and happy, working as an advertising executive in a reputable firm with a bright future for promotion. Karen Thompson, from a poor unstable background, works at the same advertising firm as Echo. Where Echo prefers a relaxing environment in her free time, Karen helps others though the Greystroke Project, which caters to the very people she had once been - destitute and down on her luck.

Two women form a bond and look forward to the prospect of a romantic relationship when the disturbing events of a Thanksgiving holiday bring the walls tumbling down around them.

Echo is now on a quest, and with the help of Detective Roan Keating, searching for justice becomes Echo's Crusade.

Echo’s Crusade

2009 © JM Dragon

Second Edition

Affinity E-Book Press NZ LTD

Canterbury, New Zealand

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the express permission of the author or publisher.

Please note that piracy of copyrighted materials violate the author’s right and is illegal.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design: Helen Hayes

Photo Credit: Andri Viuzylea

Acknowledgments

I’d like to thank Alice, Beth, and Gwen for their constructive and genuine help during the process of the story—it’s the minor points, which might appear trivial to some, that can make all the difference.

To my readership on the Internet, thank you for your continued support enabling me to evolve, and at times experiment with my storylines, and thereby allow me to produce stories like Echo’s Crusade.

Thank you, Mel, you know all the reasons why—the list is way too long.

Dedication

To Teresa, for your courage and perseverance against, what seem at times, insurmountable odds. May your crusade in the future be equally as rewarding.

Prologue

A small neon sign flickered hypnotically to the left side of the finger-marked window where a young woman peered. The third and sixth letter of the sign, which had once proudly announced the Capricorn Motel, refused to light up. It was in complete contrast to the larger and fully functioning sign to the right of the five-star Sapphire Hotel.

The woman watched them for a few seconds before pulling out a pack of cigarettes, lighting one and inhaling the smoke, which immediately induced the nicotine into her body. A poor woman’s replacement for drugs, though it might have been cheaper to buy booze. However, booze had the ability to incapacitate her, and in her current profession, that undertaking wasn’t conducive to being stoned. A few of her peers on the street differed in judgment. There were times at her bleakest of moments when the temptation called her name, and she’d overridden the appeal—for the time being anyway.

As the woman turned to appraise her inner surroundings, she blew out a swirl of smoke. A king-size bed dominated the room, leaving little space for anything else. Crammed against the wall were a wicker chair and a low cabinet with two drawers that completed the picture. A nondescript dark green carpet with numerous stains covered the floor. A partially opened door revealed a tiny bathroom with barely enough space for her bony frame to fit, but it served its purpose.

She stubbed out her cigarette when she heard a knock on the door. She adjusted the skimpy T-shirt that exposed more than it covered, walked the few steps to the door, and opened it while giving a false smile.

The figure in the corridor inclined his head, and she waved him inside. Few words were needed as the client ran sure hands over the full breasts that looked out of place on the skeletal body of the young woman.

Half an hour later with the sound of the door closing, the room took on the silence of emptiness, much like the woman’s eyes that stared down at the bruises appearing just under her skin. This client liked it rough—she was the punching bag.

Touching a tender nipple that she was sure was hanging on by a thread, she pondered how life had taken her down this path. The biggest question of all was how to turn it all around.

What she needed was a miracle. It was a moot point. Long ago, she dismissed the idea of a knight in shining armor uplifting her from this hell hole and dropping her gently into a fairytale ending. As she climbed out of the sweat- and blood-spotted sheets with more aches than she’d anticipated, she entered the bathroom to wash away the evidence of her last client.

In an hour, she would be free—for a short time anyway—to dream of what could be, but who was she kidding? The stark reality was she wasn’t a glamorous prostitute like the one in that movie Pretty Woman. She’d continue and hope one day she’d make enough money to leave the city and move to a small town in the country and live a life of anonymity.

Chapter One

“You can’t save everyone, Karen.” An upheld hand stopped the woman’s rebuttal. “And before you say it...I know…I know you have to try.” A petite brunette shook her head at her much taller friend languishing against the doorjamb of her office.

Karen Thompson, the senior executive at the large Austin Advertising Agency, grinned. Her eyes, the shade of bluebells, seemed to shimmer as she stared at her friend intently. “I understand your caution, Echo, and I’ll take it under advisement. Ever since I told you what I did in my leisure time, you’ve been threatening to come with me…why not this weekend?”

Echo Radar shut her eyes in horror. She preferred the comfort of her own bed than any crusade of salvation. “No thanks, not this weekend…I have company, remember? What would my folks say if I ran off and left them to minister to the poor and needy? They’d think I’d been taken over by aliens.”

Karen chuckled. “Oh, I don’t know. Your folks are liberal-minded…they must be if they gave you a name like Echo.”

Echo rolled her hazel eyes. “Look, I can’t even be straight with them about not being straight, if you know what I mean.”

Karen gave her friend a long hard stare. They’d gone over that issue several times in the years they’d been friends. Having begun at the firm at the same time, they’d struck up a mutually beneficial support system, which allowed them to reach the heady heights of senior executives in the agency.

“Your folks seem the decent type to me. They love you and want what’s best for their only child. I think if they knew you were beating yourself up over this, they’d want to know and support you. You’ve never taken a male friend to meet them in the fifteen years since you came here. They must know that you providing them with grandchildren is probably not going to happen.”

“They think it’s the career and not that I’ve never had a man in my bed. You’re right, though, it’s time I came clean. I’m thirty- seven, for God’s sake! You’d think I could stand up to my parent’s disapproval by now. What did you say to your parents?”

Karen frowned slightly. “Got to go. Stan wants that new campaign for the Steer Corporation on his desk…” She glanced at her watch. “…like now. Call me if you have problems with your parents, okay? Have a great weekend.” She waved and headed as fast as her long legs could take her down the corridor.

As Echo watched her leave, she shook her head at Karen’s sudden departure. She wished she hadn’t opened up that can of worms. Karen told her once that her parents threw her out of the house with barely the clothes on her back. She ended up on the streets when she was fifteen years old. Echo suspected it was the main reason Karen spent most of her weekends at the Greystoke Project.

“You’re one hell of a woman, Karen Thompson. I do wonder what your real story is. I suspect you’ve only told me the edited version.” The phone ringing on her desk brought her thoughts back to her work.

†

Karen parked her ten-year-old Ford in one of the poorer areas of the city before sliding out from behind the wheel and locking it. In the two years that she’d been attending the meetings, there was only one incident of vandalism. Once the people in the neighborhood found out why she was there, no one touched her car except for occasional graffiti written on the door panels or the trunk when it was dirty.

Her well-toned body, clad in worn denims and an equally worn jacket over her sweater, gave her the appearance that wouldn’t draw attention to her good fortune in life. Not so were her natural attributes—short sable hair, remarkably flawless skin that her mother used to say was all in the genes, and full lips that readily tugged into a smile. She was a genuinely beautiful woman inside and out with an honest appreciation of life.

Karen could have left it all behind when she moved her life out of the gutter. Instead, she elected to embrace it by making it her mission to help others who were less able to pull themselves out of the spiral of depravation.

She walked a few yards to the disused church where the meetings took place. The homeless, drug-addicted, alcoholic, prostitute, or anyone in between was welcome. Pulling a large solid door open, she slipped inside, and the smell of damp and decay invaded her nostrils. The smell was the one thing she hated about the place.

“Hi, Karen,” a guttural voice called as she walked down the narrow space between a couple of rotting pews.

“Jamie, how are you doing? We haven’t seen you in a couple of months.” Karen scanned the woman’s features. She looked haggard, and Karen suspected that she’d fallen off the wagon again.

The woman with heavily stained teeth and bloodshot eyes grinned. “I figured it was time to start again…I need help…I tried, but it was hard alone out there.”

Karen nodded in sympathy. “No problem…we’ll try again. Have you seen Layla?”

Both women glanced around, and finally, Karen caught the blond head of the woman who ran the project, Layla Greystoke. She was a woman on a mission. For over twenty years, she’d been a Christian missionary traveling the world working for charitable organizations. Returning to her roots with the help of a meager grant from the government, her project was under way. In the two years since its inception, she’d done so well that there was talk that several wealthy benefactors in La Toura were interested in setting up a trust. That would mean the project and its values would be taken to other cities that needed help.

Karen walked over to the slightly older woman and appraised her friend. Her weathered skin had slightly harsh features that gave an initial impression of unease until she spoke. Her passion and compassion for people generally shone out. Karen smiled as she thought about Layla’s nickname—white knight. Earlier travels into the interior of Africa resulted in the name, and it stuck.

Karen was taken aback to see Layla administering to a young woman who couldn’t be much more than eighteen. Her body was emaciated and from what she could see, filled with bruises and welts from head to toe. As she approached, the young woman shrank into a ball behind Layla.

Gently disengaging her hands, Layla stood up from her hunched position and smiled at Karen. “Good to see you, Karen. We’ve a mixed bag today. Would you believe that potential benefactors of the trust have invited me to an impromptu meeting at ten this morning? I can’t say no…it’s way too important. I kind of accepted knowing you’d show.” She lowered her head. “I know it’s kind of selfish on my part, but I figured you’d understand the potential.”

“Hey, I’m cool. It’s great…we have to do anything we can to help those that are struggling. Besides, I’d have called you if I couldn’t make it. I was hoping to bring along a friend, but she has other commitments.” Karen’s mind wandered to Echo as she wondered how her first few hours with her parents had been since she confessed her sexuality.

Layla watched a tender expression cross Karen’s features as she spoke of her friend. “Echo, I take it…she’s been promising to attend for months now. I’ll be happy to meet her one day.”

Karen grinned and shrugged. “Yeah, Echo. Her parents are here this weekend, and they only visit here twice a year. It wasn’t a good time, maybe next week.”

“Maybe…I hope she does visit. We’re always in need of good volunteers. We have a new member. Karen, meet Shelby.” Layla turned back to the young woman.

Karen smiled at the woman sitting on the cold hard floor who looked like a frightened bag of bones. “Hi, Shelby, I’m Karen.” The young woman peered at Karen and didn’t speak. After a furtive meeting of their eyes, she returned her gaze to her tightly clutched hands and the knuckles that were turning white.

Layla bent to speak with Shelby for a few moments. Then she took Karen by the arm as they moved away from the girl and looked over their current regulars.

“Jamie’s back. I found her slumped in a drunken stupor beside a dumpster outside the building she once managed. The current manager used to work for her and called me. Apparently, when Jamie left us last, she went to have coffee there and told the manager how we’d been helping her. Seems he took pity on her predicament and employed her as a waitress. Unfortunately, she only managed to stay sober a month and he fired her. I guess she hasn’t quite made it yet.” Layla gazed at the woman and shook her head.

“Jamie will get there, I know it…we just have to be patient,” Karen said. As they discussed several others in the room, Karen cast furtive glances at the newest member.

Layla wasn’t surprised that Karen was fascinated with Shelby. At one time, she would have felt the same. Just like with all the youngsters on the streets, the girl was another tragic case. She no longer had the luxury of a one-to-one mentorship of the girl. She now had to leave that to others like Karen.

Layla continued, “…that brings me to Shelby. A friend of mine at Scott General called me when another prostitute took her to the emergency room about five hours ago. No insurance, of course, but they patched her up as a favor to me. Apparently, her last client beat the hell out of her and didn’t even pay her for the ‘pleasure’. Instead, he stole her money. She’s in shock, hurting, and generally spaced out. Right now, she needs a friend and I can’t think of a better role model than you. What do you say…will you help her?”

As Karen looked at the young woman, a glow filled her face. “Sure.”

Chapter Two

Echo stood for a long time gazing silently at her unaware friend’s countenance before she stepped forward and touched her shoulder.

Karen’s head jerked upwards in surprise, then warm eyes settled on her friend. “Hi, I didn’t know you’d be back today. I figured you’d take the rest of the day off to travel to your folks.”

“Nope, I decided to try again to persuade you to come with me. It’s Thanksgiving, and I know how you love my mom’s cooking. I’ve even managed to hold a ticket on the same flight as me if you decide you’ll go with me…please say you’ll go,” Echo said in an even tone.

The undercurrents of her concern for her friend, however, churned away at her stomach. It had been four months since she’d spent any leisure time with Karen. She knew exactly when that was. It had been when her folks visited her earlier in the year. Karen had been conspicuous in her absence socially in the evenings and she gave the same old excuse—the project.

Karen smiled up at her and she shook her head. “I’m sorry, Echo…I promised someone that they could come over to my place for the holiday. I can’t break it.” She shrugged and gave her friend an apologetic smile. “Not even for your mom’s cooking.”

Echo’s mind ticked over all the possible scenarios, and it dawned on her that maybe those dark circles under Karen’s eyes might be from late nights with a new lover. Irrational jealously chipped away at her mind. “You’ve never mentioned a new person in your life….don’t I get a chance to meet her?”

Karen swiveled her chair around, leaned back, and rocked. She clenched the end of the pencil she was using between her teeth as she pondered what to say next. “It isn’t a new person in my life…well, it is, but not the way you might think. This is something I’ve promised to do, and you know I like to honor my promises. When you get back, we’ll have dinner, my treat, okay? I’ll spill all the beans then.”

Not entirely convinced, Echo nodded. “Sure. By the way, you never asked me if I told my folks the last time they visited.”

“Oh, God, I’m sorry. Did you?”

“No problem, you obviously have other things that are more important on your mind. We’ll have that dinner when I get back and talk. You have a great Thanksgiving, and I’ll see you on Tuesday.” Echo left her friend’s office and headed for the elevator.

With a swift movement, Karen was out of her chair, and she caught up with Echo as she jabbed the elevator button. Her hand went around Echo’s arm. “I’m sorry, Echo…truly I am. I’ve neglected our friendship, and I promise when you get back, I’ll change.”

Cocking her head, Echo looked at Karen and mentally shook her head. You can’t change, Karen, it’s who you are, and that’s why I adore you. “Hey, no foul…you have your secret and I have mine. It should make for a great dinner date.” The door to an empty elevator opened, and Echo made a split-second decision. She craned her neck and planted a soft kiss on Karen’s lips. With a saucy wink, she entered the elevator, and the doors closed before Karen came out of her astonished stupor.

In a happy daze, Karen headed back to her office. She needed to tie up some loose ends before leaving for her weekend with Shelby.

†

Shelby Cameron felt like a caged animal as she walked behind Karen in the woman’s comfortable apartment. She existed only in a hostel and the impoverished conditions suited her mental state. For over six years, she’d been on the streets in one way or another.

Her meager belongings consisted of the clothes on her back and a small suitcase of mementos of a life she craved. Now she actually felt like a normal person with a home to go to, even if it was only temporary.

Karen’s invitation to spend Thanksgiving at her apartment was a surprise for who’d want a dropout in their home. Her thoughts turned dark. No one wanted to help without getting something in return, and that usually meant using her, then casting her aside.

When they stopped and Karen gestured to a beautifully decorated guest room, Shelby saw the friendly expression on the woman’s face. Maybe I’m wrong. Her eyes mooned as she took in the adjoining bathroom. It was larger than the motel rooms she used in her old business. She had always dreamed of this kind of life and a room of her own, even if it was only for a few days.

“Shelby, I’m off to the market. Is there anything I can pick up for you?”

With a look of gratitude, Shelby said, “No.”

“Okay then, I’ll be back soon. Remember, you shouldn’t go out alone.”

Shelby heard the door close and looked at her surroundings. Now that she was ensconced in Karen’s apartment, she had to consider what price she’d have to pay. Karen hadn’t asked her for anything, but she knew it was only a matter of time. Shelby walked over to the window and looked down at the leaf-strewn pavement where several figures laden with packages scurried by. She imagined that they were people bent on enjoying the holiday as a reprieve from their hectic normal lifestyles. The florist shop on the corner caught her attention.

For the first time in what seemed like forever, an unselfish thought invaded her negative thoughts. She headed for the case that held her mediocre money supply and ten minutes later, dressed in the warm clothes Karen had given her, she checked out the flowers in the shop.

A rotund man with a ready smile greeted Shelby. “Can I help you? We have some wonderful displays for table decoration if that’s what you need.”

Shelby shrugged. “No, I just want a bunch of flowers. I have fifteen dollars.” She dug a rough hand into the pocket of the out- of-fashion coat she wore and pulled out a fistful of crumpled bills.

The man blinked rapidly as he forced a smile before looking at the crumpled bills in disdain. “I’m sorry, we don’t have anything in that range. The market three blocks down would be the best place for you to go.”

Shelby had heard the same condescending tone many times before and frowned. She sucked in a deep breath and turned toward the door. About to leave, she almost cannoned into another customer who was entering the shop. “Hey, be careful,” she said.

A smooth voice said, “Who would have thought I’d meet you here? How have you been, Shelby? I haven’t seen you in your usual haunts for months.”

Shelby swallowed hard. Karen’s words “don’t go out alone” echoed in her ears. “I don’t do that anymore, I’ve moved on,” she said with determination as she tried to push past the person.

Her whole body squirmed like there were thousands of maggots crawling all over her at the lurid appraisal of the predator. She could almost feel her clothes peeling away from her body as if they didn’t exist.

“How about a coffee for old times?” A smile of satisfaction tugged around the thin lips when Shelby’s expression turned to horror.

“Not on your life! I remember the last time we met…I still have the scars! Get out of my way!” Shelby ran out of the shop and dashed into the congested street, ignoring the blaring horns of the vehicles. After several middle fingers and shouted “get the hell out of the way,” she got to the other side.

Shelby pushed past other pedestrians until she reached Karen’s apartment building. Quickly pulling a key from her coat pockets, she inserted it into the building’s outer lock. The door opened, and once inside, she slammed it shut as she drew in a shaky breath. Despondently, she made her way to the apartment where she locked herself in the bedroom and cried like a baby.

In the doorway of the flower shop, a dark figure stood watching Shelby run away. When she disappeared inside the building, the figure moved away and walked rapidly toward the brownstone, then flipped opens a cell phone and made a call.

Karen pushed a cart through the grocery store and smiled as she selected a few extra treats to add to the dinner she’d planned with Shelby. The final hurdle for the younger girl to become acclimated to life outside the hostel was about to occur. After months of hard work on both their parts, the moment was at hand, and for Karen, it had been worth the effort.

Earlier that week, Layla was less than encouraging when Karen discussed her strategy to help Shelby leave her old life behind and start anew…

“You’re becoming too close to the situation,” Layla said. “I cannot approve of what you’re doing…you run the risk of damaging both your lives and with it the reputation of this project.”

Karen frowned. “We’ve been working on this situation for months now. If I don’t follow through with this, I think Shelby will slide backwards. She needs the confidence that not every person she comes across is a slime ball or out for something from her.”

“And you think allowing her into your home for a short period of time will help? It will only confuse the issue. Shelby isn’t you, Karen…there are few people out there who could have done what you did. My dear, you should be proud of your progress, but bring a little common sense to bear. Please don’t let what little privacy you have become part of your work here. We all need to have someplace we can call our own space.”

Layla shook her head and the sunlight that shone through the stained-glass window appeared like a halo around her head.

“I understand your concern. Please trust me. It’s only for the Thanksgiving weekend. Shelby knows that, too…besides, I’ve already asked her, and all the hard work to get to this point would be lost if I let her down now.” Karen bit her lip. It was too late to change her mind even if she wanted to.

Layla nodded. “Why your apartment? Why not take her out to dinner?”

Karen laughed and placed a hand on her mentor’s shoulder. “Layla, it wouldn’t be the same. Thanksgiving is all about being in a comfortable, cozy atmosphere with friends and family. A restaurant wouldn’t hack it. Next, you’ll be telling me to take her to a Kentucky Fried Chicken for Thanksgiving.”

“Maybe, but think about just having dinner together and not having her stay at your place. Will you promise me that?”

“If it will make you happy, I’ll think about it. I need to go.” Karen grinned and was about to leave when Layla called her back.

“Have a happy Thanksgiving, Karen, and for Shelby, too.” With a bright smile and a wave, Karen nodded. “You too, Layla. See you next week.”

Karen ignored her friend’s advice. She didn’t want to disappoint Shelby. Life had given the kid too many pitfalls already, and she wasn’t about to add another. If the weekend went well, she’d help Shelby find a nice place in a good neighborhood and get her out of the hostel. Maybe in the future, Shelby would return the favor by helping someone else. She believed that one had to give big without hope of reward to appease the soul.

Her thoughts traveled to Echo and the unexpected kiss. When I get back, we’re going to have to talk…big-time. Her grin widened at the idea of having Echo in her life on a more personal front. Yep, it might just work. After all, we’ve known each other for years. How could it not?

Selecting a box of chocolates that had every flavor imaginable, she laid them on top of the rest of the items in her basket and headed for the checkout. Then her cell buzzed, and she answered it with a happy expression until she heard what the caller wanted.

Chapter Three

Lieutenant Simon Allen shook his balding head, and with a perplexed expression, he deposited his cell phone back in his pocket. He turned to his partner, Roan Keating. “Is forensics on the way?”

“ETA in ten minutes. This could be a messy domestic since there’s no sign of a break-in,” Detective Keating said after her initial reconnaissance of the scene.

Allen frowned. He’d seen so many violent scenes in his lifetime, and retirement in three months was looking better. It would be like winning the lottery—he wouldn’t miss work. “That’s possible…but the way the body looks…I’m not sure. We’ll see what forensics finds. Who called it in? Who lives here…the victim?”

With a quick flip of the pad, Keating said, “Call came from an anonymous tip from the public phone on the corner of the next block. Not sure if it’s the victim, but it’s possible…the super gave the name as Karen Thompson. I have the boys going door to door in the apartment building asking if anyone heard anything. Although as it’s Thanksgiving, most appear to be away for the holiday, and the ones that are home are partying and didn’t hear anything suspicious. I doubt we’re going to get much out of anyone.”

Allen shook his head. “Let me know when you have more details. Right now, I need to meet with the captain before I check on a disturbance at the Greystoke Project.” Allen sucked in a deep breath. “I’d send one of the patrol officers, but since the mayor, the police chief, and a few of the more influential dignitaries are involved with the project, it needs my personal attention.”

“I’ll keep you posted. I don’t expect to get anything substantial for a while yet.” Roan heaved a sigh as she took in the body and the scene at hand. “Can’t the idiots who allow this kind of thing to happen take a day off once in a while and give us a break?”

The older detective heard the muttered words of his partner and swung around to face her. His partner had a great record for arrests and came from the perfect background, but she had little compassion for people. Everything was just another job…another case number to her.

“Detective Keating, remember that not all of the victims are scum. You know that some of them are innocent, and they actually have loved ones that care about them. They deserve our compassion.” Allen nodded. “Keep me informed,” he said before he left the scene.

Keating sighed again as she glanced back at the naked body tied to the bed and shook her head. From the position of the body, it wasn’t much of a leap to surmise sexual assault. She ran her fingers through her untidy thick black hair and frowned at the vibration of her pager. After reading the message she said, “Damn, another one.”

The sound of the entering crime lab personnel drew her attention to the other room. She pointed to the bedroom. “You’ll probably want to start in there.”

†

Captain Sofia Renaldo paced the floor of her office waiting for her lead detective to arrive. The call from the brass came when she was halfway through her Thanksgiving dinner with her family. The call and her leaving for work immediately didn’t sit well with her family, especially her husband, Russ. Now she waited to brief Allen about the sensitive area that they would be treading.

A knock on her door made her look up. “Enter,” she said. When Allen entered her office, she nodded. “Good, you made great time. I’m not going to beat about the bush. The Greystoke Project has hit a rocky patch. We’ve picked up a couple of kids from that area who were trying to vandalize a car in front of the project’s headquarters.”

Allen frowned and shook his head. “I was taken away from a homicide for petty theft and vandalism? Give me a break, Captain!”

Renaldo held up her hand. “I know what you’re thinking. I thought the same, but it isn’t that simple. The vehicle they were breaking into belongs to one of the project’s senior volunteers.” Flicking through her notes, she added, “Karen Thompson.”

Allen let out another heavy sigh, rolled his eyes, and began to speak when Renaldo raised a finger and gave him a harsh look. “Let me finish, Detective. They found the Thompson woman dead behind the wheel. Initial reports indicate she may have committed suicide. I can’t reiterate enough how important it is to keep a lid on this…the project is too important to jeopardize. Do what you have to do, but make it quick and painless, do you understand me?”

Allen’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “Give me that name again, Captain.”

“Karen Thompson. Do you know her?”

“Nope, but I think I’ve just left Keating at her apartment. There’s a body tied to the bed.”

“You think they’re connected?” Renaldo tried to keep her tone as cool as possible. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as cut and dried as it appeared.

“Likely. Maybe this Thompson woman had a dark side to her otherwise giving nature…we’ve seen the type before. She kills the girlfriend, then in a fit of remorseful guilt commits suicide. I take it you want me to have forensics and the coroner speed these through without issue?”

Renaldo smiled at him. He was from the old school and she knew he’d get the job done even if he had to cut the odd corner or two. Today, that was exactly the mentality she wanted—make it go away quickly. “I’ll leave it in your capable hands. Call me if anything unexpected develops.”

“You got it, Captain.” He left the room contemplating the next step. “First up…call Keating.”

When he heard the clipped “Keating,” he blew out a breath.

The day just keeps getting better. “We have a connection to the Thompson apartment murder.”

Chapter Four

Echo arrived at her office earlier than usual. The weekend with her folks had been interesting to say the least. Her mom invited an “old friend” to join the family for a get-together. Josie Skein was the resident DJ at a local lesbian bar. She bragged that she had been through more lovers than the number of CDs that she owned. Considering her choice of career, the chances were that was a huge number—very scary. It had become scarier still when Josie made a pass at her after dinner.

The woman was a leech, and the thought of Josie’s lips sucking the life out of hers wasn’t a turn-on. Echo cringed as she recalled the event in glorious Technicolor. “Gross!” If only Karen hadn’t been so involved in the project’s work, she’d have been here and a kiss with her on the porch might have been much more memorable.

The outright pass in front of her parents had her more embarrassed than her dad, who looked uncomfortable through most of dinner. Echo thought he’d choke on the food at the crass comments Josie threw into the conversation. Her mother, on the other hand, seemed to let the whole thing go over her head.

When Josie finally left, Echo explained that she was pleased they understood and accepted her choices, but she could find her own friends. The relief in her dad’s eyes that she wasn’t interested in Josie was palpable. Her mother had given her the look of parental frustration and indicated next time she’d better bring her own companion.

As she sat at her desk, Echo pushed back a lock of hair and wondered what Karen would make of it. “I bet she laughs her butt off.” She glanced across the corridor to the closed door of her friend’s office. Picking up a folder marked urgent, she got to work on her new assignment as several other early birds began to arrive. Her gaze constantly switched from her work to Karen’s door—Karen always arrived early.

†

Stanley Austin couldn’t believe the information the detectives gave him. “There’s no way Karen is dead.” The dubious circumstances surrounding the whole episode had to be wrong. He watched Karen’s talent grow over the years to the point that he made her a senior associate. Now he sat dumbstruck by the news.

Finally glancing over to the two detectives in his office, he quietly said, “I’m sorry, but I know very little about Karen’s private life. I know that at one point in her early years, she was destitute but managed to rise above that and make a good life for herself. I think her earlier experiences were a driving force behind her helping others at that inner city project,” he said with a puzzled look. “Sorry, I can’t recall the name.”

“The Greystoke Project,” Detective Keating supplied as she coolly glanced around the luxurious office surroundings.

The older man lifted his bushy grey eyebrows and continued. “Yes, the Greystoke Project.” For a few moments, he contemplated the impact that Karen’s death would cause. “What does this have to do with my agency? I don’t want any unwanted publicity.”

Lieutenant Allen paused before answering. One of the man’s senior associates was dead, another body was in her apartment, and he was worried about it getting in the press. Lucky for him the captain vetoed that path or I’d have had his damned agency hitting the headlines. With an exaggerated clearance of his throat, Allen said, “It’s a straightforward case, Mr. Austin…I don’t think the press is interested. I’m just informing you of your associate’s demise. Do you know anything that might contradict the situation? Any feuds you know about or lovers she pissed off?”

Roan Keating groaned inwardly at the comment and under her breath said, “And he calls me insensitive.”

“No, Karen’s private life was her own affair. I wouldn’t know anything about it. If you haven’t anything further, I’ll have my secretary show you out.” Stan wanted the police out of his office before the general work force arrived.

Simon Allen stood, as did his partner. “We’ve nothing more right now. However, if anything comes to mind or anyone can shed any light on what went on, please contact us. We’ll leave our cards.” They each withdrew a card and placed them on his desk.

Stan nodded. “Thank you, I’ll be sure to let you know.” He watched as the two left his office, and he buzzed his secretary. “Let me know the minute they’re out of the building.”

His thoughts then turned to Karen. “My God, Karen, what on earth did you get yourself into?” He had a hard time getting his head around the fact that Karen killed herself and murdered someone else. It was so contrary to the person he knew. “She’s going to be hard to replace. There certainly aren’t many out there with her talent.” He shook his head and rubbed his chin before rapping his fingers on his slate desk and heaving a sigh. “If the detective is right…the press won’t be at our heels…that’s the only good I can see coming out of this.”

His secretary buzzed him. “They’ve left.”

“Good. Have Echo come to my office as soon as she arrives.” He picked up the business cards on the desk and tossed them in the trash can.

†

Echo gave Stan’s secretary a bright smile as she breezed into the executive suite. “Is it okay to go straight in, Mary?”

Mary Day gave Echo a genuine smile—she liked the woman. “Sure, Echo, he’s expecting you.”

Echo tapped on the door, then opened it and popped her head inside. “Hi, Stan, you wanted to see me?”

Stan brought his bulky frame out of his chair and headed around his desk as Echo entered his office. Pointing to two sofas, he walked toward them and settled his large body on one as Echo sat in the opposite one.

Echo watched his body language, and from what she saw, something was terribly wrong. “What’s wrong, boss?”

Stan scratched his neck before tugging at the collar of his pristine white shirt. He loosened his colorful tie that rested untidily below the top button of his shirt. “I have some bad news.”

Lifting her hands in a gesture of compliance, Echo said, “Look, Stan, if I missed something on the Davison project, I’ll redo it all on my own time and personally apologize to them.”

Stan gazed at the woman he’d nurtured along with Karen the last fifteen years. Professionally, he felt that Karen was the more intelligent of the duo—perfection was her middle name. Echo, on the other hand, was the more creative with brilliant flashes of inspiration that had held many a wavering client onboard. Together, the two had made the Austin Advertising Agency a major force in the business. Just as he was considering turning the reins over to Echo and Karen and retiring, this tragedy occurred.

“It isn’t about the project,” he said softly. “You did a damn fine job as usual. It’s about Karen.”

Echo glanced sharply at her boss and noticed for the first time how sad his voice and facial expressions were. The language of his hefty body gave the impression that a dark cloud was preventing light from entering the room. “Karen? Is she okay? Did she have an accident or something over Thanksgiving?”

“I don’t know how to tell you this…”

With a whimper, Echo lifted her hand as what Stan was about to say became clear. “Don’t…don’t tell me because I won’t believe it!” With determination, she stood as her small frame shook.

Stan nodded in understanding. Echo couldn’t bear to hear the words, for once she did, she’d have to face reality. He remembered the exact feeling when his mother had died of a heart attack when he was twenty-five and on the brink of success. Even now, decades later, the memory still filled him with sorrow.

“I know how hard this is going to be, but Karen would want you to be strong.”

Echo’s confused mind desperately wanted to ignore all of Stan’s warning signals. “Whatever someone told you, they’re wrong,” she said defiantly. “Karen will come waltzing into the office…you just wait and see.” Her body was shaking as she fought the urge to throw up. “This has to be a terrible mistake.”

“The police were in my office a little while ago, Echo. Karen is dead.”

Echo opened her mouth but didn’t speak. She tried to comprehend why Stan was saying that word when he didn’t have to for it might not be true. In a voice foreign to her, she asked, “How?”

Stan frowned as his bushy eyebrows rose in consternation. He swallowed hard and gazed at the floor. “I don’t know the full details right now, but there was an accident, I think…I’m sure…that’s the bottom line.” It was a small lie, trickery with the truth. There would be time for reality later.

Echo squeezed her eyes as tight as she could. It isn’t true…it can’t be. “What kind of accident?” She opened her eyes and looked around the room for an exit as a claustrophobic feeling tried to strangle her.

Stan stood, walked over to Echo, sat beside her, and enveloped her in a bear hug. “How about you take the rest of the week off? Your assistant can manage for a few days. I’m sure you’ll want to speak with her parents, and after the funeral…well, maybe you’ll want to take some time.”

Echo heard the words, but the only one to register was funeral. As if she were a zombie, she said nothing and disengaged herself from his hold. She stood and let unsteady feet take her out of the office.

Stan watched her leave, then picked up the inter-office phone. “Mary, we’ve had some bad news…Karen has died.” He heard a sharp intake from the woman, then added, “Make sure Echo is okay…right now she’s in shock and she shouldn’t be alone.”

He disconnected and with a shake of his head, repeated the detective’s brief description of what they surmised happened. “Suicide…Echo doesn’t need to know the details right now. What purpose would it serve?”

†

Roan Keating flicked the folder of the Thompson case over and concentrated on the words imprinted over the front—case closed. Her partner warned her off the case by saying, “Delve too deep, Keating, and you’re out on that ass of yours…family connections or no family connections.”

She’d dutifully done as he asked and not spent any more police time on the case. Her own time, on the other hand, was a different issue. Her gut told her that the case had been rushed and forensics hadn’t been given the time to check as thoroughly as they might. Under the circumstances, she couldn’t blame them for that weekend had been a nightmare of mayhem. Holidays always brought out the worst in people.

She opened the folder and looked at the two photos of the deceased women. One younger, but that was debatable for she looked much older than her years. The other had beautiful, flawless skin, and even in death, she had an innocent expression. Yet it appeared that the woman had brutally slain the younger one, then took her own life.

She scanned the coroner’s report. Toxicology hadn’t been fully investigated, which was odd, and she mentally made it a priority on her checklist. Then she checked the page relating to trace evidence. They found no other fingerprints or DNA that would indicate that anyone else was in the apartment. In the bedroom, they didn’t find any unusual fibers, shoe prints in the carpet, or anything else to indicate an intruder. The fact that there was no male DNA in the apartment only stirred the pot that the Thompson woman had been the perpetrator.

She knew it was a busy time for the coroner and forensics teams, holidays always were. What she didn’t understand was the haste in closing the case. It just didn’t sit right. They had partially interviewed Thompson’s boss but then nothing. No one contacted the family or did any interviews with the woman’s friends. “Surely, she had friends.”

At that point, she’d taken over another homicide, leaving Allen to run alone with the case. What about the Cameron woman? Why hadn’t Allen secured any interviews regarding the young woman or her background? The whole case was full of holes. Allen had warned her off, but that didn’t mean that if someone walked in the door and asked about either woman, she wouldn’t look into the case or even have it reopened. It would give her great pleasure to dig deeper into the case. It was a particular foible of hers—explaining the unexplained.

The phone on her desk rang, and she answered immediately. After a brief conversation, she opened her desk drawer, removed her gun, slid it into the holster on her side, and deposited the folder in the drawer. She’d get back to it when she had some free time.

With the phone call echoing in her head, she propelled herself out of the room and on to her next case.

Chapter Five

The funeral had been tough on everyone who knew Karen, especially those who were close to her. The chapel of rest at the graveyard filled with colleagues and several clients of the agency. Echo, sharing a pew in the front of the church with Karen’s younger sister, Daisy, sat robotically. As for Karen’s parents, they turned their backs on their daughter years earlier and did not attend. With little or no interest from her parents in seeing to Karen’s funeral, Echo had taken over. Feeling like a voyager in a surreal world, the days since Karen’s death were nothing but a blur.

The only facts she could garner from Stan were that Karen had committed suicide. A part of her had raged inside at the insinuation for the Karen she knew had never been a quitter. Even in her pain and sorrow, Echo’s subconscious had been pricking her to find out more. It would have to wait. There was no way she could assimilate anything else regarding the tragedy.

Now sitting and listening to words she did not hear, Echo’s heart sobbed for her friend. The only thing that mattered was that Karen had a decent burial. When the minister delivered his final prayer and the casket slowly lowered into the ground, all Echo could do was cry. Karen and she had been tight for years. Although they had differing outside interests, they had until recently spent more time together than apart.

A question began repeating in her head. What was it Karen had promised to someone that was so important she ended up dead?

As the mourners paid their last respects, another thought invaded Echo’s mind. “Why hadn’t the Greystoke woman attended the funeral or come to the viewing?” She’d sent a note to the woman at the project headquarters but hadn’t received a reply. Did her refusal to acknowledge Karen’s death mean that the woman thought her friend had disappointed her in some way? Surely not.

Every fiber of her being told her that Karen wasn’t the kind of person to take her own life. One day, she’d prove it, but for the moment, she needed to grieve the loss of her dear friend. She doubted anyone could replace Karen in her life.

†

Two weeks later, a letter arrived from the lawyers who had handled Karen’s affairs when she was alive, indicating that Echo arrange a meeting as soon as possible. In a lethargic mood, she’d done so and had been amazed to find that she was the main beneficiary of Karen’s will. The apartment that Karen owned now belonged to her, along with her friend’s possessions. The only other beneficiary had been the Greystoke Project that had received a large sum of money and part of her investments. Karen’s family got nothing.

In a daze, Echo had been unable to take in her windfall. She hadn’t even known that Karen owned her apartment or had the amount of money she’d been able to leave to the project. As the days drifted by, she realized that she hadn’t known as much about Karen as she’d thought. Her first visit to the apartment had been a shocking experience.

When she finally placed the key the lawyer had given her in the door, the acrid smell of bleach and other cleaning materials assailed her nostrils. Tentatively entering the apartment, she looked around. It was the same as when she was there last. But it felt cold and sent a shiver down her back as she ventured farther inside.

Stepping inside the main living area, she saw several photos that she also displayed in her apartment. They were of Karen and her on one of the vacations they’d taken together over the years. It reminded her of what was missing in her life—her best friend.

With her memories clouding her mind, Echo didn’t hear someone enter the door that she’d apparently left open.

“Hi, I’ve seen you around here before…are you Echo Radar?”

Startled by the deep voice, Echo blinked rapidly and turned to face the man who was the super of the building. She’d seen him on several occasions but they never spoke. “Yes, yes, I am. How do you know my name?”

The small wiry man with a weasel face and several days’ stubble on his chin smiled warmly, and it gave his features a completely new dimension—kindness. “The lawyers contacted me and asked for a key…and they arranged for the cleaning crew. They advised me that an Echo Radar had inherited the apartment. No one else has been here for weeks, so I figured you must be that person. I’ve seen you before with Karen.”

“Yeah” was all Echo could muster. She didn’t know what to say next and reached across and picked up a photo of her and Karen.

“My wife looked like you do now when she found out what happened. It’s a real tragedy to all of us in this building. We’ve never had any trouble, and to have that happen, well…we don’t believe any of it. The cops got this one wrong. Karen was good to me and my wife…she helped out when our youngest was sick last year.”

Echo was only half listening to the conversation and allowed only the comment of Karen’s good deed to penetrate her numb thoughts. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the apartment right now. Can you keep an eye on it for me? I’ll pay for any services that might be required.”

The man nodded. “Sure thing. You don’t have to pay, though…I’ll be glad to help. We never did have the chance to repay her the money she loaned us. Take your time. If you decide to rent the place, we know of several good people who would snap up the chance to live here.”

Echo sighed. “Thanks.”

The man didn’t leave, but he pulled at his stubble. “Do you think the lawyers will be after us to pay back what we owed Karen?”

“No, I doubt they even know about it, and if I know Karen, it was a gift not a loan. I’ll be back to…I’ll be back as soon as I can to decide what I’m doing with the place. Thanks for your help, Mr.…?”

“Danny, my name’s Danny Wilson.”

“Well, Danny, here’s my card. If you need to speak with me, you can contact me on my cell or at my office number. I guess I’ll need your number, too.” Echo passed him a card, and the man took it with a smile as she noted his number in her BlackBerry.

Echo had been in the apartment long enough to know that her emotions were too raw to deal with packing Karen’s personal belongings or going through her private things. She knew she needed to, but she couldn’t.

As they both left, Echo locked it behind her and decided she needed a caffeine fix at her favorite haunt across the street from her apartment. It was the perfect place to find some semblance of normality that hadn’t been in her life since the day she found out Karen had died.

†

Echo entered the main police precinct, walked over to the desk, and waited for the officer behind the counter to speak to her. Ten minutes later, he was still on the phone, giving her no more than a cursory glance.

With her irritation mounting, Echo drummed her fingers on the countertop and finally caught the officer’s attention. He scowled as he replaced the receiver and gave her a diffident look.

“What can I do for you?”

Undaunted by the man’s crass attitude, Echo said, “I’d like to see the detective in charge of the Karen Thompson case. I can give you all the details…”

The officer held up his hand. “What type of case is it?”

Echo frowned. The fragments of conversations she’d heard over the past two months were why she was there. Her need to know exactly what had happened to Karen had leeched into her soul. Unable to concentrate on anything else, she took a leave from work. Foremost, she knew deep in her gut that suicide wasn’t Karen’s fate.

“She…she’s dead. Her body was released quickly, and no one has been asking any questions, so I’m not sure.”

“Look, lady, the detectives are busy. If it isn’t suspicious and you don’t have any relevant information about the case, then we can’t help you.” The burly man looked at the mountain of paperwork on his desk and sighed.

Perplexed but not thwarted, Echo said, “What if it was a murder?”

“Is that what you want the detective for? You have information? Give me the details.” He punched a few keys on his keyboard and grinned as the lead detective’s name appeared. “You’re out of luck, lady…Lieutenant Allen is away on a case and won’t be back until Friday.”

Echo shut her eyes and shook her head. With an exhale of exasperation, she asked, “Is there anyone else I can speak with? I just need a few points clarified. Can you help me out?”

Scratching the back of his neck, the officer relented. “Keating’s in the office.” He pointed to a row of chairs where others were waiting. “Take a seat over there.”

Echo did as he asked and sat. To her left was a tattooed young man with multiple piercings on his face who leered at her. To her right was a heavily made-up older woman who dressed like a teenager. Echo drew in a heavy breath and watched as the officer at the desk picked up the phone.

After punching in a few numbers, the officer at the desk waited for an answer. “Keating?”

“It’s Reese…there’s a woman here who wants to talk to you about a closed case you and Allen had around Thanksgiving. She said she thinks it was a murder. Want me to get rid of her for you?”

Roan Keating pondered the question as she scanned her workload. “Which case was it?”

“Thompson, Santa Rosa Drive. Suicide…you want more info?”

“No, I’ll be right down.”

†

Roan had done everything right when she’d joined the police force. At twenty-nine, her career was above reproach and meteoric, leading to speculation that she would be one of the youngest officers to make captain. She’d taken all the necessary exams and courses, and once her partner, Simon Allen, retired in a few weeks, everyone expected her to succeed his rank.

Her family background had impeccable credentials, as well. Her grandfather had been the chief of police, and her uncle had that title now. Her father had been on the fast track to becoming district attorney when he died in an automobile accident that also took her mother and twin sister.

Her grandfather took her in, and she lived with him until he died of a heart attack. She then became her uncle’s responsibility. After settling an acrimonious divorce, her uncle wanted his life back, and the teenager didn’t fit into his plans, so he shipped her off to boarding school. Eventually, she went to college, majoring in criminal justice, before joining the police force.

Roan had a one-track mind. If she perceived a goal, she went for it regardless of the risks involved or what happened to the people around her. Her partner often called her cold-blooded because she didn’t seem to have compassion for the victims of crime. To Roan’s way of thinking, he was partially right. It was her way of understanding the subterranean world she chose to work in—catching criminals.

As Roan opened the locked door between the main offices and the reception area, she scanned the people milling around the room. She ignored over seventy percent for they were men. After carefully taking in the faces of the women, she dismissed another twenty percent. That left five women.

She dismissed another three who began fighting with one another, which made the corners of her mouth curve slightly—a good brawl in the precinct was a given. When she gazed at the two women seated next to each other, her decision was easy. One leaning as far back as she could in the chair was clearly appalled while the other watched the fight in what looked like lurid speculation.

Roan smiled at the sergeant at the desk before walking toward the row of seats. “I’m Keating. I believe you have information for me.”

†

Echo had seen the tall woman walk confidently in her direction and hoped she was the officer in charge of Karen’s case. The woman wasn’t classically beautiful because of a prominent feature—a hawk-like nose. Echo saw the woman move her untidy mass of black hair aside to display an oval-shaped face with penetrating blue eyes that seemed to look straight through her. She wasn’t someone she’d forget in a hurry. Then there was that voice, husky and downright sexy, and it curled her toes.

Echo pressed her eyes shut in an effort to eliminate the images her mind conjured up; this wasn’t the place for lurid fantasies.

The woman next to Echo jumped up, and in an irritating nasally voice said, “I’ll give you all the information you want if you get me off that trumped-up charge of prostitution.”

Roan’s expression didn’t change as she stood toe to toe with the older woman. “I’m sure if the information you have for me is relevant, we can talk about your situation. If you’ll come with me, Ms…”

The bleached blonde smiled, showing her crooked, discolored teeth. As they walked away, the woman touched the officer’s jacket. The gesture was rebuffed immediately. “Candice. I always said Charlie was up to no good…”

Roan stopped and raised her eyebrow in question. “Charlie? You aren’t here about the Thompson case?”

The two hadn’t moved that far away, so Echo easily heard the conversation. She stood and walked over to the officer. “I have information regarding the Thompson case.”

Roan frowned. It was rare she made a mistake like that. “I see.” She looked at the officer at the desk. “Can you deal with this for me, Frank?” She motioned to the blonde.

The older man nodded and hooked his finger at the scowling older woman who walked toward the desk.

Preoccupied with her bad judgment, Roan curtly said, “Sorry about that. Before we go any further, your name and address?”

The cold, icy blast that had unexpectedly visited the city that week was warm in comparison to the greeting Echo received from the detective. She revised her initial assessment of the woman. “Radar, Echo Radar. I live at 23 Pinto Drive, Apartment 2C. Karen Thompson is my best friend.”

Roan almost smiled at the good fortune. She’d almost forgotten about that particular case. Other homicides and her partner’s impending retirement had commanded her attention professionally and privately. She hadn’t the time to review the Thompson case. Her partner’s words rang in her head. Delve too deep, Keating, and you’re out on that ass of yours…family connections or no family connections. With a nonchalant flick of her hair, much as she gave credence to the warning, she escorted the woman through the locked door and to an empty interview room. “I’m Detective Keating. Take a seat and tell me what you know.”

Echo sat and swallowed hard. With a pleading expression in her hazel eyes, she caught the detective’s gaze and held it. “I don’t know anything, Detective. I was hoping you could tell me.” Seeing the annoyance that flared in the detective’s face, Echo added, “I know she wouldn’t kill herself, and she certainly would never hurt anyone. I’ve known her for fifteen years.”

Absently, Roan said, “Did.” She then glanced at the case file, ignoring the words, and focused on the pictures of the two dead women involved in this sordid mess.

The one word the detective uttered had Echo gulping back tears. No way would she break down in front of the icy bitch. It was obvious that the detective didn’t have an ounce of compassion regarding Karen’s death. “Thank you for reminding me…yes…did is correct.”

Roan gave the brunette a cursory glance and took in the woman’s appearance. She was impeccably dressed in a business skirt suit that accentuated her curves. When they walked to the interview room, Roan noted that the woman would have barely reached her shoulders had it not been for her ridiculously high heels. Her brown hair was bouncy and seemed to shine even in the dim light of the room. Hazel eyes masked by long lashes gave the woman a doe-like appearance. Her lips were full and what some might call kissable. Roan stopped critically assessing the woman and placed her long tapered fingers on the table before threading them together. “What exactly do you know?”

Echo breathed in deeply and tried to steady her trembling voice. “Initially, I was told that Karen died in an accident. Then my boss, Stan Austin, explained that the police said she committed suicide. Is that the truth?”

Roan didn’t reply, she merely watched the woman’s expressions. She’d learned long ago that she could learn a lot about a person from their facial muscle movements. Right now, the woman was testy.

Her emotional roller coaster was beginning again as Echo bowed her head partly in anger and disbelief. “When I had the courage after her death, I went to her apartment.” When she saw the detective’s intense gaze, she added, “Karen left me her apartment and possessions in her will.”

Roan nodded and waited for more.

“The super of the building told me that a cleaning crew had to clean up a lot of blood from the apartment and that a murder had occurred there. If Karen was murdered, why haven’t you arrested someone? I thought calling it suicide wasn’t right. Is it true…was she murdered? If she was, why have you closed the case?”

When Echo went to the apartment the previous Saturday to go through Karen’s belongings, Danny Wilson had given her more information than she wanted about what happened at the apartment. His sharing of the story instigated her visit.

“Anything else?” Roan noticed the tiniest change in the woman’s body language.

Exasperated by the lack of information, Echo said, “I contacted her parents, but they didn’t want to know…Karen hadn’t spoken to them since she was fifteen. Only her sister came to the funeral, but she didn’t want to talk about how Karen died since her only interest was in the money she might inherit.” Echo stopped speaking and closed her eyes—another horrendous headache. Her head had felt like it had been in a vice from the moment she heard the terrible news, and the pressure of her current situation tightened its grip.

Opening her eyes and seeing no change to the impassive detective opposite her, sadness turned to anger. “You have to tell me what happened…I need to know the truth! She would never have killed herself or anyone else…I knew her well. It isn’t who she is.”

“Was,” Roan automatically added. When she saw the woman’s face tighten in anger, she shrugged. “People do the strangest things under stress. Was she under any stress that you know of?”

Echo tried to think, but it was nearly impossible to be coherent inside the jumble that was her head. “I don’t think so…at least not at work.” As the detective raised her eyebrows in question, Echo added, “We work together…started at the same company fifteen years ago. We work at the…”

Roan raised her hand and was about to say “worked” but changed her mind. “The Austin Advertising Agency…carry on.” Roan wondered why the guy they interviewed hadn’t mentioned that Thompson worked with such a good friend.

Echo pulled at her bottom lip. A habit she developed at the age of five, and it had been a source of ridicule, teasing, and affectionate ribbing throughout her life. “She helped out at the inner city project called Greystoke every weekend over the past couple of years, and I remember…”

Roan now took a real interest—Greystoke was the trigger. “You remember what?”

Echo felt trapped. What if what she revealed was detrimental to her friend? “She was going to share Thanksgiving with someone that weekend, at least that’s what she told me she was going to do. She didn’t tell me details. We were supposed to catch up after…” Her voice broke at the memory of that last conversation with Karen.

Roan consulted the notes in the folder rather than look into the tear-filled eyes of the woman opposite her. Tears always had a habit of disconcerting her, especially from a woman. “Do you know anything more?”

Echo gulped back a sob. “I think it was someone she met at the project. She’d been particularly preoccupied with whatever was going on there in the last four months.” Echo sucked in a deep breath in an attempt to squelch her emotions.

“This friend, did you know the name? Do you know where she was from?”

The low husky voice that Echo initially thought was sexy now sounded irritating and bordered on nagging. Suddenly, she didn’t want to be engaged in the conversation. All she wanted was to know that Karen hadn’t killed herself or anyone else, then she could go home and try to get on with her life. “No, I never met anyone from the project. Karen was, as I said, preoccupied…she appeared happy, though.”

“This friend…was it a sexual friendship?”

Echo recalled the final time she’d been with Karen and the brief kiss they shared. She remembered the elevator doors closing and the look of happy bemusement on her friend’s face. “I think she was helping someone, but it wasn’t sexual.”

Roan saw a brief look of happiness cross the woman’s face. It was obviously a good memory. “If I show you a picture of this woman, do you think you could recognize her?”

Echo shook her head. “I…Karen asked me often to go with her to the project…I was always…” Her body language told its own story.

“Too busy.” Roan saw a flash of guilt cross the woman’s face.

“Yeah, something like that.”

Roan flicked the picture taken at the morgue of Shelby Cameron across the table and watched for any response. Other than horror, she saw no other emotion. She retrieved the photo and replaced it in the file. “Sorry,” she said. “I had to be sure. What do you know of the Greystoke Project?”

The perfunctory apology had Echo feeling her antagonism for the woman rise once more. She drew in a shaky breath. “To answer your question, Karen thought what she was doing was worthwhile and she respected…actually, idolized is a better word…the person running the venture. Beyond that, I know nothing except what has been reported in the newspapers.” She added, “She didn’t attend the funeral. I thought that was odd.”

“Who didn’t attend?”

“The woman who ran the project.”

“Layla Greystoke?”

“That sounds like the name…I really never paid that much attention to the names…only that Karen thought it was a worthy cause.”

Roan pursed her lips and speculated why there seemed to be a push to get the case closed. Political reasons were high on her list of possibilities. Even the forensics team felt the pressure to wrap the case up and only do a cursory exam. Added to that, there was until now a lack of outcry from the public.

Under normal circumstances, what the woman said wasn’t enough new information to reopen the case. All the evidence pointed to murder/suicide. However, they had never looked at the Greystoke Project, not even to interview anyone there. She knew that at times, the department had to cut corners, but this case smacked of something else. The woman coming forward might be the opening she needed to take an unofficial look at the case again. If she found new evidence that placed the case on a different path, she’d try to persuade her captain to get it reopened.

Echo looked up and waited for the trite reply of “I can’t help you,” but it never came. Instead, she watched, fascinated by rapid eye movements and the tiny muscle that twitched on the detective’s face. Finally, she decided to speak again. “I know all I have to go on is my gut instinct, but she deserved better than to be branded a suicide, or worse, be what people are saying about her.”

Roan dragged her attention to the woman and cocked her head to one side. “What’s that exactly?”

Echo frowned and dropped her gaze, refusing to allow the detective’s gaze to catch hers. The office gossip from those who hadn’t known her well had hurt Echo when she heard the hateful words. “A coward.”

“Ms. Radar, I’ll take a second look at the case file. I’ll call you if there’s any change in our original assessment.” Roan stood and walked toward the door.

“Thank you, Detective Keating. I’m sure there’s some better explanation than she killed herself…I have to believe that.” Echo walked to where the officer stood.

Roan, uncharacteristically solicitous, placed a hand on the brunette’s shoulder. “Sometimes the truth hurts and you have to accept that in this world. Be ready for that…it’s the failings of human nature.”

Detective Keating’s voice became sexy again, and Echo felt an unexpected warmth surge through her. Concentrating on what the woman was saying, she inwardly berated herself on the fickleness of her emotions. “I know.”

Roan and Echo walked down a short corridor to the locked door. Once Roan opened it, she allowed the woman to leave. When Roan’s pager went off, she gave it a perfunctory glance and said, “Good to meet you, Ms. Radar. I have to go.”

Holding on to the door, she watched Echo leave and sighed as a glint of amusement crossed her face as she watched the high heels click on the concrete floor. “She definitely has a swagger…and that’s dangerous.” Her gaze moved from the heels to the woman’s ass as the pager beeped again, and she drew her attention away from Echo Radar’s lower body to the job.

She looked at the message and sighed. “Another homicide, nothing new there.”

She shelved the Thompson case in her mind and silently promised to look at it again when she had the time. She opened her cell and dialed a number. “Keating.”

Chapter Six

The physical journey to the Greystoke Project was far easier than the multitude of scenarios Echo had acted out in her mind. The visit to the police a month earlier had been a dead end—the detective never called. In fact, once she’d arrived back at her apartment, she’d realized that Keating informing her that she’d look at Karen’s case again was a polite way of getting rid of her. After all, Echo wasn’t family and had no rights to anything other than those of a friend. Except in her mind, her friendship with Karen was as close as any family tie.

She finally decided that the only thing she could do to find out the truth was to conduct her own investigation. Where to start hadn’t been difficult for there was only one place—the Greystoke Project. She might not like what she found, but other than work, it was the only other thing of importance in Karen’s life.

Now Echo was at the steps of a grimy, almost derelict building that at one time had been a church. Her feet refused to move as she felt the emotion welling up inside her. “Oh, God, Karen, I wish you were here now. I feel like my life is so out of control because you’re not in it.” Gulping in a deep breath of the foul air that permeated the area, she opened the door and entered the building. The stagnant smell of decay and neglect loomed heavy as the foul air enclosed around her.

As she ventured farther, she saw about six people of differing ages walking aimlessly about as a couple more sat in dilapidated pews. At the head of the church, where a font had at one time held center stage, stood three people. One was a poorly dressed man who Echo thought was a derelict. Another was a woman in casual but definitely not poor clothing. The last figure, with a back to her, wore jeans and a plain black jacket, and she couldn’t tell the gender. What caught Echo’s attention the most was the sound of a woman’s voice. It was a calming, almost hallucinatory experience, and she found herself captured not by the words, but by the resonance. She didn’t move as she felt the gentle tones soothing some of the pain that riddled her mind.

A hand on her arm caught her attention and she spun around to face a young thin, bespectacled man who smiled at her. “Hi, is there anything I can do for you?”

Echo felt perplexed and blinked several times. “I was wondering if you knew a friend of mine. She used to help here a few months ago.”

The man frowned slightly. “I’ll try, but I’ve only been here for a short time. What’s your friend’s name?”

“Karen…Karen Thompson.” Echo watched the man for any reaction, but saw none. From the left, she heard a gasp and turned to look at the person. An unkempt, decidedly unpleasant woman stared at her.

Echo gave the woman a friendly smile, then heard the young man say, “Maybe she knows?” The man glanced in the direction of his outstretched finger. “That’s Jamie, she’s barely coherent most of the time, but you can try.” He turned away and was about to leave when he said, “Better yet…I can ask Layla. She’ll know. I’ll be right back.”

Echo didn’t answer him as she continued to make eye contact with the older woman in the pew. As she moved closer, the woman fidgeted as she looked around, seeking escape.

“Hi, my name is Echo. I wonder if you knew my friend Karen…she used to work here.”

The woman stopped her agitated movements and frowned. “Yeah…the bitch never came back to help me like she promised.” She spat out a dark liquid onto the stone floor.

Almost retching, Echo wanted to cry out in frustration and pain. Pushing down an angry retort, she quietly said, “I’m sure she would have if she could.”

“No way! She was involved with that Shelby kid big-time. No one else was of interest…she promised me!”

The name Shelby rang a bell in Echo’s head, but she couldn’t quite recall in what context. “Is Shelby still around?”

The old woman let out a burst of manic laughter. “The bitch is dead, good riddance, your friend…”

“That’s enough, Jamie.” The voice Echo had heard earlier seemed to settle all around them, and Echo switched her glance from the old woman to the one who had come up beside her.

The woman was about her height, with a shock of blond, possibly even white hair and the most amazing intense light blue eyes Echo had ever encountered. They more than made up for the woman’s weathered, average, and some might say ugly, facial features.

“Hello, I’m Layla Greystoke. My assistant Jarrod said you wanted information on a friend.”

Startled, Echo nodded. “Yes...yes I do. It’s Karen Thompson, she was my best friend.”

A meditative expression settled on the craggy face, then the lips pulled tight, creating the image of a sad jester. “You must be Echo. Karen talked of you often. I’m very sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. Please, come to my office and we’ll talk.” Layla glanced at the figure she’d left at the front of the church. The person was on the phone engrossed in a conversation. She whispered to her assistant who disappeared toward the person.

Echo followed the woman who Karen spoke of in glowing terms and berated herself for not making more of an effort to go there sooner. The woman’s presence was simply charismatic. She had a flaw—she didn’t attend Karen’s funeral. Why?

Minutes later, seated in a small vestibule off the main church area, Layla shook her head. “Karen was the most giving person I’ve ever met in my life. Believe me, I have met many in the years I’ve worked in various voluntary organizations.”

The quiet words lifted Echo slightly. However, it didn’t fill the gnawing sensation in the pit of her stomach—Karen didn’t take her own life. “I know. Honestly, I find it hard to accept that she committed suicide. Did she have any problems here?”

“No, Karen understood more than I did about what people here needed and how they came to be in such dire circumstances. It was the best quality about her. That’s why what happened was such a shock to us all.”

“Yeah, me too. I guess she must have been keeping a secret from us all if she felt so sad that she wanted to take her own life. Why didn’t you attend her funeral?”

Layla remained silent for a moment before she replied. “How much do you know about the circumstances of her death?”

“Nothing much. I know the police ruled it a suicide, and there is talk in her building that a murder occurred in her apartment. The police weren’t that forthcoming. If someone killed her, surely there would still be an investigation. There’s been nothing on the news or in the papers. I checked the back issues for that weekend.”

The older woman bit her bottom lip. “Echo…Karen committed suicide because she apparently murdered another woman. A young girl she’d been working with here.” She gestured toward the church area. “Shelby Cameron was her name. If you’ve talked to the police, surely…”

At that moment, another voice entered the conversation and it was one Echo immediately recognized. She turned in her chair to look into the discriminating gaze of Detective Keating. “She talked, we listened, and we’re checking out other possibilities.”

“Detective Keating?” Echo stood and gazed in astonishment at the woman. She was the person on the phone at the front of the church when she’d arrived. What an odd coincidence.

“Lieutenant,” Keating said.

Layla watched from her vantage point the body language of the two women and raised her eyebrows slightly. “I see you’ve met Lieutenant Keating, Echo. She was asking me about Karen just before you arrived. I think in light of the fact no one has given you the full story, perhaps the lieutenant might oblige.” Layla stood and headed out of office for the main area. “If you need me, I’ll be out front.”

Echo stood transfixed to the spot, which was becoming a habit. “I don’t understand.” Her words were hardly coherent as she slumped in the chair and tried to make sense of the numbing information Layla Greystoke provided. It reminded her of the conversation with Stan when he told her about Karen’s death. It wasn’t real until someone came out and voiced the words.

Keating dragged a bony hand through her thick black hair, knowing the action would probably make her appear like a scarecrow. “Karen Thompson committed suicide outside this building after she savagely murdered Shelby Cameron in her apartment. We believe it to be a sexually oriented crime since all the pieces fit. It was an open-and-shut case.”

Silence filled the room before the quiet sounds of sobbing replaced it. Roan stood silently waiting for the emotion to abate and the angry words to replace them for they always did. She was unprepared for the scratching of the chair on the hard surface of the floor and the woman brushing past her without a word.

Echo, for her part, didn’t have any words. She needed to go home and digest what people were saying. Karen is a murderer…that’s impossible! After she rushed out of the church and stood at the bottom of the steps, she wondered how she was going to hail a taxi. She doubted that a cabbie would cruise around there for fares. The driver who brought her there earlier had charged extra to go into the neighborhood.

As tears masked her vision, she was unprepared for the jostle she received from three teenagers,

“Hey, mama, want some real meat in your sandwich tonight? We can all oblige.” The loudest of the three leered at her as he came up to her and pressed his body against her.

Her mind, already emotionally overloaded, was unable to do more than to shrink into its deepest recesses. Then from what seemed like a place far away, she heard another voice in the mix. “You punks get out of here…if you come within a hundred yards of her again, I’ll take pleasure in removing your manhood myself.”

That voice again, it sent mixed signals every time Echo heard it.

“Ms. Radar, are you okay?”

Echo, feeling as if all her words were gone, only shook her head.

“How are you getting home? Did you drive yourself?” Although the voice wasn’t gentle, it did sound a bit less unfeeling to Echo. Again, she shook her head.

Roan sighed heavily. “Okay, I’ll take you home.” She placed a hand on the woman’s arm and led her to her vehicle. A couple of minutes later, they were heading across town.

Roan thanked God for her accurate memory, which recalled the woman’s address from their previous meeting.

†

Echo was in a comatose existence after her visit to the Greystoke Project. ‘Karen is a murderer’ kept repeating in her head. The idea was preposterous. For two weeks, she lived with the thought that the gentle, caring person she had known as her friend was a monster capable of killing another human being. No matter how many times the photograph of the young woman at the morgue ran through her mind and Karen’s alleged part in her death, it didn’t register as true.

To make matters worse, her boss insisted she take over her client base full time again. He told her that it was time for her to get back to her life, and she knew it was true. Although she wasn’t a relative of Karen, Stan hadn’t insisted she immediately take on her grueling schedule, and he even let her take extra time for bereavement leave. He had been more than generous, and it was time for her to go back to work.

Then there was the embarrassment of the detective bringing her home from the Greystoke building. Although she was civil, Echo felt the woman’s annoyance by the task. She hadn’t even asked her address, yet deposited her outside the correct apartment building without a word. Echo recalled the only words spoken…

“We’re here,” Roan Keating said.

Echo shook her head as she finally realized that the vehicle had stopped and she was home. “We are? How?”

The police officer frowned. “I drove, and yes, we are.”

From somewhere deep inside, Echo felt the sting of the woman’s simple explanation and it smacked of sarcasm. “Do you think me a half-wit, Detective? Do you always speak with one word or in simple sentences as if others are children without a brain?”

Roan sucked in half of her left cheek as she considered her retort. “I’ve found, Ms. Radar, economy of words helps in my work…there’s less of a chance that people will misunderstand.”

Shaking her head, Echo looked into the blank expression on Roan’s face and narrowed her eyes. “You could have told me the facts at the precinct when I saw you…why didn’t you?”

“What difference does it make? You know them now. Has this new information changed how you feel about your friend?” Being emotionally detached was a necessity of her job. She knew that the type of cases she worked meant she had to keep her focus on finding the truth rather than believing in the fantasies that some people conjured up about others. That wasn’t her style and never would be.

“No! Karen wouldn’t hurt anyone, and I’m going to prove it one way or another,” Echo said with bravado she really didn’t feel.

Roan gave her a slightly crooked smile. “And if you find out that it is the truth, can you come to terms with that? Once the truth is found, it’s hard to put together the broken pieces of a fallen idol.”

There was a hidden undercurrent in the words as Roan said them, and Echo found her gaze drawn to Roan. If she had her way, Echo preferred never to see her again. “I’ll take my chances. What if I prove that she wasn’t responsible?”

There was an immediate reaction as Roan narrowed her eyes and replied, “I might be investigating your death, too. Is that what you want?”

With vehemence, Echo said, “I want the truth!”

Roan’s gaze took in the dashboard clock, and she wondered if she had time to go home and take a nap before her night shift began. Then the sound of her pager resonated in the car. She looked at the message and sighed. “I need to go.”

Echo gave Roan a long hard look, noticing the dark circles around her eyes and the tired expression on her face. “I’m sorry to have bothered you, Detective,” she said before opening the door and climbing out.

As the door was about to close, Roan leaned over. “Let me do what I said I was going to do, Ms. Radar. If you’re not satisfied in a couple of weeks, I’ll back off.”

“Will you call me with an update and not leave me hanging?”

Roan nodded. “I’ll call.” Her pager buzzed again. “I have to…”

“Go, yes. Goodbye, Detective.” As Echo shut the door, she thought she saw the glimmer of amusement tug at Roan’s lips. Taking the steps two at a time, Echo reached the landing and unlocked the outer door. Then she heard the squeal of rubber as the vehicle and its lone passenger departed.

Chapter Seven

The noise from the patrol cars and the SWAT team vehicles were almost deafening as Roan and her rookie partner tried from behind a police vehicle to reason with the man inside the house.

Carlos Reverie had shot his sister and her husband on the lawn of their house in full view of the neighbors. They were unable to get to the victims to determine if they were dead or alive. The copious amount of blood pooling around the male victim’s head told Roan he was likely dead. She wasn’t as sure about the woman, but she hadn’t seen any movement.

The main concern for Roan and her team was the two children Reverie took as hostages. The arrival of a negotiator had Roan breathing a sigh of relief, for talking murderers down really wasn’t her forte. She preferred the more direct approach—shoot the bastards first and ask questions later.

Three hours later, and with several warning shots from the house preventing anyone from getting close, the negotiation was at a standstill. Reverie wanted a getaway car and fifty thousand dollars and said he’d kill one of the children in the next ten minutes if they didn’t do what he asked.

“It’s your call, Lieutenant,” the SWAT team leader said through his communicator.

Roan pursed her lips. “What do you think, Jill?”

Jill Smith, the negotiator, shook her head. “He’s not going to give in. Those kids are the priority. You have no choice, as I see it.”

“Let’s get the kids out safely.” Roan turned to her partner.

“Don’t be a hero, Bill. Keep your head down and follow my lead.”

The rookie nodded. When they heard a child scream, Roan’s partner, Bill Trimble, rushed the house without waiting for further instructions. In slow motion to those watching, a hail of bullets came from the house. The SWAT sharpshooter fired once and killed Carlos Reverie. Two officers hurried the children, who were emotionally traumatized but not hurt, out of the house and shielded them from seeing their parents lying on the lawn.

Detective Bill Trimble lay on the ground with Roan Keating lying over his body—both as still as statues. A woman’s voice echoed eerily above the noise of the sirens and the pitiful cries of the two children. “Get those paramedics over here, we have men down.”

†

Echo was annoyed. After waiting two weeks for the detective to call, she’d heard nothing. The only calls she’d received were from her parents who were worried about her after her long weekend with them. She could call the woman and demand information, but she doubted that would get results. She had to do something, but she didn’t know what the best approach was for she wasn’t family and really had no claim to the case.

To take her mind of her dilemma, she glanced at a four-day-old newspaper on her kitchen bench, and a furrow appeared on her forehead. The headline read, Police detective slain in gun battle. Her heart did a double somersault as she read the story.

One police officer died and another was injured in a hostage situation today.

A man who allegedly killed a husband and wife, then took their children captive held police at bay for three hours. The siege culminated in a shootout before the SWAT team killed the suspect, identified by police as Carlos Reverie.

The names of the officers haven’t been released, pending notification of next of kin.

With nerveless fingers, Echo dropped the paper on the coffee table and stood. “Hasn’t she called because she’s dead or incapacitated?” Echo wondered out loud. She continued milling around her apartment, trying to come up with some sort of plan on what to do next. The ringing of the phone brought her out of her musing. “Hello?”

“Ms. Radar, this is Lieutenant Keating…”

“Oh, my God…I thought you’d been killed or injured in that shootout!”

Roan had a cynical half-smile twisting her lips as she digested the words. “Obviously, it wasn’t me. Were you concerned because you thought you’d have no one to help with your friend’s investigation?”

Echo gasped at the cold words. “How dare you think like that? I was worried about you! Oh, forget you ever heard from me, Detective! Goodbye.” Reacting in a mixture of rage and relief, she slammed the phone on its cradle and knew immediately it was a bad move.

Seconds later, the phone rang again. Echo picked it up cautiously and waited for someone to speak.

“You do that again and I really will forget I ever met you or that you asked for my help,” Roan said, forcing her temper from flaring.

Echo heard the underlying anger in the detective’s words and wanted to placate her. “I’m sorry…I’m frustrated. Believe me…I don’t usually act like a petulant child.”

She received a curt reply. “We need to talk. Meet me at the coffee shop across the street from your apartment.”

Bemused at the sudden change in tempo of the conversation, Echo blustered, “Now? I’m not dressed. How long do I have?”

“I’m there now. I’ve ordered coffee, and it will arrive in five minutes.”

Echo gritted her teeth. The woman was the most irritating person she’d ever met. “Give me ten.”

“Ten it is.”

The phone went dead and Echo scrambled to locate the nearest set of clothes. Sweats and a T-shirt would have to do. She pulled them on, and five minutes later, she was heading toward the coffee shop. She had a slight bounce in her step hoping that the detective had some good news for her. To think otherwise was too abhorrent to consider.

†

Jericho’s Café was an intimate building themed with classical forties-style décor and furniture. The jukebox in the corner contained classics from that era along with popular fifties melodies. To treat herself, Echo often ventured there after her Saturday jog in the park; it was a decadent luxury.

Arriving there in the middle of the week and at eight p.m. meant that the clientele along with the waiters were probably going to be different. She was right, except for Jerry, the owner, who greeted her with a winning smile when she walked through the door.

“Your usual, Echo? We don’t often see you in here in the evening.” His genuine appreciation of his customers was one of the reasons people returned. The coffee was much the same as anywhere else in town and probably in some places a lot cheaper.

“Hi, Jerry, yeah, a latte would be great.” She looked around for Keating and didn’t see her.

“Where are you going to sit?”

Echo frowned. Has she already left? “I’m supposed to be meeting someone.” She glanced around and finally spotted Keating in the dark of a rear alcove. “Over there, Jerry.” She pointed in the direction.

The man gave a surprised look at her choice of companion but wrote down the table number and passed it to the waitress.

Echo, surprised that Keating didn’t see her when she arrived, moved toward the table. Except for stirring the beverage in front of her, she was virtually motionless.

“Detective Keating?” Echo was sure she’d surprised her as she saw her body stiffen and turn toward her.

“Ms. Radar…you made it with a minute to spare,” Roan said. Inwardly, she chastised herself for letting Echo sneak up on her.

With a soft laugh, Echo smiled and sat opposite Roan. “I’m used to deadlines. Thank you for calling me.” Her gaze caught Roan’s, and she again saw dark circles etched under her eyes. As she continued to appraise Roan, she noticed that there was a distinct pallor to her skin and a bead of sweat forming above her top lip. Is she sick?

“I said I would. Unfortunately, I can’t stay long, so we’ll have to make this quick.”

Echo nodded as she heard the effort behind every word that Roan said. She recalled that Roan wasn’t just a detective, she was a lieutenant, and she usually corrected her. Why didn’t she say something now? “Are you ill, Detective Keating? If you are, we can do this another time.”

The offer was tempting. “No, we’ll do this now.”

The waitress brought her coffee, and Echo inclined her head. “Do you want another?”

When Roan shook her head, the waitress left them alone. “You have some news for me?”

Roan took a deep breath and tugged at her collar to pull open another button. “There are discrepancies that require attention. Before I can look into them, I’ll need permission from my superiors, and that isn’t going to be easy.”

“I don’t understand. Surely, they’re aware that you’ve reopened the case file.”

Roan drew in another deep breath and felt severely disorientated. She was thankful she was sitting down for she was certain she would have fallen flat on her face. “No, they aren’t aware. I took on the preliminary investigation on my own time. Now I need support.”

Echo watched her carefully. Even if she didn’t admit it, Roan was definitely not well. “What can I do?”

Roan slid a folder across the table. “Take this report to the police chief. He’ll have no choice but to reopen the case officially.” Roan had to close her eyes as she felt the room spinning and she swallowed deeply in an effort not to throw up.

Echo took the folder and frowned. “Why can’t you do that?”

“I need to go.” Roan stood and steadied herself by grabbing the edge of the table. Once she felt capable, she began to take painstaking steps toward the entrance. As she did, the TV in the corner of the room blared out a report of the hostage events of earlier that week. With a shake of her head, she saw herself appear on the screen.

Jerry, who was watching the television and the woman who was leaving, did a double take. “Hey, we have a celebrity! Isn’t that you on the screen?”

Roan refrained from speaking as she kept on course for the exit.

Echo, bewildered by Roan’s sudden departure, arrived at her side in time to catch the last of the report.

The announcer said, “Lieutenant Keating, who was leading the operation to capture the kidnapper and suspected murderer, took a bullet to the chest. They say she’s in stable condition.”

“Stable? Are you mad? You should be in the hospital!”

Roan felt her whole body sag. Any minute, she would keel over and that wouldn’t do. “Leave it, Ms. Radar. Suffice to say, I did what I promised. The rest is up to you.” She walked out of the café and felt the cool air vent her hot body for a few moments.

Echo looked down at the report in her hand, then quickly paid the bill. “See you Saturday, Jerry.” She sped out the door almost cannoning into Keating. “Hey, look, I know you think I’m some kind of half-wit, but you don’t look well. Let me call you a cab.” Roan swiped at the perspiration that was obscuring her view.

“My car is over there.” She pointed down the block.

Echo placed a hand on Roan’s arm and led her toward the vehicle. She vaguely remembered the car, so it was fortunate for her that there weren’t many vehicles at that hour.

“Give me the keys, Detective.” Echo held out her hand. Part of her expected a rebuff, but it didn’t come. After Roan gave her the keys, Echo unlocked the doors.

Disoriented, Roan knew she should do something, but she needed all her concentration to stay upright, which wasn’t easy. Attempting to take control of the situation, she headed toward the driver’s side.

“Where are you going? You’re in no shape to drive. I’ll take you home, or should we go to the hospital?” Echo opened the passenger side and gently pushed Keating inside.

Seconds later, Echo was seated in the driver’s seat and switching on the ignition. “I need to know where you live.”

Roan felt a surge of annoyance as Echo continued misuse of her title. “I’m a lieutenant, not a detective.”

Echo smiled at the correction; the officer she’d originally met was alive and kicking inside there somewhere. “Okay, Lieutenant, please may I have your address and I’ll take you home safely?”

Reluctantly, her address tumbled out of Roan’s mouth. She didn’t have a choice; her body was burning up. The car revved to life, and they headed to Keating’s home, which surprisingly was only three blocks from Echo’s office.

Chapter Eight

Echo hadn’t initially taken in the meaning of the address Keating had given her. When she pulled up to the brownstone, the palatial street amazed her. She probably didn’t make enough in two months to afford the rent. She looked up at the brownstone that Keating had given her as an address, then out to the bay. There was no doubt that the apartments had a view of the bay from the front and of the mountains from the back. Wow! “I think this is it, Lieutenant.”

Roan glanced at the building and felt herself nod. Every movement created a sharp pain in her chest. She had been foolish to think she could walk out of the hospital so early and not pay a price. “Yeah, this is the place. You can call a cab and I’ll pay. Goodbye.” With difficulty, she opened the door and stumbled out of the car.

Echo wasn’t going to let Roan dismiss her like that. It was apparent that she probably needed medical attention but was being stubborn as hell. She quickly moved beside the officer and instinctively stuck out her arm for support. When Roan didn’t brush her help aside, she was pleased. “Have you a key or is there a key code?” Echo asked.

“Key code here and a key inside…can’t be too careful,” Roan mumbled before she doggedly punched in the code to release the door.

As they entered the building, Echo let out an astonished gasp as they stood in front of a highly polished oak door. Standing with her mouth wide, she watched as Keating unsteadily inserted a key into the lock before it clicked open.

“This isn’t an apartment, is it…you don’t share with anyone, do you?” With eyes as wide as saucers, Echo gazed around the area. She was certain that the quality furnishings and the portraits on the walls were expensive.

Irritated, Roan said, “I don’t share.” The words reverberated in the spacious hallway. “Thanks for seeing me to my door, Ms. Radar. I need to rest now.”

Echo stood open-mouthed at the dismissal. This woman is one tough cookie. Echo watched Keating’s unsteady gait. As Roan reached for the wall in what she thought was an attempt to gain balance, Echo let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m sorry, Lieutenant, I’d be a poor human being if I left you here like this. Is there a member of your family or friend that I can contact for you? Perhaps your doctor?”

All Roan wanted was to feel her bed under her body and to close her eyes to stop the fiery pain in her chest. She didn’t need Echo’s interference. “I have no one. Now please leave.”

The quality of the tone behind the words had Echo feeling the first real sympathy for Roan. “You have someone now; you have me.” Echo walked toward her and held out her hand. “Please let me help you.”

Exhausted, Roan accepted the support in hopes that Echo would leave. Doesn’t she ever give up? Her subconscious supplied the answer. No. Aren’t I the lucky one? “My room is on the second floor.”

Minutes later, after a struggle to get up the stairs, Echo had Keating in her bed. She decided it was best to leave her clothes on except for the outer gear and the polished boots.

“Do you have any meds to take?” Echo glanced around the room. She was surprised to see light pastel shades of green and yellow, which were soothing and easy on the eye. The décor seemed in contrast to what she saw as Roan’s normal personality, which bordered on acerbic most of the time.

Roan closed her eyes and pointed automatically to one of two inner doors in the room. “Bathroom cabinet…the brown capsules.”

Echo quickly retrieved the bottle with the capsules and was amazed at the size of the bathroom. She could fit hers inside it three times over. Collecting a glass of water, she checked the details on the bottle, took out two capsules, handed them to the prone woman, and watched as she popped them into her mouth before washing them down with water. “Are you sure I can’t call you someone?”

Roan lifted her heavy eyelids and through stinging eyes said, “Yes.”

“Okay, I’ll leave you then.” Echo was reluctant to go but slowly made her way out of the room and closed the door behind her.

Too many scenarios were working their way into Echo’s mind as she looked at the three other doors on the landing. Curiosity got the better of her, and she opened one, then the two others. All were bedrooms and clearly furnished for immediate occupation should visitors arrive. Each had a private bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe. Speculation ran riot in Echo’s mind, and she wandered up the flight of stairs to the third floor and placed her hands to her lips as she saw the magnificent view from the monster glass window overlooking the vista of the bay and the mountains.

This was an artist’s paradise of the city with casual yet expensive furnishings, which spoke volumes that it was a well- used room…or had been. A large ornate bookcase was on one wall and the entertainment systems on the other. A ten-seat, at least, curving leather sofa was the focus of the room with other chairs scattered around. A large glass coffee table in perfect proportion to the sofa rested in front.

As Echo wandered around the room, there was a small alcove situated in a rear recess that held a small kitchen. There was a kettle, microwave, mini oven, and refrigerator. She knew she shouldn’t, but she opened the refrigerator, remembering that her mom always said it told a lot about a person. Inside there was nothing; it was off. It appeared that no one used the place anymore, but it called to Echo’s creative talents.

Echo gave the perfect vista one more longing look, then went down the stairs. As she did, she quietly opened the door to Keating’s room and heard the gentle sounds of sleep. She closed the door, intent on leaving, when she heard a guttural moan and reopened the door. Roan was thrashing around, and as Echo stepped farther into the room, she could see blood appearing on the shirt front. “I’d better call 911!”

Echo placed her hand on Keating’s forehead; it was hot. Roan was apparently unaware of her presence as she began to babble. “Michelle, don’t go. Please don’t go! You can’t leave me all alone…”

Echo listened to the words and felt like she was prying. Then again, hadn’t she done just that when she checked out the other rooms? Whoever Michelle was, it was apparent she was important to Keating. The gut-wrenching effect it had on her made Echo gasp in astonishment.

Picking up the phone by the bed, Echo called 911.

†

The file lay unopened on the coffee table in her apartment as Echo bit her lip and concentrated on what had happened a few hours earlier.

According to the doctor, Echo’s speedy action in calling 911 may have saved Keating’s life. The stitches had broken in several places, and infection set in. It was a common malady with gunshot wounds of that type and could turn deadly if not properly administered.

The hospital made a call to Keating’s precinct and the captain of the unit would arrive soon. As Echo waited in the corridor, she wondered if she would receive any information. After all, she wasn’t a relative or friend.

Captain Sofia Renaldo walked out of the hospital room and sighed heavily. She glanced at the brunette sitting patiently near the room. She walked toward the seated woman and smiled. “Hi, the doctor tells me that you brought Roan in.”

Echo frowned slightly. Roan? “Yes, I did. She didn’t want to…she’s stubborn, I guess.”

Sofia nodded. “Yeah, that’s Roan. Thanks,” she said. “She might not say that when she’s awake, but the doctor said if you hadn’t taken immediate action, she might have been far worse.”

“I wanted to call family, but she said there was no one.” Echo focused on the closed door.

Sofia chuckled and muttered, “She has the whole darned precinct as family, not to mention her uncle, and she calls that no one. How do you know Roan?”

Echo wasn’t sure what to say next. Roan had been specific about who the file was for, and it wasn’t the police captain, which struck her as a little strange, but she figured Roan knew best. “I’m a…friend, Echo Radar.” She held out her hand.

Sofia gave the woman a concentrated look and took the proffered hand. “Well, Echo, when she’s ready…and that’s when the doctors say this time…she’ll need help at home. Want to volunteer?”

Echo felt trapped. “Sure, if she agrees.”

“Oh, she’ll agree.” Sofia looked around at a tall handsome middle-aged man who appeared through the doors. “I have to go. I’m sure I’ll see you here again. Roan will be here for at least a week.” The woman turned away to greet the man who frowned at her. “Ah, Chief Mahoney, sorry to bother you in the middle of dinner, but I thought you’d want to know about Roan.”

The man gave them both an icy blast. “Damn it, why can’t that niece of mine just do as she’s told for once in her life?” He shook his head, then opened the door and went inside.

Echo listened in fascination, then realized that he was the one she had to give the report to. The question was…How? For two hours, Echo waited to catch Mahoney and give him the folder. However, with each attempt she made, something thwarted her.

Her gaze flicked to the report in her hands. She was tired and wanted to go home and think. The next day, she’d come back to the hospital and hope Roan was awake and able to provide her with a way of seeing Mahoney. Since he was her uncle, Roan would surely have a way to see him.

†

Later, as she began to fall asleep amid the chaotic thoughts and events of the day, Echo thought about Roan Keating. “I wonder how she got that name…” she mumbled before sleep claimed her exhausted body.

Chapter Nine

A deafening quiet filled the hospital corridor as Echo walked to the room where Roan stayed. It was seven in the evening, and although she’d wanted to arrive earlier, it had been impossible. Numerous calls to the chief’s office had drawn a blank, then Stan called. He’d insisted that she return to the office to help with a few glitches on her last campaign. Not sure if it was a ruse to get her back in the office or the truth, she went.

It hadn’t been a ruse, but it made her realize that what she and Karen had worked hard for over the years was drifting through her fingers if she didn’t make the effort to get back to normality. In a perverse kind of way, Roan was helping her do that. Her help, however reluctant, made a big difference more than Echo cared to admit. A total stranger had somehow attached her life back together from its freefall into bereavement hell.

It was Saturday evening, and Echo was tiptoeing down a hospital corridor to see a woman who probably wouldn’t be glad to see her. Echo wouldn’t blame her. Her exaggeration that they were friends probably wouldn’t sit right with the uptight woman. Oh, well, in for a penny, in for a pound. Echo knocked on the door and entered.

Echo was surprised when she entered the room and saw three people sitting around the bed, laughing amiably. What did she know of Lieutenant Keating’s private life? Gulping down her embarrassment, she waved a hand around in a nervous gesture. “Hi, I just wanted to check that you were okay. I’ll leave you…”

Echo turned to leave and was almost to the door when a burly man stopped her.

“Don’t go. Roan here could do with a change of company…we’ve been boring her with our shop talk for the last two hours.” A washed-out brown gaze caught hers. The man’s lips, the top one covered by a mustache, pulled into a warm smile.

Echo didn’t say anything immediately as the visitors, two men and a woman, stood. The man who had called her back waved at Roan. “See you on duty soon, LT.”

“Yeah, the streets aren’t safe without you out there,” the other man, who was much younger than the rest, said with a grin.

From what Echo could ascertain from the revealing sweater, the female visitor had a great body. Her tight jeans hugged sensual curves, which came into great effect from Echo’s vantage point, as she bent over and kissed Roan’s cheek. “I’ll call and see you when they let you out.”

Echo stood waiting to hear Roan’s reply. The only response was a vague nod. Otherwise, Roan hadn’t let her gaze waver from Echo’s position.

The man who had stopped her earlier grinned and waved toward one of the chairs around the bedside and winked. “We’ll be in the bar across the street if Roan gets too boring for you.” Then the other two visitors pushed him out of the room as they berated him for his pick-up line.

The door closed on the boisterous rumblings and Echo stood unable to go forward or back.

“You can sit, I don’t bite.”

The voice was every bit as sexy as Echo remembered. Added to it was a slight croak that had Echo’s stomach muscles tensing in response. She moved slowly to the seat farthest away from Roan. “I know. I didn’t mean to interrupt your visit with your friends. I just wanted to see if you were okay.”

Roan let a small smile cross her lips before she spoke. “Jake was right, we were talking shop mainly. When I bore you, you can go join them if you want. I’ll vouch for their integrity, and Jake took a shine to you…he’s a good man.”

The remark insulted Echo. “Why do you always assume you know people? I might already be in a relationship, yet you’re throwing me at your friend. You have a limited view of people, Lieutenant.”

Roan sighed. “It’s the job…look, I’m sorry. Are you in a relationship? I deduced on Saturday evening that since you weren’t tied up elsewhere and had time to see me, you weren’t. I’ll try not to analyze the situation with you in the future.”

Echo felt that was the nearest to an apology she was going to receive. “Thank you. How are you feeling? I feel terrible…it’s my fault that you ended up like this. If you hadn’t…”

“No, it wasn’t…isn’t your fault. I would have left the hospital anyway. I hate being cooped up in a strange place. As several well- meaning people have already said, I was stupid. Some might even say it was almost suicidal to have left so soon after the surgery.”

Echo’s eyes grew wide as her gut reacted to the word “suicidal” for in its own way it was fitting. “You had surgery? Oh, my God, now I feel worse. Exactly how badly were you hurt?”

Roan’s cheeks held a slight tinge through their pallor. “I was shot in the chest. The bullet missed the heart. I needed a few stitches and I lost a lot of blood. That was the reason I was struggling. The doctor says I can leave on Tuesday if I continue doing as the staff says. If I don’t follow orders, my captain will take my badge…well, she threatened anyway.”

Echo smiled slightly. “She won’t, I’m guessing.” Roan’s chuckle was light in tone and Echo found herself fascinated by its tempo.

“No, she wouldn’t, but she can enforce extra leave.” Roan felt lighter somehow, and she suspected it didn’t have anything to do with the drugs she was taking.

“She asked me…your captain, that is…to help you when you went home. She thought I could help you until you were strong enough…” Echo trailed off when she saw Roan’s face scrunch up in a frown.

“What did you say?”

There was an expectant silence in the room as Echo softly said, “I agreed to help if you’d let me.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re helping me, and I know you didn’t have to.”

Roan considered the answer. “Payback?”

Echo knew that in a way, it was payback, but it was something else…something she couldn’t or wouldn’t admit at that moment.

“Okay, I can accept your help on those terms. Did you take the file to the chief?” Roan changed the subject.

“No, not yet. He’s a hard man to contact directly. Can’t you do it…he’s your uncle, right?” When she saw the stunned expression, Echo added, “He came to see you when I brought you in.”

Roan nodded. “I’ll arrange a meeting as soon as I can. He’s away for three weeks from today. The rest is up to you.”

Echo bit her lip and watched Roan’s eyelids droop heavily. She’d refrained from asking the question she had on the tip of her tongue: Why couldn’t she take it to the captain she’d met earlier? “Look, I need to go and you’re tired. Do you want me to visit tomorrow?”

Roan blinked back the sleep that was overwhelming her. “You want to visit again? Why?”

“Maybe I like visiting the sick.” Echo knew it was an absurd reply, but she didn’t know what else to say that would make any sense to this woman.

“Okay, see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll be here in the afternoon if that’s okay. Would you like candy or flowers, maybe both?” Echo felt her mood lighten.

When she saw Roan frown, Echo smiled and stood. “Okay, I’ll just bring myself. See you tomorrow.” She headed for the door.

A mumbling sound of a person almost asleep said, “That’s more than enough.”

Echo smiled at the words as she left the room as softly as she could.

Chapter Ten

“I’m not an invalid, Ms. Radar!” Roan felt Echo’s hand take a gentle yet firm hold of her arm to steady her out of the car.

Echo smiled sweetly but didn’t remove her hand as she felt Roan lean unconsciously into her body strength. “I know, but I figured if I’m here to help you, I’d better do it.”

Roan shook her head. It was Tuesday afternoon and she’d been waiting since the doctor dismissed her at ten that morning for Echo to collect her from the hospital. Her captain would have arranged to send someone, but Roan had wanted to see Echo again. Her visit to the hospital the previous Sunday had been familiar and nice. The woman had a wealth of silly anecdotes from her work and even sillier stories of her childhood.

Roan, of course, had given none of her personal details away, barring that her uncle was her mother’s elder and only sibling. She reluctantly admitted she wanted to see Echo again and would have waited all day if necessary.

†

Inside her brownstone, Roan sucked in a deep breath, glad to be home.

“Why don’t I help you upstairs and you get ready for bed? I’ll make us a drink while you do,” Echo volunteered with a grin.

Roan frowned. “I’ve just spent the best part of a week in bed. I’d just like to sit awhile. I’ll go into my study and check on my mail.”

Echo was about to say something negative but thought better of it. As they’d entered the brownstone, she’d collected a multitude of letters, packets, and newspapers. “Okay, exactly where are the kitchen and the study?”

Startled by the question, Roan furrowed her brow before she realized that Echo wouldn’t know. “Kitchen on your left over there.” She pointed at a door. “The study is to your right. I’ll give you a guided tour tomorrow if you come back.”

Echo ignored the slight jibe of her coming back. “Sounds like a plan to me.” Then she watched Roan gingerly make her way to the study and shut the door behind her. When Echo entered the kitchen, the size blew her away. “Can’t wait for the guided tour,” she said before checking out what was available in the larder, which wasn’t much. What does she live on? A visit to the supermarket was at the top of the priority list. Once she’d made a mental note of the basics that she needed, she headed for the study.

Echo knocked on the door, and after hearing a faint, “enter,” she popped her head inside the door. Then unconsciously, as she peered around the study, she stepped inside. Numerous books lined three walls. A large, old-fashioned cherry wood desk sat in the middle of the room. A laptop computer sat on the desktop along with a wire-framed letter tray. The room appeared to be sparse yet functional. The floor was in a highly polished wood, and the whole room seemed to envelop you in a sense of purpose.

Turning her attention to Roan, who was staring at her with an unreadable expression on her face, she said lightly, “Hi, you don’t appear to have much by way of food. I’m just going to Jones’s market to pick up a few things and I’ll be right back.”

Roan gave one of her now telltale frowns of concentration, which Echo had seen several times since she’d met her. “I guess I was going to shop and didn’t. Look, leave it and go back to work or home. I’m sure you have better things to do with your time.”

“I’m sure there are numerous things I can do, but I chose to do this. I figure that for my efforts today, the least you can do is provide coffee. When did you last eat?” Echo was starving. She hadn’t had lunch and her stomach was protesting.

Roan grimaced. “Lunch…not much, though…the hospital food sucked.”

Echo chuckled. “I’m starving. How about I pick up a cooked chicken from the deli and a few salad items and we can eat together?”

Roan, suddenly feeling hungry, would welcome a decent meal, but she wasn’t going to let Echo know. “I get the feeling that if I said no, you’d bring it anyway.”

“Caught me,” Echo said with a bright smile. I love food…you should hear Karen…” With a shrug she said, “I’ll be back soon.” The memory of her friend caused a painful lump to form in her throat.

Roan watched silently as Echo closed the door behind her. All of a sudden, the room felt empty, and that was odd. The study always was her refuge, but it didn’t feel like it anymore. Echo leaving the room had left a vacuum as all sense of vitality sucked out of the room. With a shake of her head, Roan picked up an official-looking letter and sliced it open.

†

The meal they’d shared had been tasty but nothing special. Strangely enough, their easy familiarity that had begun in the hospital transcended to Roan’s home.

“Can I ask you a question, Lieutenant?” Echo caught the cautious blue gaze from across the kitchen table.

“Roan…I think you’re entitled to call me by something more than my rank.”

Echo grinned. “Thanks, and I’d rather you called me Echo than Ms. Radar. It makes me sound like an old-fashioned schoolmarm.”

“Thank you and your question?”

A small smile tugged at Echo’s lips. “Why can’t you take the file to the chief yourself? What about your captain…surely, she could reopen a case.”

Silence filled the room and Echo wondered if the question would go unanswered.

Roan finally said, “My captain needs in this particular case the support of the chief. Logically, we ask the chief first. Have you read the file at all?”

“No, I wanted to, but something kept holding me back. I guess as much as I want to know the truth, I’m not sure if I have the guts to read all the details of what happened that day.” Sighing heavily, Echo hung her head.

Roan watched Echo and gave her an intense stare. “It doesn’t make nice reading. In my opinion, you made the right call.”

Echo snapped her head up and felt the room spin. “I guess I’m going to have to if I need to convince the chief.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. Talk to him exactly as you did me that day at the precinct. Then give him the file. The only question he’ll ask is who compiled the file.”

“Do I tell him?”

Roan laughed cynically. “Yes, we aren’t at loggerheads. We merely have a different outlook on policing and life in general. When you tell him, he’ll take you seriously. As to the outcome, that will be up to you.”

“Thank you, Roan. I really don’t know what to say or how to repay you for the faith, but…”

“There isn’t any payback except for your help at the moment. Then we’ll be even. How about you go home and have some personal time and I’ll go to bed? I’m kind of tired now anyway.” Echo glanced at her. The pale face made Roan appear remarkably fragile. A part of Echo wanted to stay and keep watch over her, but she knew that was absurd. Roan would have a fit if she knew that was how she was feeling, probably consider it the sympathy vote, but it was far from it. “I’m sorry for keeping you up. I’ll lock the door on my way out.”

Frowning, Roan looked at Echo closely and made a decision. “On the wall over there by the phone is a key cabinet. The first on the left is the spare. Take it and let yourself in when you come back tomorrow.”

Echo beamed. “I’ll be here early around seven to make you breakfast and check that you’re taking the meds and general stuff like that. Fortunately, you only live three blocks from the office, so I can come over and have lunch with you…” Echo lifted one shoulder. “…if you want.” God I sound like my mother.

“Echo.”

Echo turned to look into the blue eyes. “Yes?”

“You’ve done enough already. It really isn’t necessary.”

“You don’t want me to come back? But the key?” Echo felt her smile fix on her lips, as her expression grew dull.

Roan saw the downbeat expression and shook her head. “I meant you don’t need to go to all that trouble. Please come by after work. I’ll have news on the appointment with the chief for you.”

Echo felt the sense of despair disappear and nodded. “Here’s my card if you need me. You can call anytime at my office, and I’ll put my personal number on the back.” Echo mentally smacked her head as she handed the card to Roan. Damn, she already has all my information…what a dunderhead she must think I am.

“Sounds good.” Roan tried to stifle a yawn. “Good night, Echo.”

The curt tone of voice told Echo that Roan was dismissing her, but she didn’t care. “Good night, Roan, I’ll see you tomorrow night for that tour.”

“You got it,” Roan said with a slight smile. Once Echo left the kitchen, Roan dragged her body out of the chair and drew in a deep breath. The thought of the stairs she had to climb to her bed made her cringe. As she entered the hallway, she watched Echo putting on her coat. “Hey, one last thing, Echo,” she said as she internally winced.

“Yes?”

Roan cleared her throat and scratched the back of her neck. “Will you help me up the stairs? My legs feel like jelly.”

Alarm in Echo’s expression had her swiftly eating up the short distance between them before she placed a gentle, yet firm, hand on the muscled arm. “You got it. I was going to volunteer my services, but…” Echo shrugged as they mounted the first step.

Roan didn’t reply. Her concentration fixed on the mountain of stairs ahead of her. When they reached the top of the stairs, Echo maneuvered her toward the bedroom and opened the door.

“Thanks.”

Echo’s warm smile resonated in the darkening room. It was only around six, but with the weather being particularly surly, it felt more like late evening. “Are you okay now or do you need…?”

Roan shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Have a safe journey home, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Echo nodded. She didn’t want to push her, but she could see by the tense muscles pulling at Roan’s mouth that it hadn’t been an easy thing for Roan to ask for help in the first place. Asking for more help would be next to impossible. “I will and don’t you forget to take the meds…promise?”

Roan wanted to laugh. For most of her life, she was a loner and fiercely independent. She did not respond well to people telling her what to do. Now a stranger, Echo Radar, had breached her walls. With a faint smile, she said, “I promise.”

“Good night, Roan.” Echo lightly touched Roan’s arm. “If you need anything, I’m just a phone call away.” Echo smiled, then made her way down the stairs.

Standing in the doorway of her bedroom, Roan realized that she was still clutching Echo’s card in her left hand. Her brow furrowed, and she muttered, “A phone call away, yet right now, it feels like a million miles. God, I need some rest.” She closed the door behind her as she heard the outer door click shut.

†

Echo allowed a smile to follow her all the way out of the house and on her walk to her car. A part of her was beginning to live again, and she had Roan to thank for that.

It was strange how fate placed people in your life and you never knew why until something happened and it was perfectly clear. Only time would tell if Roan Keating would remain in her life after all this was over.

Chapter Eleven

Chief Mahoney gazed at the young woman in his office. This was a favor and Roan owed him one in return. “How can I help you?” He hesitated at the name and glanced at the papers on his desk. Clearing his throat, he gruffly continued, “Ms. Radar?”

Echo fought the nerves she had at seeing the man. Roan’s insistence that her uncle was an ordinary man like any other seemed to vanish as she now faced him. What she wouldn’t give right now to be talking about her day with Roan. The thought made her smile and some of her bravado returned.

“I believe that the verdict my best friend Karen Thompson committed suicide and that she murdered another woman is wrong, and I have proof.” Do I? Her hands clutched the folder Roan had compiled for her as a lifeline.

Declan Mahoney smiled slightly as he appraised the young woman. The widening of his smile was indicative that he liked what he saw. He was partial to a pretty woman, and this one had an infectious smile. “I’m sorry…I’m not familiar with the case. Has the DA seen it?”

“No…my friend,” she said while puffing out her chest to fuel her courage. “My friend Karen Thompson would never commit suicide nor would she have murdered anyone.”

“I see. The statements you’ve made…you say you have proof. Is it conclusive proof that your friend didn’t commit suicide or murder?” Declan’s gaze continued to roam her body appreciatively.

Echo’s fingers moved nervously over the file she had in her hands and she took a deep breath. “Yes, please, take a look in this file.”

She passed the file across the glass desk. As Mahoney opened it, an amused smile wreathed his lips. As she watched him read, she saw his amusement change to interest, then to anger.

“Someone has been very thorough. Is that someone you, Ms. Radar? Are you a reporter perhaps?” he said in a cold voice.

Evading the disclosure of Roan as the compiler, she said, “No, a…friend helped me.”

“Who is that friend?”

Echo heard the tone and smiled inwardly—he already knew the answer. “Roan Keating, she’s a…”

“Lieutenant at the ninth precinct, I know.”

Under her breath, Echo said, “Runs in the family.” Mahoney’s upper lip curled as he read the details. “What is it you want exactly, Ms. Radar?”

“Justice.”

“Really? And you think this…” He tapped the folder. “…makes a difference from the original findings?”

For a few seconds, Echo felt alone and lost before she remembered what she was there to do. As she felt a little of the weight lift from her shoulders she said, “Yes, it does. I want you to reopen the case.”

“You do? What if I said this isn’t enough and that you need more?” Mahoney continued to read the contents of the file.

“I’d say…you’re bluffing. Will you authorize the case to be reopened, Chief Mahoney?”

Declan Mahoney didn’t give away his inner feelings, which were in contrast to his words. “You’re not family, and that makes a big difference.” He saw her crestfallen expression and inclined his head slightly. “In light of this new information…I will. In fact, I’ll request that Lieutenant Keating take on the case. I’m sure she’ll find all the answers you need.”

Echo sighed in relief. “Oh, you don’t know how grateful I am. Thank you.”

“Really, how about I take you to dinner and you can show me?” His suave words fell from his tongue and dripped like acid into her ears.

Echo was torn. She didn’t want to jeopardize the case from reopening, but at the same time, she wondered if Roan knew her uncle was a sleazy old man. He was her uncle, therefore, it made sense that she knew. Probably what she meant when she said it would all be up to me.

“Sorry I have another dinner date this evening, perhaps another time. Thank you for all your help.” Echo rapidly left the room and breathed a sigh of relief. The outer office was empty, and for that, she was grateful. Echo fled the building before Mahoney could change his mind.

†

“I’ve been waiting for you to return from your vacation. We have a problem, two actually. Two new players have unexpectedly entered the game. A Lieutenant Keating and a woman called Echo Radar. They’re asking questions about Thompson.”

“I know. The case is being reopened as of tonight.”

“How can that be? You told me there wouldn’t be any further problems.”

“There isn’t…don’t panic. I straightened everything out last time, and I’ll do the same now. Besides, Keating’s injured…she took a bullet at that hostage situation recently. It will give her something to do while on sick leave, cool her jets, so to speak, but cooperation will be limited. She’s not going to be welcomed with open arms at her precinct when her captain finds out she went behind her back.”

“Okay, but remember you promised…no road leads to me.”

“They won’t, you have my word.”

“I’d rather that I’d never become involved in this from the beginning.”

“Too late, you’re up to your neck in it as much as I am. I’ll be in touch.”

†

Echo couldn’t wait to see Roan to tell her the good news. As she sped through the dark night, brightened by row after row of streetlights, her curiosity about the file, which she hadn’t opened, teased her incessantly. Whatever was in the folder was enough to change Mahoney’s mind. Roan had been right on the money when she said he would have no choice. As she rounded the corner that led to the street where Roan lived, she couldn’t prevent the smile that lately naturally occurred when she was going to see Roan.

Parking on the opposite side of the street, she picked up the Chinese takeout from the backseat, locked the car, and ran across the street and up the short stone steps to punch in the key code. Once inside the alcove, she opened the main door with the key Roan gave her as excitement built like a gigantic bubble inside her. Seconds later, she was in the hall, and after dropping her purse on the side table, she rushed to the kitchen. “Hey, Roan, you’ll never guess what happened. I brought us takeout. I remembered the beef special you love.”

Her words seemed to ping off the kitchen walls as she faced Roan, who was sitting at the table with two other women. She recognized them both and a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. “Hey, sorry, I didn’t know you had company. I’ll let myself out and you can…”

“Echo…it’s fine…come on in. Takeout sounds great and you brought my favorite.” Roan smiled as her tired, yet appreciative gaze, caught Echo’s.

Echo stepped farther into the room and placed the food on the kitchen counter. Feeling awkward, she bit her lip and shuffled her feet as she wondered what to do next. Through her embarrassment, she smiled at the other women in the room who were giving her interested looks.

Noticing how uncomfortable Echo seemed, Roan saved her further embarrassment and introduced the women. “Echo, this is my captain who you’ve met before. This is Officer Lyn Paris, a good friend of mine. She was at the hospital when you came to visit. They have news that will make you happy. They came to tell me…”

“That the chief reopened the case and that he’s put you in charge.” Echo grinned. Her faced reddened more as she realized that it might not have been appropriate to finish Roan’s sentence, especially on that topic, as the two women gave her and Roan an extraordinary glance.

“Echo’s been around me too long. She’s taken up my bad habits of anticipating the next words.”

There was silence in the room, then Sofia gave them both a long look. “Well, I guess we can go now. You do appreciate that this case is strictly low-key…don’t you, Roan? All you’re doing is checking that everything is okay. Then Mahoney will publicly announce his support for the Greystoke Project,” Renaldo said. She was still smarting from learning about this new event and that one of her senior officers had been part of the instigation.

“Yeah, Roan, you’re not due back to light duty for another two weeks. Take it easy. I’ll be back to check on you later in the week.” Officer Paris smiled and gave a saucy wink.

Echo felt that she had to protest their departure. “Why don’t you join us for supper? I always bring too much food. Besides, Roan eats like a sparrow most of the time.”

Roan’s face remained bland as she looked at the two police officers.

“Sorry, I’m still on duty.” Lyn said. “Maybe another time.”

“Sure.” Echo nodded before she caught Roan’s expression. If the cold look was anything to go by, she definitely overshot the mark this time.

“Roan, remember low-key.” Renaldo walked toward the door. She nodded at Echo and quietly said, “You’re doing a great job. Roan’s actually acting like a social butterfly for once…well, in comparison to how she usually is.”

After a few minutes, Echo and Roan were alone in the kitchen. The silence seemed to go on forever. “I’m sorry for barging in tonight,” Echo said. “I’ll call in the future.”

Roan remained silent as the smell of the Chinese food assailed her senses; she was starving. She hadn’t eaten much but wasn’t going to impart that information to Echo, who stood nervously at the kitchen counter. Then she noticed Echo’s hands fumbling with the containers and shook her head as a slight smile crossed her face. She stood quickly and wished she hadn’t as the pain shot through her chest in protest.

With a slower pace, she walked to where Echo stood. “It doesn’t matter. They were leaving anyway.” Roan placed a hand over Echo’s trembling ones and gave her best attempt at a smile. It worked.

The touch of Roan’s hand on hers and the tiny smile was Echo’s undoing. She blinked back tears and felt her throat constrict at her emotions that began to rage out of control. Summoning her inner karma, she gave a bright smile. “Are you hungry?”

“I could eat a food mountain. First, tell me about your visit with my uncle.” Roan saw the infectious grin that had flooded Echo’s face when she’d first entered the room and knew she’d said the right thing.

After imparting her news about her meeting with Mahoney, Echo gave a self-deprecating shrug.

Roan nodded. “You can guarantee one thing about my uncle…a pretty face will generally win the day.”

The words sounded hollow and Echo felt a surge of resentment bubble up. “Are you saying that if I’d been ugly, he’d have ignored the request?”

“No, not at all…honestly, I just know that if I’d gone to see him with the file, he’d have listened with only half an ear, then ditched the folder in his out basket after I’d left.”

Echo wasn’t convinced. “Doesn’t say much for the contents of the file you compiled, does it?”

“I guess, even the truth needs a helping hand, and believe me, in more ways than you know, you’re that hand. Your friend Karen would be proud of you.” Roan decided against a retaliatory smart remark and instead remained calm and non-confrontational. Normally, that would have grated on her nerves, but with Echo, she felt better for it somehow.

“Let’s eat…you did say you could eat a mountain.” Roan’s words deflated her earlier irritation, and in that split second, she felt another of the bricks removed from wall that surrounded Roan.

The food was delicious and temporarily warded off Roan’s near exhaustion. The doctors had warned her that it would be several weeks before she felt one hundred percent, and she wondered if she’d ever feel that way again. Now that the stitches were out, her chest wound looked partially healed, but she knew that it wouldn’t take the strain of any heavy lifting or strenuous workouts for a couple of months. After taking a basket of laundry to the machine in the basement that morning, she felt like she’d taken part in a marathon. She wasn’t going to admit that to Echo, or there would be verbal sparks.

“Roan, are you listening to me?”

With a blink of her heavy eyelids, she removed her gaze from the empty cartons of food. “I always listen to you.”

Echo shook her head. “Why don’t you get along with your uncle?”

Roan frowned. “Simple, I told you we have differing views on how the police work.”

“I don’t believe that’s the only reason. I guess like a lot of things with you, it’s like trying to figure out a complicated jigsaw puzzle.” Echo sighed, leaning back on the bench.

“In my experience, sometimes going over the past has little benefit. Take you, for instance. You have diverted your current life to delve into the past…if you’ll pardon the pun, for the echo of what once was. Your friend isn’t coming back, no matter what you find out,” Roan said flatly.

The words struck Echo dumb. She felt words filling her mouth wanting to jump out and verbally slash Roan to pieces. Instead, she drew a slow breath. “That’s like the pot calling the kettle black. You’re so bitter over the past, you dare not go back and revisit it for fear of what it might reveal.”

There was a gushing sound in Roan’s ears, and she felt the room spin for a brief second. Emotional conversation had that effect on her, but nothing compared to how she was feeling at that moment. The potency of Echo’s words seemed to rip right through her like the bullet that ripped through her body. “I know what it will reveal. Pain, loss, and an ache so bad that it wouldn’t serve any purpose other than to open old wounds. Then it would take another interminable length of time before it begins to heal.”

“I...I…look, I’m sorry. I was upset by what you said about your uncle and that it was only because...” Echo stopped. She had no more words. She didn’t have a barometer where Roan was concerned. Calculating her mood swings was as difficult as deciphering her own sometimes. What puzzled her the most was the hope that one day she’d have that gauge. If it meant that Roan’s past remained exactly that, she could handle it.

“I accept the apology only if you do the same. To be honest, my uncle and I haven’t really bonded as family. After my parents died, my grandfather took me in. When he died, my uncle was less than happy about taking on the guardianship of me. He’d gone through a bitter divorce and wanted his freedom. Being saddled with a teenager was hardly being free.” Roan shrugged. “Let’s say some things you never forget.”

Echo impulsively rushed around the table and hugged her fiercely for a few seconds, until Roan murmured a slight protest. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t like that kind of show of affection.” Roan, with unshed tears in her eyes, grinned at Echo. “Nope, it wasn’t that. I have a confession to make. You hugging me brought the pain…”

Echo’s eyes widened and she waved her finger in Roan’s direction. “Okay, what did you do today that you shouldn’t? Have you hurt yourself? Do you need the doctor?”

Roan cringed. “It isn’t that bad.

Chapter Twelve

Roan called a cab two days later and headed to the morgue. Once there, she located Nigel Forester, who was as anal as she was about detail. The man had been the coroner the day Karen Thompson and Shelby Cameron came to the morgue. He’d autopsied Shelby, and one of the other coroners had examined and carried out the postmortem on Karen Thompson. Roan had never admitted her own duplicity, as she saw it, in the investigation to Echo. It wouldn’t have served any purpose and would have only alienated the woman. Her mission now was to find out the truth, whatever that might be.

“Well, if it isn’t the heroine herself. Roan, my dear, what are you doing here? A little bird told me that you were convalescing and had pretty company to take care of you.” His eyebrows rose suggestively.

Roan shook her head and gave him a hard stare. “Lyn never did know when to keep her mouth shut. I’m surprised you and she hooked up and have lasted so long.”

Nigel Forester was a tall willowy man at least six-foot-seven and had bony, almost skeletal, features, not a good-looking man by most standards. What he lacked in the handsome department, he more than made up in intelligence and an old-fashioned manner, which seemed to wow the women. Whoever said chivalry was dead hadn’t met him. “Lyn wasn’t gossiping if that’s what you think. I asked her how you were doing, and she said you and a friend were going to have supper together.”

“Hmm and pigs might fly,” Roan mumbled, then passed him the case file. “Do you recall this case?”

Glancing at the contents and the pictures of the deceased, he frowned and nodded. “Yep. Pretty girl…she was beaten up and assaulted. The other was a suicide, I believe.” He frowned slightly. “Didn’t they rule that she killed the girl, then committed suicide?”

“Yeah, we did.”

Nigel’s brow creased as he inspected Roan closer. “You don’t sound happy about it. Aren’t you convinced that it’s the truth? You don’t make mistakes. What gives?”

“At the time, it made sense. That day was busy with cases that were more complicated. The order came down to tie the case up quickly, so we cut some corners to meet that end. I noticed that some of the tox screens that were run weren’t evaluated.”

Nigel frowned at the insinuation that his department neglected to do a complete evaluation. “Yeah, I remember that. Guess when they told us the case was a slam dunk, no one wondered about the results…and as you said, it was a busy time. Do you want me to run them now?”

“You still have viable samples?” Roan smiled. She gambled that he’d have them, but even so, it was a long shot, particularly for the Thompson woman.

Nigel nodded. “You’ve known me for ten years, really have faith.”

Roan smiled warmly. “I never had any doubts. Look, can we keep this between us for the moment? I’m supposed to keep it low-key…commands from above.” Roan had a suspicion that if word got out that she was poking around in the morgue the evidence might go missing. There was the old saying about it isn’t what you know, but who you know. Fortunately, it worked in Echo’s and her favors.

“You got it. I’ll have the information for you by tomorrow evening. Want to come over for dinner…you can bring a friend.” Nigel grinned.

Roan rolled her eyes. “Dinner my treat, we’ll go to Germaine’s. Will Lyn be joining us?”

Nigel chuckled as he nodded. “Try and keep her away.”

†

For an hour, Echo had been fending off a headache that demanded attention. She reached for the ibuprofen and washed them down with water. The door to her office opened, and her assistant popped her head in.

“Echo…there’s a detective on the line who wonders if you can spare a minute.”

The tension of the campaign she was working on seemed to disappear at the mention of a detective. “Sure, put them through.”

“Hello, this is Echo.”

To Echo, there seemed to be a few seconds of silence followed by a rustle of papers before a voice spoke. “Hi, it’s Roan.”

Echo smiled and hugged the phone closer to her ear. “Hi. What do I owe this honor? You’ve never called me at work before. Want to meet up for lunch?”

“I haven’t had the necessity to do so before now,” Roan said automatically, forgetting for a moment that there had been a couple of narrow escapes in that first week of convalescing at home.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. How can I help you, Lieutenant Keating?” Echo wasn’t sure if Roan was in the approachable or unapproachable mood. Their talk, if you could call it that, a couple of nights earlier had placed them on a precipice. Their budding friendship could go one way or the other, and she was going to keep her curiosity under wraps for the time being.

“I’m going to be working on the case tonight, so you don’t need to come over after work. I’m sure you have better things to do with your time. Your friends must think you’ve abandoned them.”

Echo paused before she answered. “Okay. I have a thumping headache, so I’d probably have called you and said I was going straight home.”

Roan quickly replied, “No problem then. I have to go, take care of that headache.”

Automatically, Echo said, “Bye,” before replacing the receiver. She muttered, “Well, she was concerned…not! So much for me thinking she might actually like me. Get a grip. She’s only helping you out to do the most important thing…to clear Karen’s name and find out who did kill that girl.”

The words rang in her head. She realized that she knew nothing about Shelby. All her focus had been on Karen. The poor girl needed a champion, too, and it looked like she was going to be that person for both of them. As she looked down at her campaign folder, an idea formed in her head. Clarity suddenly opened a tunnel through the blaze of her headache, and she began to scribble notes again.

†

Roan sighed and looked at the clock. It was a quarter after seven. Standing up, she left her study and headed for the kitchen as part of her wanted desperately to see Echo singing out of tune as she prepared their evening meal. She recalled the woman reading the multitude of magazines and newspapers she brought with her most nights. Echo had said it was necessary professional research.

As Roan thought about it, a smile curled her lips, then it disappeared as she entered the kitchen. It was empty and dark. Flicking on the light, she headed for the refrigerator that was full of good things. Selecting a slab of cheese, she decided a toasted cheese sandwich was about all she could muster.

Ten minutes later, she sat at the kitchen table and began to eat as her mind digested the short conversation with Echo that afternoon. Damn, I wasn’t even sympathetic about the headache. All I gave her was an other than an automatic ‘take it easy’. What kind of friend am I? Then she considered whether they were friends or merely people who needed each other for mutual gain. What the hell difference does it make? Friends are forged under stranger circumstances. With a half-eaten sandwich in her hand, she headed to the phone on the wall and dialed Echo’s home number.

When the answering machine kicked in, Roan decided against a message. She’d call again in an hour. Maybe Echo was running late at her office; it happened to her all the time.

She recalled the first time Echo had been later than normal for her daily visit…

Roan confronted a surprised Echo, who had barely edged through the open door. “You’re late, why bother coming at all?” She paced the hallway using up most of her energy.

“Hey, look, I’m sorry. My boss asked me to check the details for a new client. It took longer than I expected. Have you eaten?” Echo remained nonplussed at the confrontation for she’d half expected it.

Petulantly, Roan replied, “No, we usually eat together.” As she said the words, she realized that in a little over two weeks, she’d allowed herself to become dependent on the woman. That wasn’t fair for her or Echo.

“Then it’s as well I’ve brought takeout. Are you hungry?” Echo remained cheerfully upbeat.

Roan frowned and found her anger waning. “I’m a little hungry.”

“Great, come on then, let’s eat. I’m starving. I’ve had to survive on stupid finger food all day. Trust me, a Chinese banquet is a marvelous antidote to the day I’ve had.” Echo ignored her own inner voice wanting to placate Roan and her obviously bad mood.

Roan wondered what was happening. She’d been angry and selfish, and Echo hadn’t taken the bait or even tried to mollify her.

“Are you coming? It’ll be cold.” Echo popped her head inside the kitchen door.

“Yes.” When she entered the kitchen, she watched in isolated fascination as Echo took out each container from the bag. She was certain there was enough food to feed the whole neighborhood. “There wouldn’t by any chance be beef in the dishes…it’s my favorite.”

“Thanks for seeing me again, Ms. Greystoke. I know you’re a busy woman.” Echo smiled warmly at Layla who motioned for her to sit in the chair opposite her in the small vestibule she used as an office.

Layla Greystoke smiled compassionately. “I know how important Karen was to you. Every day, I think she’s going to come walking in the door with her head held high and that beautiful smile beaming. Karen was always the optimist, and she worked so hard. When I think of all the people I’ve met in my life, she’s the one that had the most loving and giving heart of them all.”

Concentrating on her clasped hands, Echo blinked back tears. In a voice muffled by emotion, she said, “Karen would have said she didn’t deserve such praise. She was the most unselfish woman I’ve ever met. I feel humble these days when I talk about her. Especially to someone who knew her like I did.” She sucked in a breath. “What they said she did can’t be true…I know it.”

“Perhaps she had a side to her none of us knew about,” Layla said quietly.

Echo lifted her head sharply and stared at the woman. Her earlier words were in marked contrast to what she’d just said. “Is that what you think? Is that why you didn’t attend her funeral?”

“My dear, please, don’t get angry. It was merely an observation of what might have been. Let me make us one of my special herbal teas, then we’ll talk. Is there something in particular you wanted to know about Karen?” Layla walked over to the kettle and switched it on. She busily prepared an herbal mixture as she waited for Echo to reply.

Echo was angry. Once more, the woman hadn’t answered her question in regard to her nonattendance at Karen’s funeral; silence drew its own conclusion. Echo finally attempted to engage the woman in the real reason she was there. “I wondered if you knew anything about the girl who was killed…Shelby Cameron.”

For a split second, the name reverberated around Layla but not in a good way. She walked over to the desk and stood beside the seated Echo. “I’m not really at liberty to talk about the people who cross my path here.”

Echo looked up with a rueful expression. “You’re not a doctor,” she said in frustration. “She’s dead. What harm can it do?”

“I’m sorry, Echo.” The kettle whistled, and Layla moved away to pour the water over the tealeaves. Moments later, she placed the beverage in front of Echo.

Picking up the cup, Echo sipped it and was surprised to find it remarkably refreshing. “This is good. What kind of tea is it?” Layla hesitated for a fraction of a second and shrugged.

“I’m not supposed to say this…but a friend of mine from Africa smuggles several varieties in for me when he can. I know it’s naughty of me. Don’t tell your friend Lieutenant Keating…she might put me in jail.”

Echo chuckled and shook her head. “Your secret is safe with me. I have to go. I have a deadline on a project and have to be at work early in the morning. Thanks for your time and the tea.”

“You’re always welcome here. I’m glad we finally had the chance to meet, although not in the best of circumstances. If you should have any free time and want to offer your services, I’d be grateful.” She held out her hand, and when Echo put her hand in hers, Layla shook it gently, holding it longer than necessary.

Echo caught the sensual look that crossed Layla’s face and pulled her hand gently away. “At the moment, my free time is limited. I’ll keep in touch,” Echo said automatically as she walked toward the door.

Layla let her eyes bore into Echo’s back. “I’ll look forward to our next meeting.”

As the heavy door closed between them, Echo felt more at ease. Her steps retreated rapidly from the church until she paused at the top of the stairs. She whispered to the wind, which had whipped up since her arrival, and carried her words. “I wonder if Karen knew her mentor, the wonderful Layla Greystoke, had lesbian tendencies. I wonder if anyone does.” She crunched her eyebrows together. “How does she know Roan and I are friends? I must mention that to Roan. It might be important.” With a shiver, she rapidly retreated to her car and sped off toward home.

†

Roan paced her study. She’d called Echo three times, and the woman wasn’t home. In frustration, she left several messages. The more she contemplated where Echo was, the more antsy she became. “Headache, be damned.”

Roan walked back to her desk and opened a drawer. As she did, she glanced at a photo in an elegant frame hidden there. Absently, she picked it up and looked at the happy faces of the people in the picture. A sad expression claimed her as she dredged up the memory of when the picture was taken. Echo was right, she needed to face the past, but each time she tried, she could think of the sorrow of the loss and not the good memories.

“Who knows, maybe it might take a compassionate person like Echo, who cares and goes that extra mile, to help me find a way to handle the pain. I think you’d like her.” She felt the tears well up as she gazed at the photo. With a heavy sigh, she was about to place it back in the drawer when the phone rang.

Roan rapidly picked it up. “Hi.”

“Hi yourself, you’ve left me three messages. Is everything okay? I can come over if…”

The relief Roan felt at the sound of Echo’s voice had a grin unconsciously forming on her face. “No, I’m fine. To be honest, I was worried about you. Did they keep you late at the office? I thought you said you had a headache.”

Echo raised her eyebrows. Is that concern I hear in her voice? Wonders never cease. In as calm a voice as she could manage, she said, “Not exactly. To be truthful, I went to see Layla Greystoke.”

A frown appeared like a dark cloud as Roan asked, “You did? Why?”

Echo heard the censure immediately. “I decided that no one was really interested in Shelby Cameron. It seemed to me that no one wanted the truth or the murderer brought to justice. I figured I owed it to Karen to make this quest of mine as much about Shelby as Karen. Does that make any sense to you?” She quickly added, “Not that I need your approval.”

“I see.”

“Look, I just wanted to know who the young woman was. I’m not interfering with your case.” Echo wanted to explain further, but she heard the invisible door between them close.

“How could you possibly know if you’re causing problems with the case? I’m glad you’re home safe…good night.” Roan didn’t end the call, and as she waited for a retort, she felt her stomach churn.

“Hey, Lieutenant Keating, don’t you dare dismiss me like I’m a piece of dirt under your shoes. I thought we were friends.”

Roan chewed on her lip and blew out a breath of frustration. She thanked God that Echo didn’t know the effect she had on her. Roan softly said, “I’m tired. It’s been a long day. Good night, Echo.”

Echo heard the deflated tone and pressed home the slight chink in the armor of the dour woman. “When you first made the call, what did you want? Please don’t say it was because you were worried about me…we both know your head is full of the case right now…people don’t matter.”

There was silence at the other end of the line, and Echo thought for a moment that Roan had gone, but then she heard a low soft voice. “I was going to ask you to dinner tomorrow.”

Astonished, Echo said, “Dinner…where at your place?” She hadn’t figured Roan for a dinner date kind of girl. They’d skirted the question of romance and Roan appeared to be somewhat androgynous when it came to working out her sexual preferences. In fact, if Echo recalled, she’d been the only one to say anything, and that was low-key. She didn’t actually mention she was a lesbian because she figured Roan had checked her out thoroughly. After all, Roan was the detective. She’d never give the key to her home to someone without checking out the person’s background. “Yes and no. I’ve booked a table at one of my favorite restaurants. The reservation is for seven o’clock,” Roan said in a clipped tone.

Echo pursed her lips and a smile of pleasure tugged at her lips. “Sure, I’d be delighted to have dinner with you. Want me to pick you up?”

“That’s okay. I’ll be in that part of town tomorrow. The restaurant is Germaine’s on Fuller Street. Do you know it?”

“It’s close to the precinct, isn’t it? I saw the street name when I came there the day we first met. I’ll see you tomorrow at seven. Good night and don’t forget your meds.”

Roan didn’t immediately respond to the good night. Instead she whispered, “You matter, Echo, I was worried about you.”

Echo moved the phone away from her ear in surprise and a warm feeling fluttered in her stomach. “I know I was just…do you know much about Layla Greystoke?”

There was a soft chuckle at the other end of the phone. “Only what you read in the newspapers, but I have an idea you know something they might not…do you?”

The change in their respective voices reflected an easygoing almost teasing quality. Echo realized it was just another facet of them getting to know each other. Their relationship was nothing short of tempestuous. “Before I tell you, how are you feeling? Please don’t just tell me that you’re fine because we both know I’ll keep you on the phone until you tell me the truth. Or worse, I’ll come ’round and check.”

This time, there was a snort at the end of the line as Roan shook her head. “And I just bet you would, too. I’ve taken the meds today if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Nope, I was asking how you felt generally.”

Roan sighed. “Is there a trick question in there?”

Echo laughed. “No, silly, I have the feeling that you’re getting more and more antsy every day, and that’s not a good thing. You can be such a grouch, Lieutenant.”

Echo was right, she was frustrated at her lack of strength, and it reflected in any conversation she held. Roan heard the banter in Echo’s voice, and she replied accordingly. “That’s not a nice thing for a friend to say.” She’d even bitten the head off of the clerk who had said she couldn’t have access to certain information from the precinct files over the phone.

“It’s because I’m your friend that I can say it. Just tell me. I promise it won’t be painful…even though you make it sound like I’m pulling teeth.” Her smile grew wider as the image of Roan in a dentist chair came to mind.

“You’re pushy, I’ll give you that, Echo Radar. Okay, so I’ve had a couple of frustrating days. I want so much to get on with this investigation in the field, and frankly, when I try to do too much, my body gives up the ghost. Patience isn’t a strong point of mine.”

“Your body needs time to recuperate. I’m sure as each day goes by, you’ll feel stronger.”

There was a marked silence for a while until Echo heard Roan expel a breath. Finally, Roan said, “Yeah. So Greystoke…what do you know?

Echo contemplated teasing Roan some more but resisted. Instead, she said, “I think she has a roving eye.”

Surprised at the statement, Roan said, “You do? Just how did you deduce that, my dear Echo?”

Echo buffed her nails against her sweater. “I was the target.”

“Really? Tell me more.” Roan was pleased that Echo wasn’t in the room with her as she tried to control the vying emotions of surprise and annoyance.

“Dinner tomorrow…I’ll tell you everything. Now if I were you, I’d consider allowing that body of yours to rest. Knowing you as I do, you’ll have been in the study all day poring over notes.”

“Is that an order, Mom?” Roan had a tight smile on her lips. She’d rather not wait twenty-four hours to find out; she wanted to know now.

“No, merely a friendly bit of advice. Good night, Roan. I’ll see you tomorrow at seven.” Echo hung up with a bright smile. With lightness in her step, she went to the kitchen to prepare a light supper. One thought kept going through her head. “I need a new dress,” she muttered as she opened the refrigerator door and wondered what Roan had eaten that day.

At the other end of the line, Roan replaced the receiver and sank down in her chair. The relief that Echo was home safe had appeased her agitation until she heard the mention of Greystoke and a wandering eye. “You’ll tell me more tomorrow, that’s for sure.” Then she growled, “Darn, I forgot to tell her that Nigel and Lyn will be there, too. Oh, well, that won’t matter, she’ll like Nigel and she’s met Lyn.” Her gaze then traveled to the papers on her desk and the life that was Karen Thompson.

Chapter Thirteen

Echo dressed for the occasion. She wanted to impress Roan. Where she loved buying new clothes and looking pretty, Roan could do with help. The one time she’d mentioned taking Roan to her hairdresser fell on stony ground. Then again, the nature of their tentative friendship was based on Roan doing her job, rather than any real social interaction. However, they were interacting with each other and it had been a bonus…a big one. That night was going to be a first. Roan invited her out for dinner, instead of their usual meals at Roan’s home where it was casual and comfortable. Just the fact that Roan had asked her out sent goose bumps down her arms and her stomach…well, that was better left unsaid. She hoped that she could keep the food down.

Late at the office, then caught up in traffic on the interstate, Echo finally arrived at the restaurant at seven fifteen. The brightly lit exterior was in contrast to the subdued, intimate interior. The place had Echo’s heart thumping rapidly at what she hoped would be in store for the evening. Walking over to the young woman next to the cash register, she smiled. “Hi, I’m meeting Ms. Keating. She has a table booked.”

The woman, who had dark skin and was dressed casually, gave Echo a polite professional smile. “Good evening. Lieutenant Keating’s already here with the other members of the party. I’ll show you to the table.” The young woman slipped from behind her podium and indicated that Echo should follow her.

Echo’s mind worked overtime as the words “other members” replayed in her head. Sucking in a deep breath, she followed the woman, and as she did, her heart flipped at the sight of Roan and the female officer she briefly met twice before. “What a damn idiot I am,” she said, cursing herself.

The young woman turned. “Sorry, did you say something?” Echo shook her head. “No.”

When they arrived at the table, the woman motioned to the table and left.

As Echo stopped, she watched in painful fascination Roan laughing at something the beautiful woman opposite her was saying. All her previous thoughts about an intimate dinner crashed around her like a ferocious wave in a storm.

Forcing a smile, Echo stepped closer. “Hi, sorry I’m late.” Roan stood and her head moved slightly from side to side as she appraised the semi-revealing black cocktail dress that hung closely to the full curves of Echo’s body. The alabaster skin revealed by the low-cut neckline was in perfect contrast to the color of the dress.

“Hi, no problem. I wondered if you were late because of the traffic.” Her gaze caught Echo’s, and it clung there for a few silent moments.

“Hello, Echo. We meet again. You look fabulous. Are you meeting a hot date after dinner?” Lyn watched the body language between the virtual stranger and the woman she’d known for several years in fascination. Her mind began to work overtime in juicy speculation.

Blushing, Echo shook her head. “Not tonight, unless the lieutenant knows of a great nightclub.”

Roan blinked back her appreciation of Echo’s appearance and shook her head. “The only nightclubs I know are not recommended.”

Echo nodded and sat in a chair Roan chivalrously pulled out for her. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Roan smiled before taking her seat again. Her heart had done a dozen somersaults at the inadvertent view she had of Echo’s cleavage. “Where has Nigel got to? He promised the call he was taking would only be a couple of minutes.”

Lyn threw up her hands. “You know Nigel…he says three words when one would suffice.”

Echo glanced around, then saw in the small alcove next to the bathrooms a lone, tall man talking animatedly on the phone. “Have I met Nigel before?”

Roan shook her head. “Nope. He’s someone I hope you never meet or at least not for another six decades. Professionally, that is.”

“What Roan is hinting at is that Nigel is a pathologist at the city morgue.” Lyn never took her gaze off the two women opposite her. The implied “just friends” was turning cartwheels in her overactive mind.

With a small smile, Echo said, “I see…is the food that bad here?”

Lyn chuckled and Roan just gave the frown she always did before speaking. Then the subject of their conversation appeared. “Sorry about that. My, my, you’ve been holding out on me, Roan. Who is the beauty that has miraculously appeared at our table?” His eyes crinkled at the sides in gentle admiration as he sat and held out his hand to Echo.

Taking the man’s hand, she shook it firmly. “Echo Radar, pleased to meet you, Nigel.” Echo liked him. His words weren’t condescending but merely light banter. After she let go of Nigel’s hand, she noticed he took hold of Lyn’s hand and squeezed it gently.

The man’s bony face dropped a little. “Oh, no, they didn’t fill in all the details while I was gone, did they? Darn it…I’m never taking a call again over dinner. Don’t let them scare you, Echo, I’ve never dissected my food I’ve a ravenous appetite, don’t I, Lyn?” He grinned and wriggled his eyebrows.

“They didn’t, I promise,” Echo said lightly before looking at Roan. The woman moved her gaze so quickly that Echo would have bet her next paycheck that Roan had been watching her discreetly.

Roan briskly said, “Let’s discuss a few things before dinner.” She eyed Echo. “We’ve already ordered drinks, what can I get you?”

“Lime and soda would be nice,” Echo said before she mentally berated herself on how foolish she must look all dressed up with no place to go. Everyone else was dressed casually. She glanced at Roan and Lyn, who appeared to be listening intently to what Nigel was saying. She’d zoned out when the subject matter of autopsy came up. It was not a conducive starter to the main course.

“Echo?”

A light jab to her arm and Echo came out of her daze. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

Roan shook her head in exasperation as she realized that it had been a bad idea to invite Echo, for lots of reasons. “The waitress wants to know what you want to order for dinner.”

“Oh, of course…sorry, I was miles away. The chicken breast stuffed with garlic, roast potatoes with the vegetables of the day, please.” Echo was hungry and her stomach picked that moment to protest.

“Never fails, Echo eats like a horse. Want a starter? We’ve ordered ours, you could always share.” Recalling several meals they had together and fully expecting Echo to order something, a smile tugged at the corner of Roan’s mouth. Echo had a veritable bottomless pit for a stomach.

Echo felt the tug of the smile as she winked at the gaze holding hers. “How well you know me. What are you having?”

“Steak for the main and garlic prawns on a bed of rice to start.”

Echo chuckled. “You won’t eat all that!”

“Then you can help me out, deal?” Roan grinned and waved her fork playfully in Echo’s direction.

Echo caught those intense eyes again and smiled. She felt her breath grow shallow for a few seconds. “Sounds like a wonderful deal for me.”

Dinner was surprisingly enjoyable with nothing but small talk about career paths, vacations, and entertainment favorites. They trenched happily through starters, the main course, and finally a decadent dessert.

“Since you kindly allowed me to share your starter, Roan, want to share?” Echo picked up a fork full of the double chocolate fudge shortcake and offered it to her.

Roan laughed. “I’m good, thanks. Where do you put all that food? You certainly can’t tell, and believe me, you would in that dress.”

Echo tilted her head slightly and decided to tease her. “Really? You think I’d spill out of the dress?”

Roan pulled a face. “No, of course not. I just thought the seams might creak a little…they always do me. I’ve had to open the top button of my slacks to accommodate what I’ve eaten tonight.”

“I must remember that about you, Lieutenant, and scale down your portions of food in the future. Especially all that junk food you love.” Echo gazed into Roan’s eyes and blinked exaggeratingly.

The couple opposite them laughed at Echo’s actions and turned to Roan.

“She’s got you there, Roan.” Lyn smiled as she saw Roan’s frown.

“Yeah, yeah, everyone’s a critic.” Then, characteristically of Roan, she turned the conversation to the reason they were there. “Nigel, what were you saying about that substance you found in Thom…the victim?”

Echo was digging into the rest of her dessert when she heard the change in Roan’s voice and thought she should listen. She unconsciously offered Roan the last fork full of the chocolaty goodness. Roan, who had forgotten where she was, took the offered treat. It was a natural thing to do.

“…it’s of African origin and virtually unknown on this continent. You need a special permit to get it into the country, so it should be relatively easy to track down. Unless, of course, it’s been smuggled in and you might be looking for a needle in a haystack.” Nigel continued with his observations.

Roan licked her lips of the cream on the shortcake that Echo had poured liberally over the confectionery. “Yeah, it’s a good lead, though. I’ll have to go over all the places that she went and find out where Thompson might have possibly drunk such a concoction.”

“I’ll help on my days off, Roan…do some legwork for you,” Lyn said. “Just tell me what you want me to do.” She had to contain a smirk as she digested this new friendship Roan had undertaken.

Maybe she should get shot more often.

Echo hadn’t been listening properly, especially as she realized after the event that she publicly fed Roan in front of her friends. Roan hadn’t said anything. In fact, she didn’t blink when it happened. When she vaguely heard the name Thompson, she tried to get in at the end of the conversation.

“What did you say?” All eyes turned to her and she gave them a shamefaced look. “Sorry I was…”

“Miles away, probably thinking about your next campaign. Did you know that Echo is the imaginative side of the Austin Agency? Do you remember that ad campaign for women’s underwear that had all the cars crashing in the center of town last year? This is your girl.”

Nigel chuckled. “Wow, and I figured only a man had that kind of imagination.”

Echo basked for a few seconds in Roan’s sudden appreciation of her career. It had been unexpected and therefore all the more wonderful, especially as she thought she heard pride in her voice. In a way, it made up for not sharing an intimate dinner with Roan—almost.

Roan laughed. “Right, I digress. We were talking about your friend. She drank something with an African herb in it. Nigel says that was what killed her once he knew her medical background. Shouldn’t have been a problem for most people, but…” Roan stopped as Echo’s eyes grew wide in amazement.

“She was allergic. The only thing I’ve ever seen her drink is water, and it needing filtering. There’s no way she would have voluntarily drunk anything with a flavor to it.” Echo’s face paled.

Roan didn’t say anything. But Nigel did. “In that case, I’d say she drank it unknowingly. It could have been masked of the flavor, which caused a reaction. Or worse yet…someone forced her to drink it. Either way, it’s a very suspicious situation.”

Deep in thought, Roan rubbed the side of her cheek. “Okay…we’re changing from suicide to murder or accidental death. Looks like all I need to do is find someone who likes African herbs in their tea who knew Thompson and...”

Echo quietly said, “Layla Greystoke.”

Nigel and Lyn stared at the pale woman who sat next to Roan as Roan shifted in her chair and faced Echo.

“How friendly did you two get last night that you know this?” Roan focused intently on Echo’s features.

“Because she gave me some when I went to see her last night. It was a token gesture. With a mind as viciously suspicious as yours, I’m not surprised she told me not to tell you.” Echo gulped as she saw Roan’s arched eyebrows. “A friend of hers smuggled it in, and she didn’t want to be in any trouble,” Echo said as calmly as she could for she was annoyed with Roan’s insinuation.

A quiet descended on the table, and Nigel dragged up Lyn by the hand to stand. “Sorry, folks, but we have early shifts tomorrow. Great to meet you, Echo. I hope we see you again soon. Roan, I’m sure Echo can give you a lift home. Keep us in the loop, Roan, whatever we can do we will. Catch you later.”

†

Minutes later, Nigel and Lyn walked out of the building, and Lyn said, “What was all that about? We have the day off tomorrow.”

“Did you see the expression on Roan’s face? She was livid. Frankly, I’m not sure with who…that Greystoke woman or Echo. I thought we’d best leave it to them.” Nigel shrugged as they continued on their way.

“I’ve known Roan since the academy, and I swear this is the most animated she’s ever been around another human being. What do you make of that?” Lyn asked as they headed for the car.

Nigel paused a moment. “Don’t know…not going to ask…but I think it’s wonderful.”

Lyn chuckled as she clung onto his arm and went up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Yeah, me too. You have to admit that moment when Echo fed her dessert was priceless.”

†

Roan, still dumbfounded by Echo’s admission coupled with Nigel and Lyn’s sudden departure, didn’t know what to say.

Echo, for her part, sat wallowing in the sadness of Karen’s demise. It at least appeared she would have vindication. Then she felt Roan’s gaze on her, turned her head, and looked up.

“That woman, did she insist you drink her confounded concoction?” Roan felt the alien emotion of jealousy running through her veins and threatening to erupt.

“No! She thought it might settle my nerves. Does it matter?” As soon as she spoke, she knew that it did. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking straight.”

Roan shook her head. “Yeah, this is all mixed up. If Karen had inadvertently taken the drink and died from it, why would someone make it look like a suicide? There would have been no suspicion on Greystoke if it was a tragic accident…unless it wasn’t.”

“You think Layla Greystoke had something to do with the case? She’s looked after the less-fortunate all her life. How can you believe that?”

“Easy…people, no matter what you might think, Echo, have a dark side. No one is immune.” Roan mulled over the new development.

“Does that include me?”

Roan frowned. “We all do. Sometimes it’s more a shade of grey, that’s all. Will you give me a lift home? I need to go over the details I have collected before I take the next step forward.”

Echo automatically nodded. Then she looked at Roan, who seemed to be looking through her as if she didn’t exist. What a fool I was to think I mattered. “We’d better pay the bill.”

Forty minutes later, they were outside Roan’s brownstone. The conversation between them on the journey there had been minimal. As Echo stopped her car outside Roan’s home, she reflected on the possibility that this might well be the last time she and Roan were alone together. “Okay, super sleuth…I hope you get your man, or in this case, woman.”

Roan, preoccupied with the case, was startled slightly at the appearance of her building. “Thanks.” She opened the car door and withdrew from the vehicle.

“Good night, Roan.” Echo revved the engine to depart.

Roan, engrossed in thought, almost ignored the good night. She spun around and waved at Echo. “Good, night, call me when you arrive home.”

“Even if it’s really late; I could be heading out now on a date.” Echo couldn’t help the slight jibe. Then rolling her eyes, Echo shook her head and pulled the car away from the sidewalk.

Roan watched her go with the words echoing around her, as she muttered under her breath, “She’s going on a date? I guess I should have known. She wouldn’t exactly dress like that for me.” Roan frowned as she contemplated her own words. How did she feel about that? Like crap. She knew that something had changed between them. It was subtle, but it was a change. What it was for the life of her, she couldn’t fathom, and at the moment, she needed all of her attention for the Thompson case. The provocative question was, should she call her uncle with the update on the case?

†

Echo did as requested and called Roan soon after she entered her apartment. The conversation was brief, and Echo chalked that up to Roan being otherwise preoccupied with the case. Although frustration and a kernel of anger at Roan’s indifference irked Echo, she accepted the coldness of the call as being her fault. She’d been the one to persuade Roan to take the case, so why should she be jealous that her dead friend was having more attention lavished on her than she was? The irony of it all made her laugh aloud.

Looking around her apartment, she felt the calming effect of her decorative prowess enfold her. She kicked off her shoes and sank into the red leather armchair she loved. As she did, she reflected what her taste and Roan’s would be like if they lived together—eclectic.

Then a sobering thought caused her to frown. She was assuming that Roan might be gay. There was no outward evidence that she was. “Except when she looks at me, I know she feels something. I could, of course, be laboring under a false sense of hope, which wouldn’t be the first time and certainly not the last.” She shook her head at the absurdity of talking to herself.

She stood and checked the clock. It was almost eleven and she felt drained. She glanced down at her dress. “Well, that was a hundred dollars I could have spent on something more practical. I wonder if there’s a manual out there on how to get a girl interested in me for keeps. Here I go talking to myself again…darn, I’m getting too old for this.”

She locked her door and entered her bedroom, where she keyed in the code to set the alarm for the rest of the apartment. The fluffy pink bedroom accessories and the modern white furniture greeted her. “When was the last time I had a meaningful sexual relationship?” With a resigned sigh, she walked to the bathroom and said one word in answer to the question she posed. “Never.”

Her thoughts slid to Karen. Over the years, they’d slipped into an easygoing relationship. They had loved each other, she knew that, but being in love—no, she now knew what it was to be in love. What she felt for Karen had never been anything like the roller coaster she was going through emotionally with Roan.

Life was a real heartbreaker as it dawned on her that she was in love with Roan Keating.

Chapter Fourteen

Roan paced her uncle’s outer office, and when the man behind the desk gave her several looks, she ground her teeth. Screw him, she thought, as he cleared his throat quietly at every turn she made.

Robert Douglas had worked with her uncle for ten years. He had been a clerical aide to her grand-father before he died of a heart attack at his desk while on the job. Roan was fourteen at the time.

As she grew older, Douglas had tried to persuade her to go out with him on several occasions when she had a meeting with her uncle. Of course, those meetings always ended in an argument, and Roan would storm out of the office. Her last rebuff had been extremely caustic and he ceased asking her out. Since that time, he’d stoked the fire more than once in the embittered battle between uncle and niece.

Douglas seemed to have enough of the pacing. “He’s going to be at least another fifteen minutes, Lieutenant. If this room gives you claustrophobia, why don’t you get yourself a cup of coffee or take a walk?”

Roan curled her lip. She didn’t like him. He was a slime ball. She classified him as someone you would never take home to meet the parents unless you were scraping the bottom of the barrel and someone had a gun to your head. She had a physical abhorrence for the man. “I’ll wait.”

She knew the clipped words angered the mild-mannered man.

It was hardly rocket science as to why she and her uncle didn’t get along. Roan knew her manner was brash and cold; her uncle, in complete contrast, was warm and enthusiastic. However, she heard the rumor mill. Her uncle’s enthusiasm manifested itself mainly with women…particularly the young ones. He liked to flirt. There had been rumors that rattled the doors now and again that his preference was for very young women, but that had only been rumor. Besides, he was divorced, so there were no barriers to his predilections, except the odd distention of certain supporters—older females.

“As you please. I heard through the grapevine that you’re in line for the medal of bravery. Pity you didn’t save the cop that died. Did you know that he had a young family?”

Roan stared at him. He was balding and bespectacled and had put on more and more weight over the years. The man knew every detail that Mahoney did about the shooting. She’d tried and failed to shield Bill Trimble.

She really didn’t know much about the man who dumbly tried to rush the house before the SWAT team was in place. Trimble had only become her partner the day before. It was hoped that he could learn from her. Her injury meant she couldn’t attend his funeral. Since that time, her own incapacity had prevented her from going to see his family. A timely reminder of something she had to do sooner rather than later. “The man who died deserves the medal,” she replied coldly.

Douglas caught her distaste of him in her glare. “I’m sure he did. I’ll save my congratulations until the event. Is there anything I can help you with…rather than continuing to wait?”

“No.” Roan kept on with her pacing, and Douglas resumed his irritated gaze.

Noise from inside the chief’s office increased as the voices grew louder. The door opened and her uncle’s visitor walked out with a grim expression.

Roan knew the man. He was the commander of the tenth precinct. He was a fine officer and one she would have no trouble working with. “Commander Dillian, good to see you again.”

Commander Dillian, who was about the same age as her uncle, nodded. “Lieutenant Keating, it’s good to see that you’re up and around.” He gave her a brief smile before he said, “Good morning,” and left abruptly.

Roan shook her head imperceptibly. Her uncle had been a reasonable cop in his time, but he had never been the caliber of the man who just left the room. Her uncle had known all the right people and worked every angle to his advantage to gain selection for the job of chief. Added to that was the fact that he was the only son of a very successful and notable past chief. There were rumors that he had been instrumental in the removal of the man who replaced her grandfather in office to further his own goals.

“Ah, Roan, now what have I done to deserve the pleasure of your company this morning? I only have ten minutes.” Mahoney took in the disheveled appearance of his only living relative.

“It won’t take that long.” Roan followed him inside the office.

The large man motioned for her to sit on one of the sofas and he sat in the one opposite. It was then that she saw his flat expression.

“You know, your mother would be turning in her grave if she could see you now. She was always so proud of her appearance and look at you.” He waved a hand up and down her body. “Tell me…do you ever see a hairdresser?”

Inwardly, Roan groaned. “We’ve been over this time and time again. I don’t give a squat about my appearance as long as I get the job done. That’s all that matters.”

Mahoney looked down at his well-manicured hands and reflected on his immaculate appearance. “You’ll go further if you take more care in the way you look. It’s a package deal…even in the force. How have you been?”

“I’ll get my rewards by hard work and results.” Roan ignored his forced solicitude over her health.

Mahoney sneered. He loved his older sister and thought she’d made a great match when she married the young rising star of the district attorney’s office, Joseph Keating. Although, he’d never been sure if their father, who was in his first year as chief, didn’t play an integral part in the man’s wooing. Still, Jane had been happy, and when they’d had the twins, it all looked like things were going to work out. They would have had control of the police in the city and the district attorney’s office within ten years…until the accident.

“You haven’t asked me why I’m here, and I have,” Roan glanced at her watch, “less than five minutes to tell you.” She had seen the look before. Her uncle was lost in the past because it was how she looked on the odd occasion she took that journey. It always seemed to remain in their eyes for sometime after the memory passed.

“We both know I will not throw you out until we’re done. However, by all means, tell me why you’re here.” He pierced her with a sharp gaze.

“That case you asked me to recheck...the Thompson case. Nothing suicidal about it. Pure murder. I want it reopened with more manpower to track down the killer. If she didn’t kill herself, the chances are she didn’t kill the woman in her apartment.”

Mahoney sighed heavily. “You have proof of that statement, I assume.”

Roan blew out an irritated breath. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

Mahoney mulled over the statement. “Tell me what makes you convinced that it’s murder and not an accidental death.”

Roan flipped a document case on the coffee table between them. “Read it and you’ll understand. Somehow accidental doesn’t fit.”

A few minutes later and after several deep breaths, Mahoney raised his eyebrows and glanced in her direction. “This is a very sensitive matter. I know quite a few local dignitaries, not to mention international ones, who will be shocked and unbelieving by what you presume…including me. The scandal could be devastating. Thank, God, I haven’t publicly announced my support of the project.” He shook his head. “Robert will need to do some nifty moves to remove us from any fallout.”

“Is that it? Is that all you can say? Christ, a woman…no two women are dead…and all you can think about is your damned fool reputation. You said my mother would be turning in her grave, hell, Grandpa would be clawing his way out of the ground at your attitude.”

“Enough, young lady, you don’t know anything about your grandfather.”

“I do! He taught me what was right and wrong. He made me understand that sometimes the right thing doesn’t always happen, but to keep the faith that it eventually would. I loved him more in my little finger than you ever did in all your life. You’re as shallow as a river in a drought. If you don’t give me what I need, I’ll do this myself, then we’ll see who comes out smelling like roses,” Roan screamed.

Mahoney watched the display of anger and didn’t say anything; it was a first. Roan was the calmest person he’d ever met. Nothing seemed to faze her, but this case did and he found that interesting. “I’ll authorize the help. Just remember two things in all this.”

“What?”

“If all goes well, I will want the credit as is due my office...”

Roan scowled and supplied the rest of the sentence. “…if it goes belly up, you are not involved at all. I have to carry the black mark on my record. Is that about right?”

Mahoney smiled. “Perfectly. I always knew there was an area where we understood each other.”

Roan stood and flicked back her untidy hair. “If I fail, you can have my badge.” She departed the office and slammed the door behind her.

“Trust me, my dear, I’ll place your head on a spit, niece or no niece, then take your badge and fill it full of lead at the target range .” He walked over to his desk and buzzed his aide.

†

Sunday for Echo was her rejuvenation day. She didn’t work out or look at anything related to her job. Simply, Sunday was her chill day.

Echo padded in her slippers to the kitchen. Yawning, she flicked on the kettle and looked at the clock—it was almost noon.

“Whoa, I bet Roan is up and about doing all kinds of detective stuff and I’ve been lazing in bed. I wonder if she ever just stays in bed because she can. Yeah, right. She’s just like Karen, focused on what is right. Maybe that’s why I like her so much…she reminds me of Karen in lots of ways. Weird, though, we do argue a lot and I can’t remember a time that Karen and I ever fought in the fifteen years we knew each other. Oh, crap, here I am talking to myself again.”

Pouring the now boiled water into a cup of instant coffee, she contemplated her day—nothing exciting. She gave a bitter laugh. “Yeah, nothing exciting. Karen was murdered and we think we know the culprit and that’s not exciting. I’ve been around Roan too long, that’s for sure.”

Echo looked at the calendar on her wall and groaned. It was her week to call her parents. “I guess I’d better get it over with.” She dialed the number.

“Hello?” her mother said.

“Hi, how are you doing?” Echo held the phone away from her ear.

“Well, young lady, it’s about time you called. We’ve been worried sick about you.”

Echo smiled and began the placation process. “I know. I’m sorry, Mom.” It wasn’t the first time she’d called later than normal, but with Karen’s death, her parents now had jitters. “I went back to work, and it’s been a long week. How about you and Dad, how are you doing?”

They carried on a general conversation for several minutes until her mom began on her favorite topic. “Are you dating anyone? I think if you are, you should bring her home with you next weekend. Mind you, I have a fallback if you don’t. We can’t have you all alone. You have remembered it’s our wedding anniversary, haven’t you?”

Echo grimaced. With everything that had been going on in her life, she’d totally forgotten. It was their fortieth and there was no way she could not attend the party. “Yeah, I remembered, Mom. I haven’t got a…” Just then, the doorbell rang and Echo debated the wisdom of ending the call. “Hold on a minute, someone’s at the door.”

Echo ran to the door, opened it without checking the spy hole, and was amazed to see Roan standing there. “Hi,” she said as she sucked in a breath.

“Hi. Look, I know this might be inconvenient, but I wanted to give you an update. I brought lunch.” She held up two brown paper bags.

Echo shook her head as the thought of food hit home. “Come on in, I’m on the phone with my mom.”

Roan watched Echo speed across the floor and pick up the phone again. She followed, taking in the brightly lit modern décor that matched the furniture perfectly. She decided it was in keeping with Echo’s personality. Then she walked inside the open area that the sunlight streamed into through a picture window that had a view of the city below.

“Where do you want me to put these?” Roan whispered as she pointed at the bags.

Echo placed a hand over the mouthpiece. “On the kitchen counter.”

Echo closed her eyes as she realized she hadn’t quite covered the whole mouthpiece. “Why didn’t you say you were entertaining? Is this the new girlfriend? Do I get a name? Your father and I will be annoyed if you turn up alone next week.”

“Yes, Mom. Her name is Roan and she’s…”

“That’s a man’s name. Isn’t that a little odd? Is it short for something else?”

With an exasperated sigh, Echo looked at Roan, who had an amused smile on her face as she flicked idly through magazine pages. Darn it, Roan, are you laughing at me? “Roan, my mother wants to know if that’s your given name or if it’s a shortened version of a name.” Roan chuckled, and it took all of Echo’s inner strength not to go weak at the knees at the sound.

“Rowena Anne…after my two grandmothers.”

Echo licked her lips, which had gone dry, along with her throat, as she got another glimpse into Roan’s personal life. “You heard that, Mom? Yes, I’ll tell her or better still, you do it.” Echo thrust the phone out, and Roan blinked at her in surprise and automatically took it.

“Mrs. Radar.” Roan’s face was nonplussed as she listened, then raised her eyebrows a fraction.

“I’d be delighted. Sure, I’ll have Echo provide me with all the details. Hmm, no, I’m sure that I can find a hotel. I wouldn’t want you to go to any trouble. Goodbye, Mrs. Radar…oh, okay, Maggie. See you next week then.” Roan passed the phone back to an astonished and almost dumbstruck Echo, who wished her mother goodbye and replaced the receiver on the wall.

With amazement reflected in her saucer-like gaze, Echo said, “She let you call her Maggie? I’ve never ever heard her say that to anyone…even Karen always called her Mrs. Radar. I never knew you had it in you to be so polite.”

Roan pursed her lips and frowned. “Must have liked something in my voice, I guess. Sorry, she invited me to the anniversary bash next weekend. I figured it was easier to say yes than take up too much of her time. She told me not to bother to find a hotel, that I was welcome at the house. Does she invite all strangers she’s never met or heard about to the house to stay?”

“No, of course not! Look, when she heard me speak to you, she figured I had a new…well, let’s forget it. I’ll make up a story next week why you couldn’t come. In your line of work, I’m sure that would have been entirely impossible anyway.” Echo didn’t want to say “girlfriend” aloud for a part of her wanted to keep her head in the sand over Roan’s sexual orientation.

“Probably,” Roan said.

Echo looked in Roan’s direction. Is she disappointed…surely not. “I think you said you came to update me.” Echo changed the subject.

Roan moved to the kitchen where the paper bags with the sandwiches she’d brought for lunch were. “Here, let’s eat while I tell you. I haven’t had breakfast yet, and I need to take my meds…not good on an empty stomach.”

“Yeah, I’m hungry, too. You’ll think I’m decadent…I only got up about half an hour ago. What did you bring?” Echo gratefully took the offered bag, and when she opened it, a smile filled her face. “My favorite sub…cayenne chicken with all the trimmings.

Scratching above her left eye, Roan smiled. “I remembered from when you brought them to my place for lunch one day.” She sat on the stool next to Echo and took a large bite of her beef and hot mustard sub.

“Do you remember everything?” Echo sank her teeth into her sandwich with relish.

Roan wiped her hand across her mouth with a napkin. “Mostly. I’m good at putting a place with a name, and that goes for people, too. It’s an asset in my job.” She gazed around the room. “I like the décor.”

Echo felt a rush of pleasure surge through her at the simple compliment. “It’s one of my many talents. Is that really your name…Rowena Anne?”

Roan chuckled. “Yes…want to see my birth certificate? My twin sister couldn’t get her tongue ’round the name when we were young, and it was a natural nickname, I guess.”

Echo could have fallen off the stool at another piece of personal information that had dropped naturally into the conversation. “I…I didn’t know you had a twin.”

Their gazes locked for a few interminable seconds. “How would you? I never mentioned her before. Talking of family, I went to see my uncle, and the offshoot is, he’ll authorize the reopening of the case and I’ll get more help. Probably won’t see any benefit of that for a few days, but at least we can make a case against Greystoke and bring her in for questioning.”

Echo, munching on her sandwich, was quiet. Her thoughts were chaotic.

“What’s bugging you, Echo?” Roan finally asked as the silence grew.

With a guilty look, Echo lifted her gaze and found herself caught in Roan’s intense stare.

“Nothing…I’m really pleased. Soon this will all be over,”

Echo finally muttered.

Roan nodded as she polished off her sub. “Well, it isn’t all cut and dried, but we have a fairly solid background on which to bring in Greystoke. At least now you know your friend didn’t intentionally take her life.”

“I always knew that,” Echo said softly. Her gaze traveled to the sideboard and the photos there. “We had a lot of good times. She was a wonderful person.”

As Roan heard the softly spoken words, she felt a twinge of envy at the obvious bond the two women shared. Although she knew many people and a few she called close friends, none gave her that feeling. It made her sense for the first time that she was missing out on an integral part of life. “I’m sure you did. Well, I’d better get moving. I want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row for tomorrow. You know how that is.”

Echo moved her gaze from the photos and looked at Roan, and her breath caught as their eyes connected. For Echo, it was as if her body coupled with Roan’s body. They took the same breath of air and moved in exactly the same direction, as her heart appeared to be blending with Roan’s heart. Without taking her eyes off Roan, she reached over and touched her cheek before giving it a gentle caress. “Be careful and take it easy. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Don’t forget you’re not supposed to do anything really strenuous yet.”

The words broke the spell they were both under as Roan moved from her seat and shuffled from foot to foot. “Sure…I’ll let myself out.”

Echo dared not move. In that moment, what had been hazy became perfectly clear. She was in love with Roan. It made perfect sense, and at the same time, it made none at all. Bizarre and impossible…the list went on. None of the words she used to describe Roan took away the feeling that she wanted to walk on air and shout it above the rooftops. As the door shut behind Roan, Echo shook herself out of her dream world. She knew her love could only ever exist in that realm—reality and Roan weren’t going to cooperate.

†

“You need to leave town! Now would be suitable, but if you can’t arrange that, it has to be within the next four hours.”

“I don’t understand. You know I can’t do that. I have a charity ball to attend tonight for the project.”

“There won’t be a project in twenty-four hours. The Thompson case had to be reopened officially, and apparently, your name is now at the top of the list of suspects.”

“I don’t understand. That’s impossible! How have they connected me to her in that way? She worked with me…there’s no evidence…none at all. That’s what you promised me.” Greystoke’s voice imploded on the line.

“It’s out of my hands now. I suggest you quit the hysterics and leave. We can’t speak again…it’ll be too tricky. Good luck.”

“You can’t just abandon me! Remember I know too much!”

“Meet me in the alley next to the church in half an hour and

I’ll make some arrangements for you.”

Layla felt the tears forming. This isn’t how it was supposed to be. “Can I trust you?”

“Do you have a choice? Half an hour…if you’re not there…”

“I’ll be there.”

Chapter Fifteen

Roan arrived home slightly bewildered. Her hand glided down the side of her cheek where Echo had touched her fingers earlier and told her to be careful. When the fingers caressed her cheek, it felt scorched, now the flesh was cold. After she let herself into her home, she climbed two flights of stairs to enter the large studio that had a magnificent vista of the bay and the surrounding hills. In a daze, she looked out onto the city.

The studio was where her mother would spend hours painting. Several of her landscapes adorned the walls. According to her grandfather, when her grandmother died, her mother was ten and he had the window put in for her mom who had shown a talent at an early age for painting the skyline. It had been her mother’s favorite place until she married and left the house to have a family of her own. It was where Echo often gravitated when Roan had been taking a nap, particularly during the weekends. She speculated that it probably called to Echo’s creative nature as it had her mother.

Then her mind traveled to the car accident that had killed her parents and her twin when she was eight. That’s when she came to live in the house with her grandfather. After her grandfather’s death, it had been a cause of disagreement with her uncle that he’d left the brownstone and all of the possessions in it to her.

For several years, the house went unused while she went to college and spent two years training at the Lawrence City Police Department. Since arriving back in La Toura and living in the brownstone, she hardly ever ventured into the room. A part of her felt like she didn’t fit there, or perhaps Echo had been right—she was afraid to acknowledge the pain of missing her parents and her sister. The only link she had with them was in her mother’s studio where the feelings of loss were most acute.

She focused on the coffee table and the magazines strewn across it. Everything from fashion to cooking. She was sure that Echo’s penchant for retrieving every magazine published weekly or monthly must have cost a fortune. It brought up a memory of a conversation they’d had about the reading material...

Roan picked up the newest edition of a famous fashion magazine and flicked through the contents. It bored her silly as she dropped it on the coffee table. Then she turned her attention to the woman indolently lying on the large sofa, her feet pulled up in a fetal position as she read another magazine. It was a car magazine that had a red sports car adorning the front cover. Frowning, Roan rolled her tongue over her teeth. “Why so many?”

Echo lifted her gaze from the magazine. With a smile, she replied, “I could ask why so many what?” At the raising of Roan’s eyebrows, she grinned. “However, it’s all part of knowing the marketplace.”

“Okay, but isn’t it a bit diverse?” Roan picked up a cookery magazine and felt her stomach rumble as she looked at the delicious dishes. At least that one had a purpose.

Echo moved her legs, swung them from the sofa, and moved to pick up several of the publications. “That’s the idea. In all these magazines, there’s one theme…how to sell a product to the public. You have to follow trends. If you don’t, your market campaigns become stale and with it your reputation. You can’t guarantee that what sold yesterday will necessarily be a winner today or tomorrow, do you understand?”

“Right, but some things come back into fashion.” Roan gave the recipe for cheese muffins another look; it called her name.

“Yes, they do, and it’s the change in tide you have to look for and these help.” She pointed to a kids’ magazine. “Take you, for instance…you’ve looked at that page for more than a cursory glance. Any advertising exec worth their salt would have noticed that, and for you, that particular information works. What is it anyway?” Echo chuckled as she looked at Roan’s puckered brow.

Roan cocked her head to one side and narrowed her eyes. “As you’re the hotshot advertising guru, you tell me.”

“That’s not fair,” Echo said in a mock wail as she stood.

“Are you chicken and don’t want to lose that reputation you have?” Roan teased.

Echo felt her heart beat faster as she heard the tone in Roan’s voice. It was another first in their developing relationship, and it warmed her all over…perhaps too much. “Okay, I’ll take the bait. Let me see now. I didn’t bring any publications on police tactics or guns. Therefore,” she glanced at the coffee table and the items still there. “I deduce it’s a recipe of some sort.” She crossed her arms over her chest and had a smug smile on her face.

Roan laughed. “You’d make a good detective.”

Echo took the magazine from Roan’s hands and their fingers touched. Once more, that jolt of connection flooded her body. To take her mind off the feeling, she began to read the magazine cover.  “Ah, savory muffins…my favorite. Want me to make a batch?”

Roan didn’t speak at first. She stood there, glanced down at her fingers, and was lost in thought until their contact severed. When she looked up, Echo was engrossed in the recipe. “I’d like that.”

Echo smiled and began to walk toward the stairs. “You stay here and I’ll be back in half an hour, tops.”

There were too many past memories in the room for Roan to stay there by herself. Before she went downstairs, she looked around. Without Echo in the room, it was cold and lonely. “I don’t know why you make me feel the way you do, Echo, but each time we meet, I feel like I’m part of the normal world and fit in. I hope you want to keep up our friendship when all this is over because I don’t think I want to go back to living my life without you in it.” She shrugged, gave the room one last look, and went downstairs to her study.

†

Captain Sofia Renaldo threw her hands in the air in a gesture of irritation. “I don’t goddamn believe this! We have a warrant for the Greystoke Project building, and you’re telling me that the Greystoke woman is nowhere to be found.”

Detective Painter arrived at Layla Greystoke’s apartment at seven that morning to serve several warrants to search her home, the church, and the project’s office along with taking her in for questioning. “Sorry, Captain. I tried the bell and door several times…it even woke up some of the neighbors. They said she went out around lunchtime yesterday, but no one saw her return. Apparently, her cat has been meowing all night to get out.”

“Did you get the building’s super to open it up?”

“Yes, ma’am. The cat shot out of the apartment, but Greystoke wasn’t there, and there was no sign of anything unusual.”

Flicking back her dark black hair, Renaldo shook her head.

“Who’s at the project offices?”

“Lieutenant Keating, ma’am…I checked with her…Greystoke hasn’t turned up there, either.”

“Go replace Keating and tell her to get her ass back here right now!”

After Painter left, Renaldo sank into her chair. “This is just great…the prime suspect has gone into hiding, and we have no other leads. Shit, I can’t wait until the chief hears about this.”

“Captain…Chief Mahoney on the line,” one of her detectives said.

“Oh, great, just great.” With a fake smile plastered on her face, she picked up her phone. “Good morning, Chief, how can I help…”

†

Echo woke up and felt remarkably refreshed after her soul searching before she fell asleep the night before. When this was over and Karen and Shelby got true justice, she was going to ask for a transfer to the office upstate. A part of her wanted to get as far away as she could from what was familiar, and that meant Roan. Stan wouldn’t stand in her way. He wanted her to remain at the agency, and most likely, she wouldn’t be gone for good. She’d take it a day at a time and possibly stay there for a few months or a year. But there was the part of her vying to tell Roan of her love and let matters take its course. At least then, she’d know where she stood.

As she entered the lobby of her office building, she smiled at the receptionist who returned the gesture, and Echo saw the young woman give her an appreciative once-over. It made her smile slightly. At least she knew she was attractive and not letting her appearance go, unlike Roan who could do with one of those television makeovers. Then she sighed as she stepped into the elevator with three others. Roan again! The woman seemed to be taking over her every waking thought.

Five minutes later, Echo was in her corner office with a perfect view of the bay, and she watched the heavy traffic drift by as she nursed a cup of steaming coffee. Her thoughts drifted to the times she’d spent at Roan’s home and the glorious panorama she had of the bay and the mountains. She stood silently for what appeared ages until her assistant said, “Good morning, Echo.”

Echo turned and smiled. “Hi, Kelly, did you have a good weekend?”

The woman grinned. “Sure did…he proposed at last!” A finger was thrust in her direction, and a small but very pretty engagement ring adorned Kelly’s finger.

Echo smiled warmly and hugged her assistant. “Congratulations. It’s about time. How long is it now…ten years?”

They both chuckled. “At times, I wondered why I stuck around for so long. I thought he was going to wait until I retired.”

Echo grinned. “Why did he leave it so long?”

The woman with a dreamy expression said, “He said he wanted to have everything perfect. As you know, we’re both orphans. He’s saved up a certain amount of money and invested in things that I didn’t even know about. Now he’s able to pay for the works…a honeymoon in Europe and he gave me the deed to the house we’ve been renting since we moved in together. I thought he must have robbed a bank…but he didn’t. He wanted us to be financially secure so we can start a family right after the wedding. Karen always said he was a dark horse but with the right intentions, and she was right. I wish….” Kelly abruptly stopped speaking.

Echo knew what Kelly meant. “Hey,” she said as she touched the woman’s arm. “Wherever she is, she’ll be raising that glass of sparkling water in your honor.”

Kelly smiled. “I know. You’ll come to the wedding, won’t you? You can bring a friend. I’m going to send out the invites, of course, but I wanted to ask you personally.”

Echo chuckled. “Try and keep me away. In fact, try to keep anyone from here away. Stan will probably do a special slogan for you when he finds out.”

Kelly left only to return moments later. “I meant to give you this on Friday, but things got a bit hectic.”

Puzzled, Echo looked at the folder and the familiar writing on it. “That’s one of Karen’s. Why would I want it? Shouldn’t Stan…”

Kelly interrupted, “No. If you open the file, you’ll see a note that says ‘for Echo’s eyes only.’ Sara found it when she was sorting through some of the older files.” She handed Echo the folder and left, closing the door behind her.

Echo placed her coffee on the desk and sat in her chair. She unclipped the envelope with the letter and opened it.

Echo,

Sorry I’ve not been very attentive lately. We’ll have that dinner and catch up when you come back from Thanksgiving. I’m going to do the full works at the holiday for Shelby. I made a promise and I’ll honor it. Though I would have liked to be with you this Thanksgiving, especially after you kissed me. We need to talk about that, too.

Anyway, Shelby’s a young woman who has seen too much and experienced even more. I can’t say she and I are alike, but many of my old wounds opened the day I met her.

Last night, she confided in me about a man who’s been stalking her, or at least that’s what she thinks. He was one of her main clients from almost the first day she became a prostitute. You’ll never believe who it is, and I’ll tell you when we catch up after the holiday. I know I shouldn’t say anything, but it kind of makes you wonder about people. I saw him with Layla Greystoke a week ago when we had that special meeting with potential supporters. Shelby nearly freaked. Now I know why. Anyway, here are the notes I took at the meeting, along with some photos. I hope you will do your magic on the marketing.

Love you,

Karen

Echo sat back in her chair as tears flowed unchecked as she read the last words her friend probably had ever penned. She opened the folder and took out the notes from the meeting and the photos. As she looked them over, she frowned as she glanced at one, then back at another. A name kept screaming out at her—Chief Mahoney. As preposterous as it sounded, her thoughts found a voice.

“He likes young women. I know I read about it in the newspaper not too long ago. He could make a case like this one virtually disappear…perhaps he tried. Did he place obstacles in the way once I started questioning the conclusion? He gave the case to Roan, maybe as insurance, thinking she wouldn’t implicate him. I can’t believe she would hide things because it’s her uncle, though. She’d bring the killer to justice…it’s her nature. Is it possible that the chief was Shelby’s client? He wouldn’t want it public, and if he saw her that day at the sponsorship meeting, maybe he wanted to get rid of her.”

As she considered all the points aloud, it gave more emphasis to the notion that it all made perfect sense. “Do I tell Roan of my suspicions is the big question.”

For a few minutes, she sat quietly as she weighed the pros and cons of telling Roan. She made a decision and dialed a number on her cell.

Chapter Sixteen

There was a silence in the room as Roan and Renaldo faced each other. Then the captain finally said, “Your uncle called. He said that unless you have a cast iron case, you couldn’t put out an APB on Layla Greystoke. Do we have that, Lieutenant?”

Roan heaved a heavy sigh, then gave Renaldo a steady gaze. “I think when you read the file again, you’ll see we have sufficient cause to ask a judge to sign a warrant for her arrest.”

“I’ve read it several times. It’s all circumstantial and you know it. Any judge…even a sympathetic one…will throw it back at us.”

“If the chief wasn’t involved, would you have hesitated?”

“Don’t get all righteous on me, Lieutenant. He has a point. What if the woman is innocent? Hauling her over the coals won’t help our case. How do you think that would play out on the news? She does great things for this city…you can’t deny that.”

Roan shook her head. “I don’t. Just because she does good deeds doesn’t mean she couldn’t commit murder.”

Renaldo nodded in agreement. “Maybe it wasn’t murder. Have you thought that it might have been accidental? Maybe she didn’t know that the woman was allergic.”

“And that allows her to fake a suicide? I thought we didn’t give credence to celebrity status,” Roan said in what she thought was a calm tone.

Renaldo allowed the acid remark to go unchallenged. Roan was still officially on sick leave. She’d talk to Mahoney about replacing her as lead detective on the case, her lack of respect told its own story—she wasn’t fit to return to duty.

“People do the strangest things under pressure, Lieutenant. You of all people should appreciate that. I’m taking into account some of the things you’ve done in the past and in the present situation. Who instigated the findings? Your newfound best buddy or your own intuition? Exactly how well do you really know the woman who persuaded you to look at the case again? Maybe she has an ulterior motive.”

Roan frowned. “She does.”

“So I was right…there’s more to this than meets the eye.” Renaldo sighed heavily.

“Not really. Echo wants what we all want…justice. Right now the people she expected to help her are the ones avoiding taking the step to allow her to have that.” Roan’s expression remained calm, yet inwardly she wanted to walk out of the room and slam the door in the captain’s face. It might help her control the simmering anger she was developing.

Renaldo sat at her desk. “I’ll give it more consideration, but I don’t see how we can get a warrant. You can go now. Why not go home and take a nap or read a book? You’re still on sick leave until next week.”

Roan scowled. “Only because you’re enforcing the full term.”

“Roan…you never take time off. You had a near fatal shooting and decided to leave the hospital without your doctor’s consent. You almost died. Why don’t you use some of that vacation time you have? Go chill out on a beach someplace and take your friend. She’s probably as washed out as you are with all that’s gone on in the past few months. The world will still be falling apart when you get back. Unfortunately, that’s a certainty these days.” Renaldo glanced back at the file on Layla Greystoke. There was no way a judge would sanction an arrest warrant.

Disliking the personal reference to Echo, Roan asked, “Is that an order, Captain?”

Renaldo gave Roan a long hard look and shook her head. “No, Lieutenant, merely a gentle reminder that there’s more to life than death.”

Roan nodded and began to leave the room before spinning back around. “Sometimes dedication to what is right means you have to sacrifice life to bring justice to the dead.”

Renaldo let out a held breath at Roan’s words. “I hope you don’t lose yours to make your point.”

†

Echo called Roan on her cell. As usual, it automatically went to messages. She was of two minds as to what to do next. Wait for Roan to call, which was the logical action or…go and see Mahoney with her folder and see what his reaction was. She could meet with him on the premise that she agreed to help on the marketing angle for the project, and someone told her that he was the contact. It was partly the truth.

It was a no-brainer. She needed to wait for Roan. Her deductions could be wrong, and in turn, that could cause trouble between Mahoney and Roan. She didn’t want that. She couldn’t overlook the fact that if the chief was a murderer, she would put herself in danger by confronting him.

Her phone rang and she reached for it hoping it was Roan. It wasn’t. “Can you join me in my office?” Stan said. “A potential new client whose business could put us in the stratosphere is due in an hour.”

Echo smiled. “Stan, you say that about every client.” She chuckled and heard him do the same. “Sure, I’ll be with you in five minutes.” The phone went dead and she replaced the receiver on its cradle. Roan would have to wait. She picked up her writing case and headed for Stan’s office.

†

“Anything change since I was here last?” Roan asked the detective who had replaced her earlier.

The young man shook his head. “No…a couple of derelicts tried to get in but moved on when it was locked. A gang appeared in the street half an hour ago. They disappeared, too, when they saw me. No sign of Greystoke.”

“Crap.” Her gaze roamed the area, and she placed her hand over her mouth in concentration.

“We could always break in, Lieutenant. Don’t we have a warrant?”

Roan raised her eyebrows. “I don’t need you to remind me of that.” Her gaze traveled to the old church and the surrounding buildings. Except for the twenty-four-hour grocery store on the corner, most were dilapidated. “Come on, Painter, we’ll ask some questions at the grocery store on the corner.”

As they headed into the store, Roan’s cell beeped and she saw Echo’s name on the display. She almost answered but decided to let it go to voice mail. There really wasn’t time to speak with Echo. She needed all the time she could get before Renaldo found out she hadn’t gone home.

Ten minutes later and not much to show for their efforts, the two detectives left the store and wandered back to the squad car. “What next, Lieutenant? Sit around and wait for Greystoke to turn up? Someone could have tipped her off. She has powerful friends.”

Roan had considered that, but the only people who knew about the warrant were her uncle and Echo. She felt in her gut that neither of them would have informed Greystoke. “Let me make a call.” She turned her back on the detective and pressed Echo’s number on her cell.

The call went to Echo’s voice mail, and Roan didn’t leave a message. Instead, she reached inside her jacket and pulled out an old notebook. Once she found the number of the Austin Agency, she dialed the number.

“Austin Agency, may I help you?” a female voice asked.

“Yes, this is Lieutenant Keating. I need to speak with Ms. Radar.”

“Let me check.”

Roan heard a twenty-second blast of ‘My Kind of Town’ while she waited for the woman’s return.

“I’m sorry…Ms. Radar is in a meeting. If it’s urgent, I can pull her out, Lieutenant.”

Roan frowned. “No, thanks for your time.”

“She’s due back by lunch…do you want me to give her a message?”

“No message. I’ll call her later.” Roan ended the call and debated her next action. She turned back to Painter. “What was that you said about entering the church?”

He gave a grin as they returned to the squad car to go back down the street toward the building.

†

It had been a longer session than Echo anticipated when she met with Stan. She hadn’t expected to meet with the prospective new client, but Stan insisted. The client wanted her view of every product in their portfolio, and to her, it seemed like an endless corridor with no end in sight. Fortunately, Stan had another appointment for lunch and managed to extricate them tactfully from the meeting. After the client left, Echo heaved a sigh of relief and raised her eyebrows in Stan’s direction.

“Tough going, Echo…I think you won him over with that last idea you had for his cereal campaign.”

They both laughed as she glanced at the cheesy slogan she’d come up with. A cartoon drawing she’d marked on the art board. “Yeah, I guess. If he goes for it, may I recommend Jeff as my replacement? He’s a great cartoonist.”

The older man smiled. “I’ll consider it. Now, my dear, how are you doing?”

“Good, thanks for asking. The police have reopened Karen’s case. They now think it wasn’t suicide. They’re cautious about saying exactly what they think, but accidental death is a possibility.” Echo stood to leave, then smiled slightly. “How would it be if I worked out of the upstate office for six months?”

Stan’s smile froze as he motioned for her to sit. “That’s rather sudden. I always thought you hated it there.”

“I do, but with everything that’s happened lately, I need a change. It isn’t for good, just six months…maybe a year.”

“I know Karen’s death has been hard on you, but you love working here…at least you did. The people here can help you move beyond the pain of your grief if you’ll let them.”

Everyone liked Echo, and he’d heard other members of staff remark on a change for the worse in her since Karen died.

Echo felt a welling up of tears as she stared at the man. He always had been a father figure. “I’m not leaving all this behind. I just need a break…if you were me, wouldn’t you?”

Stan stood up, went over to Echo, and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Yes, yes, I would. I have a better idea…why don’t you take a proper vacation for a month? After that, we’ll talk about it. You might change your mind.”

Echo looked up at him with tears shimmering in her eyes. “I can’t do that. I’ve already taken more leave than I’m entitled to…what will people say?”

“They can say whatever they want to. When you come back, we’re going to talk about that partnership.” He held up his hand. “Don’t say anymore. Think about it, okay?”

Perplexed by his offer, Echo’s eyebrows knitted. “Thank you for everything. I’ll seriously think about it,” she said before she left the office.

Echo’s head was in the clouds. Stan’s generous offer was completely unexpected. The notion of the partnership that she and Karen discussed on many occasions was so far into the recesses of her mind that she’d forgotten all about it. As she walked closer to her assistant’s cubicle, the younger woman stood and waved at her for attention.

“Echo, do you remember that detective…” She looked down at the pad on her desk. “…Keating?”

Echo gave her a sharp glance. “Yes?”

“Well, she called earlier and wanted to speak with you. She said she’d call back.” Kelly saw disappointment flood her boss’s face.

“Thanks, Kelly. Look, I need to run an errand. I’ll be back before my next meeting at two. Will you order me a sandwich and leave it on my desk?” Without waiting for an answer, Echo entered her office and snatched up her purse and left.

“Sure.” Kelly watched her boss rush out of the office. She speculated about the sudden departure and the idea that Lieutenant Keating might be more than a cop to Echo.

“I hate places like this,” Painter muttered as they proceeded farther into the dank-smelling church.

Roan lifted her head a fraction. “Get over it. Greystoke has an office at the front to the left.”

Painter had heard all about Roan Keating. There was no lack of malicious remarks about her beauty and brains, not to mention her irascible nature. That naturally led to the respectful comments about her policing methods. Rumors were that they were grooming her to be the first female chief of police, which would be in keeping with the family tradition. When assigned to the case and her name was associated with it as the lead detective, he knew it was where he wanted to be. “Want me to force the office door if it’s locked?”

“Go for it, we have a warrant to search where necessary if we feel it will provide the evidence we’re missing,” Roan said confidently. The scope of the warrant was narrow and specifically noted seizure of the keys to open the door and search inside for the contraband substance. There was no mention of using force to get inside. However, she was certain she could make a case for exigent circumstances, but that would be a slippery slope if Greystoke’s lawyer challenged the course of her action. “Force it if necessary, but wait for me.”

“You got it, Lieutenant.” Painter quickly walked over to the office door and tried it; it opened without force.

Roan arrived at the font and what she saw changed her whole attitude. A trail of blood leading toward the wood-framed pulpit gleamed in the sun streaming in from the stained glass window. She reached inside her pocket and extracted a pair of examination gloves, which she slipped on as quickly as they would allow.

She advanced cautiously along the trail of blood, careful not to touch anything. When she turned her attention to the pulpit, she drew in a breath. Sprawled halfway up the wooden structure was the crumpled body of Layla Greystoke. From Roan’s initial glance, she saw a distinctive head wound and several bruises on the woman’s face. Sighing heavily, she checked the pulse, though she didn’t need to; full rigor made it clear the woman died at least twelve hours earlier.

“Painter, did you find anything?” Roan shouted as she pressed a number on her cell.

He shot his head out of the office. “No, everything is neat and tidy in here. You?”

“Yeah…Greystoke,” she said as her cell connected with the number she’d dialed. “This is Lieutenant Keating. We need a bus along with backup and a forensics team at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Adams.”

Painter whistled as he saw the broken woman on the steps of the pulpit. “What do you think? Did she die here, or was she transported here to make a point?”

Roan frowned. “I don’t speculate.”

“Guess we need to find another prime suspect now. It could be revenge. Anyone know anything about the change in the case that might do something like this?” Painter stared at the open but otherwise blank eyes of the woman who all the papers touted as the Mother Teresa of this century.

“No,” Roan said automatically. She’d already gone over that scenario. She preferred to review the facts silently. Only two people could have murdered Greystoke in that scenario—her uncle or Echo. If she analyzed it logically, her name would fit the bill, too. There could and probably was only one other scenario. Greystoke had a partner in crime. It should be interesting to compile that list.

It wasn’t long before the crime team along with the coroner took over the scene. The pathologist’s initial findings indicated that Greystoke had died at least twelve to fifteen hours earlier. She’d been bludgeoned to death, although there were a few other injuries, which were puzzling. Once they did the autopsy, they would know more.

Roan glanced at her watch. It was almost lunchtime. Not that she was hungry, but Echo might be available. She needed to speak with her to ensure she had an airtight alibi. “Painter, I need to go across town for an hour. Keep me posted if there’s any news.”

“You got it, Lieutenant,” he said as he watched his superior slip out of the church unnoticed by the others.

Chapter Seventeen

Chief Mahoney threw down the phone receiver as his cheeks turned red in rage. Renaldo had informed him of Greystoke’s death, which fueled the already out-of-control fire that had been started by his niece.

If only he hadn’t accepted that meeting with the woman who was a friend of Thompson. Not to mention that damned file that showed the lack of attention to pertinent points on the original case. If it had been anyone other than his niece compiling the details, they might have been able to sweep it under the rug. Roan, on the other hand, would have accepted nothing less than reopening the case and investigating it until its conclusion. He never expected the disastrous fallout. Striding to the door, he flung it open and saw his assistant looking preoccupied.

“Robert, get my car. I’m going to the ninth precinct.”

Surprised and annoyed at the chief catching him off-guard, Douglas tried to look nonplussed. “Right away, Chief…is there something I can help you with?”

Mahoney shook his head. “No. Cancel the rest of my appointments for today and reschedule them.” Slamming his office door, he walked back to his desk.

Douglas became thoughtful as he contacted the driver of Mahoney’s car. Five minutes later, his boss left the office and Douglas looked at the man’s diary. He began calling all the numbers except for one. That particular appointment was in five minutes, and there was no way to prevent the visitor from arriving on time. Just then, the door to his office opened and the one twenty appointment arrived.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Radar, but the chief has been called away unexpectedly. He said to reschedule, and as you were already due, it was impossible for me to divert you.” Douglas gave Echo a careful appraisal and watched with a degree of satisfaction her crestfallen expression. How he loved the power trip the office afforded.

“Oh, I guess there’s nothing I can do about it. I had information about the Greystoke Project that he might find interesting. Can I see him later today perhaps?”

Douglas gave her a thoughtful look. The Greystoke Project was on everyone’s agenda it appeared. He gave her a thin smile. “He specifically wanted the rest of the day free. As you have particular information on that project, he’ll want to know sooner rather than later, I suspect. You could go to the ninth precinct and see him there.” He saw her frown. “I can arrange for you to see him later…perhaps after you’ve finished work. Would that be more convenient?”

Echo gave him a second look. He was one of those people you dismissed without a second thought. “Thanks, I have a business meeting at two and I can’t keep them waiting. Where shall I meet him…here?”

Douglas gave her a long lingering look, and Echo felt discomforted by the intensity.

“I’ll need to send you that information later,” Douglas said with a nod. “All I ask is that you don’t make it public…it’s a matter of police security.”

Again, Echo frowned. “Sure, no problem.”

“Goodbye, Ms. Radar.”

Echo turned to go, and a shiver went down her spine when he wished her a smarmy goodbye. She was certain the slimy man was undressing her in his mind.

In the elevator, she heaved a sigh of relief to be out of the claustrophobic office. When she was alone, she whispered, “Well, I hope I never see him on a dark night. He’s one of those men that gives me the creeps, even though they might not deserve it. What a pair he and the chief make…ugh!” The doors opened, and she left the building and headed back to her office.

†

Roan arrived at the Austin Agency at one thirty-six and passed through security after showing her badge. She took the elevator to the floor where Echo worked, annoyed by the receptionist who begrudgingly gave her the information. When she exited the elevator, she glanced around unsure where Echo’s actual office was. She recalled that the guy who ran the place was on the next floor and wondered if Echo had an office with a view. That was a sure sign of success, according to the movies and television. Several heads turned in inquiry as she walked past numerous cubicles. As she did, she noted the names on the door of each office.

A woman who had an easygoing smile walked up to her. “You seem lost…can I help you?”

Roan grimaced at the reference to her being lost. It wasn’t in her nature to be lost—in anything. “No, I’m good.”

The woman continued her friendly way and spied the door Roan was looking at. “James is away until next week…paternity leave. Is there anyone else who can help you?”

“Ms. Radar,” Roan replied automatically.

“Echo…isn’t in accounting. Her field is marketing…are you sure she’s the one you want?”

Roan was annoyed. She should have called Echo before she entered the building. “My name is Lieutenant….” Roan began but stopped when she heard a familiar voice say her name.

“Roan, what are you doing here?” Echo said with a warm smile as she stepped out of the elevator. “It’s okay, Judy…I’ll take it from here.”

“You called me,” Roan said without emotion.

Echo raised her eyebrows at the brusque reply rather than the smile she was expecting. “I did that’s true, but I didn’t expect to see you in person. Let’s go to my office. Have you eaten? You look pale. What about your meds, are you taking them?”

“Echo,” Roan warned. She wasn’t a child and could look after herself.

“Sorry,” Echo said. As they passed the cubicle of Echo’s assistant, Kelly looked up. “Kelly, do you think that you can rustle me up another sandwich and coffee? Any chance the Johnson people will be late?”

Kelly grinned and shook her head. “Nope, I’m sorry you know that group…they’re always on time. What kind of sandwich do you want? I can recommend the roast beef today.”

Roan groaned inwardly at the temptation of her favorite meat. “That sounds good. Thanks.”

Echo felt her lips twitch, but she didn’t laugh. They entered her office and Echo sat in one of the two comfortable armchairs and waited for Roan to do the same. At first, she didn’t. “Will I need to requisition a new carpet?” She watched Roan’s pacing.

Shamefaced, Roan dropped into the chair opposite Echo.

“Nice office. You must be well thought of here.”

“I am. Stan asked me earlier to consider going into partnership. It was always in the cards…Karen and I taking over when he retired, but I wasn’t sure once she’d gone,” she answered softly.

Roan heard the self-doubt in Echo’s voice. “Is it what you’ve worked toward and want?”

Echo stared at Roan and their glances caught. Again, for her at least, she felt the world stop, then restart with just her and Roan as the passengers.

“Is it?” Roan felt her heart beat more rapidly than normal as she held Echo’s eyes.

“I thought that once…now I’m not so sure. We were a team, Karen and I. Now that she’s gone, it’s hard to think about the same kind of goals.” Echo looked up and saw Kelly standing in the doorway with her lunch. “Come on in, Kelly.”

“Roast beef for your guest…and your chicken salad is on your desk, Echo. I’ve made a pot of coffee.” Kelly quickly placed the sandwiches and coffee on the table.

Echo smiled her thanks. “Kelly, this is Lieutenant Keating.”

Kelly blushed as she gave the officer a second look. “You’re Lieutenant Keating. Ah, right, well, enjoy your lunch, Lieutenant. I’ll stall the Johnson group for as long as you need in the conference room, Echo.” She slid out of the office and shut the door behind her.

“Did I grow two heads or something?” Roan asked as she bit down on the sandwich. She let a smile crack the corners of her mouth. “This is really good.”

Echo chuckled as she poured them coffee. “Kelly’s a great girl, but there’s going to be intense speculation, of course.”

Frowning, Roan inclined her head. “Why?”

There was silence as they chewed their sandwiches. Echo gave Roan a piercing look and made a decision. “Because you’re beautiful and she’ll be wondering if this is a social call.”

Pondering that for a few seconds, Roan gave Echo a questioning look.

For a moment, Echo almost lost her original bravado. Then she quickly said, “I’m a lesbian, and you’re a very beautiful woman. Although I doubt I had to inform you of that pertinent point of my life…you probably had me checked out down to the brand of coffee I buy in the supermarket.”

There wasn’t any outrage or shying away from the subject. Instead, Roan devoured the remains of her sandwich. “You don’t buy from the supermarket and you go to the international coffee shop on Seventh. As for the other…” Roan shrugged. “It’s your life to live the way you want…it wouldn’t have been any of my business. And yes, I did check you out but only for any police record.”

Echo felt deflated at the nonchalant way Roan was taking her admission. Before she could say anything further, Roan’s cell went off as it normally did whenever they hit a sensitive subject. If Echo didn’t know better, she’d swear the woman had rigged her phone. Echo gave a small smile and indicated Roan should take the call. Standing, she walked over to her desk to pick up her notes for the meeting.

“Keating…Yeah, they did? Great. Who else knows about this? There was a soft chuckle as Roan replied, “You learn fast, Detective Painter. Maybe I’ll keep you around. I’ll see you at the lab in fifteen.”

Echo wondered if Painter was a man or woman, then berated herself for the self-inflicted pain of her wandering mind and the fact that she had unashamedly listened to the one-sided conversation.

“I have to go,” Roan said apologetically.

“Perfect, so do I.” Echo tried to sound nonchalant, but even she knew she failed.

Roan heard the inflection of pain in the Echo’s voice and wondered why. “It’s a new lead. You never told me why you called me earlier.”

Shrugging, Echo smiled. “Maybe I just wanted to catch up.”

“Okay,” Roan said as she made her way to the door. Then she turned and collided with Echo. Roan’s arms automatically went around her, and they looked into each other’s eyes. A habit that Roan decided she enjoyed—maybe too much. Although with Echo’s last admission, another aspect was added to the mix of what she was feeling. “Look, we do need to catch up, what about this evening? I’ll take you out to dinner…just you and me this time.”

A kernel of hope popped inside Echo’s mind. “I might have a late night, can I call you?”

“Sure. Look, I have to go.” Roan dropped her hands and they both left the office.

Echo called out as she moved past Kelly’s cubicle, “Roan.” Roan spun on her heel.

“Yes?”

She hesitated for a second, then smiled. “I’ll call you later…it might not be so late.”

Kelly smiled broadly.

With a brief smile, Roan nodded and was in the elevator before Echo could walk two more steps.

“That’s Lieutenant Keating? She’s a stunning lady,” Kelly said.

Echo frowned. “Not what you’re thinking. Now tell me, does the Johnson group look happy or upset?”

Chapter Eighteen

Danny Painter watched Keating’s grim face as she learned the details about the fingerprints they found on Greystoke’s body. “This is big, Lieutenant. Shouldn’t we inform the captain?”

Roan didn’t register the man’s words. All she saw was the police chief’s logo all over the details of the fingerprint’s owner. “It can’t be,” she whispered.

“Lieutenant, should I call Captain Renaldo?”

“No!” she barked in frustration. “Stake out the chief’s office and have someone go to the residence. I’ll talk with Renaldo personally.” Roan had always felt something was wrong, but this…never in her life would she have thought this.

“You got it, Lieutenant,” Painter said as he began to leave. “Detective,” Roan said. When the man turned around, she said, “Tell them it’s a security matter…we don’t want anyone spooked.” Roan turned back to the picture on the screen and closed her eyes. Then she heaved a heavy sigh, waved her thanks to the technician, and left the room on her way to the captain’s office.

Ten minutes later, she was standing in Renaldo’s office stiffly as the angry features of her superior bore down on her.

“I gave you an order, Keating, which you disobeyed. I could have you suspended for that.”

“You could, but I’m technically on leave, Captain.”

Renaldo poked a warning finger in Roan’s direction. “Don’t get smart with me, Keating.”

Roan gave a bland expression. “Just stating the facts, ma’am.”

“Well, by all means, tell me exactly why you’re here and not Detective Painter.” Renaldo sat back at her desk and let out a snort of disgust.

After concisely describing what she and Painter found, complete with the fingerprint analysis, Roan waited for the reaction.

“That can’t be!”

Roan, not wanting to admit she had the same reaction, remained quiet.

“What have you done with this information, Lieutenant?” Renaldo knew Roan would already have set a plan in motion; it was one of her better qualities.

“Painter is watching the chief’s office, and he’s organized a unit to sit tight on the residence. I figured it was best to advise you. The next logical step will be your decision.”

“We both know what that is, Keating. Your uncle has gone to the church. Do you want the pleasure of bringing him in?” Renaldo pulled her gun from a drawer and strapped it in place.

This time, Roan felt a chink show in her armor. “No, it wouldn’t be right.”

Renaldo gave her a hard stare and nodded. “Never a truer word spoken, Keating, I’m not sure I’m up for it, either. I’ve known Declan Mahoney for a long time. He used to be my captain when I was a rookie.” The reminiscent words reverberated around the room. “Okay, let’s get this over with.”

†

Surrounding the street outside the building were indigents who were standing behind the area the police cordoned off. Rumors surfaced that a killing happened at the church. Two officers were guarding the entrance when Roan and Renaldo arrived. Once out of their vehicle, they moved toward the building. A slightly overweight officer held up the crime scene tape for them and they passed under it.

Roan glanced around and didn’t see Mahoney’s vehicle as her mind worked overtime on where he might go next. She drew a blank. “His vehicle isn’t here.”

Renaldo heard the softly spoken words and didn’t need clarification. She knew Keating was talking about the chief. She motioned one of the cops to join them. “Is Mahoney here?”

The cop shook his head. “Haven’t seen him, Captain.”

They entered the church and walked rapidly toward the officer inside with the forensics team. “Has Chief Mahoney been and gone?”

“Sorry, Captain…we haven’t seen the chief…was he due here?”

Roan sighed inwardly and closed her eyes for a second.

“Roan, do you have any idea where he would go if not home?” Renald asked.

“No.”

Renaldo stared hard at the young woman debating if she was telling the truth. “I know this is hard. He’s family. Are you absolutely sure?”

Roan’s expression was featureless as she clearly said, “Yes.”

“Fine, I’ll put out an APB for the chief’s car and the man himself.” Renaldo shook her head and headed toward the exit.

Roan remained where she was. The pain in her chest had been gradually wearing her down for the last hour and she’d forgotten to take her Vicodin that morning. If Echo knew, she would have made her take one at lunch. Roan let a small smile escape. Thinking of Echo made her feel better. How weird is that? “At least you’re not involved in this, Echo. God knows it’s a damn mess right now.” She thought about the situation again and smiled tightly. “The irony is you made this mess, Echo.”

Renaldo shouted from the exit, “Are you going to stand there all day talking to yourself, Lieutenant?”

Roan wanted to answer, “Disobeying my superior more than once in a day? No way,” but instead replied, “Be right there, Captain.”

†

The afternoon meeting had been successful. The Johnson group wanted to sign up for another year if Echo spearheaded the campaign. Echo agreed and saw joyful satisfaction on Stan’s face when he heard. Now she was committed to another year, and in a way, once she saw Roan at lunchtime, she’d made her mind up not to go. If her admission hadn’t fazed Roan, perhaps she had a chance for she knew Roan wasn’t immune to her.

“Echo, a guy named Douglas called and said the appointment would have to be earlier than planned and you should call him when you came back in the office. It sounded urgent,” Kelly said.

“Thanks. Looks like I’m going to have to leave early. If anyone wants me, I’ll have my cell with me. I’d love a coffee before I go,” Echo, partially preoccupied with the call from the police chief’s assistant, said.

Checking her contact list, she dialed Douglas’s number and waited for him to respond.

Seconds later, he said, “Robert Douglas, how may I help you?”

“Hello, this is Echo Radar. You called me earlier, Mr. Douglas, about the meeting.”

A shuffle of papers was heard before the man responded. “Chief Mahoney is interested in what you have to say and asked that you meet him away from the office no later than five. Can you do this?”

Echo looked at her watch. It was almost four. “Where should I meet him?”

“Are you familiar with Coney Avenue?”

“I know of the place. Are you sure that’s where he said to meet? It isn’t the most respectable part of town.” Echo frowned. Coney Avenue was a known haunt of prostitutes and drug dealers. Scribbling the address he gave her on her pad, she said, “I’ll be there,” then ended the call.

“Crap! Why would he want us to meet there of all places?” She picked up her cell and dialed Roan’s number. When Kelly came in with the coffee, she mouthed a thank you. For what seemed like an age, Roan’s phone rang before it went to voice mail.

“Hi, Roan, it’s Echo. Look, I did need to speak with you. It’s about your uncle. I’ve arranged a meeting with him, and if you can, I’d like you to be there. Probably won’t be possible, but in case it is, the address is 78 Coney Avenue. I hope I see you there. I’m leaving the office for the meeting now.”

Taking a sip of the hot coffee, she opened her drawer and pulled out the file with the photos and notes that Karen left for her. “Karen, I hope wherever you are that you’re looking out for me because I have a funny feeling that things aren’t what they appear to be. Maybe I should wait for Roan to call. Darn it, I’m a big girl, and it’s only her uncle, so how much trouble can I get into?” Gulping down the rest of her coffee, she collected her belongings and left the office.

†

“Will you switch that infernal phone off, Keating?” Renaldo growled in frustration. Roan’s cell had interrupted three of the last four conversations.

Roan curled her lip contentiously and swiftly glanced at the caller ID. It was Echo. Shit, we seem to be playing telephone tag today. Obediently, she switched the phone to vibrate and put it in her jacket pocket.

“You were saying?”

Renaldo glared at Roan. “I know you’re a smart cookie, Lieutenant, but watch that mouth of yours or it will get you in big trouble. Police pedigree or not, this isn’t looking good for your uncle or your family name.”

Roan nodded. “You make my family sound like a pack of dogs.”

Renaldo frowned heavily and was about to say more when the phone rang. “Renaldo.”

Seconds later, she hung up and turned to the woman across from her. “Apparently, the chief’s vehicle is back in the parking lot without the chief. Painter is talking to the driver now.”

Roan was about to leave when an authoritative voice asked, “Where are you going, Lieutenant?”

“To speak with the driver, I know him. Painter is a rookie and you don’t need me here.”

Renaldo pursed her full lips. “Do I need to remind you that you have a conflict of interest and you’ve taken yourself off the case?”

Roan scowled. “Yeah, I know. I can do some legwork…what harm can that do?”

Renaldo glared at the woman as she considered what Roan said and the implications. “Go ahead. If you dare go off on some harebrained lead, so help me…”

“I know…you’ll have my badge. I’ll keep you informed.” Roan was gone before Renaldo could open her mouth to say any more.

†

The chief’s parking lot and office were four blocks away. As she sped there, she kept going over in her mind how her uncle could be this involved and unaware he was criminal material.

The ten-minute drive to go four blocks had taken over half an hour. Even with a bubble light, she couldn’t get through the tangle of the homeward-bound traffic. Finally reaching her destination, she pulled into the lot with a squeal of tires that attracted the attention of her colleagues and the public. Climbing out of the car, she walked over to Danny Painter and the chief’s driver. The chief was conspicuous by his absence.

“Hey, Ralph, how have you been?” Roan feigned a calmness her insides didn’t match as she smiled at the man who was in his late fifties.

The older man grinned and nodded his head of salt and pepper hair. “I can’t complain. The wife still grumbles about my hours.” He looked Roan over. “It’s been a while.”

Roan grinned. Much to the amazement of the young detective standing close by, she hugged the older man. “Yeah, it has. Has my detective been as thorough as I would have been with the questions?”

Painter pulled at his collar as he waited to hear what the older man had to say about him.

Ralph Stannic chuckled. “He was, but I guess you’re going to add more. I expected it and you.”

Roan inclined her head slightly. She’d known the man for over twenty-five years. He’d been her grandfather’s driver for the last ten years of his time as chief. In the later stages of her grandfather’s time in office, after her family had died, Ralph took her to and from school and would go to appointments and wait for her to finish. “Glad I didn’t disappoint you.”

“You couldn’t. Your grandfather would be very proud of you.”

“Hmm, time will tell on that one. Let me see what the detective has already asked you.” Roan cocked her head and caught the speculative looks from the young man. “Your notes, Painter.”

The man dutifully provided the notes and she ran down them with speed. Then she turned to Ralph. “You say he took several calls in the car, but after the last one, he asked you to change direction. Do you know who called?”

Ralph shook his head.

“Okay. Where did he ask you to take him?”

“Pentecost and Wright streets. I told him it wasn’t a good idea. He insisted. He looked pale…it seemed to me that he was upset by the phone call he’d taken. ” Ralph ran his hand over the day’s stubble on his chin. With a quick glance to the detective, he motioned Roan to come closer.

Roan, with a speculative look, moved nearer.

Ralph whispered, “He left his cell phone in the locked cabinet in the vehicle. He said to tell you and only you.” He passed her the key.

Climbing into the backseat of the limousine, Roan inserted the key in the walnut cabinet, opened it, and retrieved the cell phone. She flicked it open and noted the last calls made and received. She didn’t recognize some, but the number of her uncle’s last caller she knew. Scrambling out of the vehicle, she walked over to Ralph and hugged him again. “Thanks, Ralph. Tell Maria I’ll drop in for dinner one night soon, we’ll catch up.”

Ralph smiled. He knew she never would come to his house, but he nodded anyway.” Maria will like that, take care.”

“Detective, take this phone back to Captain Renaldo. She’ll understand when she sees the contents and the notes you have.” Roan pulled a hand through her already untidy mop of hair with a heavy sigh.

“What are you going to do?” Danny Painter asked.

Roan gave him a bland look. “I’m off-duty. The captain doesn’t want me contaminating the evidence as it’s a family matter.”

The young man gave her a perplexed expression, then nodded. “Okay, see you at the precinct tomorrow.”

“Sure.” Roan slipped into her car and sped away into the rush- hour traffic heading not for home but to Pentecost and Wright, which was only a block away. As she did, she listened to Echo’s voice mail and looked at the time on the dashboard. “Oh, crap!” She quickly dialed Echo’s cell, and true to the rest of the day, she received her voice mail. Once the beep sounded, she said, “Don’t go to the meeting, Echo! Stay away, as clear away as possible! If you’re already there, make some excuse to leave…but leave now! Call me as soon as you get this.” She dropped the phone on the passenger seat, flicked on her blue light, and headed instead to Coney Avenue.

Echo had now become the priority. In a way, the woman had that effect on her ever since they met.

Chapter Nineteen

It was four fifty as Echo climbed out of the cab. As she paid the cabbie, she was about to ask him to wait for her, when without a word, he abruptly drove away, leaving Echo alone. Echo supposed she couldn’t blame him, this wasn’t the best neighborhood. Still she would have felt more comfortable had he at least offered to wait.

Echo gazed at several of the dilapidated buildings wondering which was the one she wanted. The driver had been unable to take her down the whole street as two still-burning cars blocked their progress. There were women of varying ages and levels of dress, or undress, depending on your point of view, walking aimlessly around the street corner.

Several of the women looked at her with degrees of expression that ranged from speculation to loathing. As her gaze traveled down the street, she saw a few shadowy figures on the other side of the sidewalk. Deciding it would be prudent to remain watchful, she checked out the numbers on the buildings as she kept an eye on the street’s other occupants.

Echo reached inside her bag to pull out her cell. “I’d better call Roan again.” She shook her head in frustration when she realized there was no life to her phone; the battery was dead. “Shit, I didn’t charge it.” She shivered with the realization that she couldn’t contact anyone. She was alone on Coney Avenue and only Roan knew she was there. “I hope you listened to my message. I have a feeling my life might depend on it.”

“You talk to yourself all the time, woman?” a young man asked. Echo looked at the smile plastered on the man’s dark face. His thin frame in baggy clothing looked odd somehow, and Echo was certain he couldn’t be more than sixteen.

Echo rapidly placed her cell in her pocket so it would be out of the way of prying eyes. Then feigning confidence, she said, “Sometimes, don’t you?”

“Sure. What’s the likes of you doing here in this part of town?” His hypnotic dark brown gaze never left her face.

“I’m looking for a friend. Do you know where 78 Coney is?” The deadline of five was drawing near, and she no longer had the luxury of finding the place on her own.

“Might, for the right price,” he said as he gave her a long look.

The appraisal made Echo’s skin crawl for the second time that day. The kid made her feel less in danger than her previous encounter in the chief of police’s office. “I’ll give you ten dollars to show me where it is.”

The dark head bobbed around, then he grinned. “Okay, lady, follow me.”

Echo followed but also kept note of her bearings and the numbers on the buildings. True to his word, the young man pointed out number 78, then held his hand out for the money. Fishing in her bag, she withdrew twenty dollars. “Ten as promised…I’m going to double it if you can watch out for a friend of mine. If…no, when…she arrives, you have to show her where I am immediately…it’s important. If you do, I’ll give you another twenty when I come out. Is it a deal?”

The young man smiled. His teeth were crooked but as white as snow. “Sounds easy to me, what’s she like…your friend?”

Echo furrowed her brow. “She’s beautiful, tall, blue eyes, black hair.” No way would she say she’s a cop, but the young man would know as soon as he laid eyes on her. Roan’s manner had cop painted all over her.

“I can do that.” He snatched the twenty-dollar bill and watched her walk up the steps to the door.

Echo had a feeling she might have made a bad call by giving him the twenty. Sometimes you had to trust someone and even the poor didn’t necessarily rip you off. Her thoughts turned to Karen, realizing that the words could have come from her friend. That’s the reason she was there—to honor her friend by finding her killer.

The building had several floors, which she speculated were probably apartments. There hadn’t been any mention of another address other than 78. Echo closed her eyes and said a small prayer before she turned the knob on the door. The unlocked door squeaked as she opened it before she walked inside. The smell of damp and decay, not to mention stale urine, greeted her. She fought hard with her common sense not to bolt and run. As she looked around the disorderly lobby, where rubbish and cobwebs vied for supremacy, she saw a broken-down elevator. Next to that was a door with a sign with most of the letters missing. She saw a T, A, R, and L. “Has to be the stairwell,” she whispered. There was no sign of the chief or any other human. Then she heard a faint scratching sound and figured it was probably a rodent of some sort.

A voice that made her skin crawl called out her name. She turned toward it, as another door she hadn’t noticed opened slightly. What she hadn’t been prepared for was the door opening wider and Robert Douglas standing in the doorway with narrowed eyes and an evil curl to his lips.

Perplexed, Echo said, “I thought this was a meeting with the chief.”

Douglas gave a noncommittal shrug. “The chief is…otherwise engaged. I’ll take you to him.” A hand snaked out and caught Echo’s arm in a vice-like grip. Attempting to extricate from the grip only made the pain worse. Her mind kicked in and realized she’d probably made the biggest mistake of her life.

†

Roan ground her teeth as she circumvented the traffic. At that time of the evening, it was going to take at least twenty minutes to reach her destination. Her mind traveled at full throttle as she digested Echo and her uncle’s messages. They were going to be at the same place, 78 Coney Avenue. But if her uncle was guilty of any crime, he surely wouldn’t have led her there…unless.

“Oh, crap! There’s no use speculating…I need to get there and hope Echo received my message and didn’t make the appointment. It’s a long shot. My guess is she went or I would have heard from her by now.” What that did to her stomach she preferred not to analyze. She ate up the distance between her and the people she cared about, and her mind went into overdrive. At that point, she quietly talked to herself about what she had just admitted.

“He’s family and I have to care, right? He’s the only family I have. But Echo, she’s virtually a stranger. We’ve only known each other for a few months…but I know I care. She’s like an addiction. Once you’re hooked, there’s no reprieve without a lot of pain attached to it.”

The corner of Coney Avenue came into view, and she checked the time. It was five forty-five, the journey had taken fifteen minutes—a new record at rush hour even with a police siren. As she turned onto the street, she slowed her car down to check the numbers. When she came upon two abandoned vehicles on fire in the middle of the street, she had to do some nifty driving to circumvent them. Eventually, she came to the building that appeared to be 78.

A young man in hip-hop-type clothing paced up and down outside the building. He didn’t look particularly threatening to her, but she knew it would be a different ball game for a novice like Echo. She brought the car to a stop and climbed out of the vehicle. She grimaced at the pain in her chest as the skin tightened with her movement. At least the stitches were out and she didn’t have to worry about them tearing away.

“Hey, have you seen a white woman, well-dressed, short brunette around here in the last hour or so?” Roan’s voice was autocratic and filled with arrogance. Her prime goal was to find her uncle and Echo. She didn’t have the time to be nice.

The young man glared at the overconfident woman. He knew she was the one the other woman told him to wait for. “Might have, what’s it to you?”

Roan groaned and curled her upper lip in annoyance. “Either you did or didn’t, just tell me.” She removed her badge from the inner pocket and flashed it at him.

The young man backed away and threw up his hands. “Stupid high heels, she gave me money to watch out for you and tell you she was in there.” He pointed to the building in front of them.

Roan noticed the boy looked scared but not guilty, and to her, that was a good sign. “When did she go in there? Did you see anyone else go inside?”

“Two men went inside earlier, but they haven’t come out.” The young man moved away from Roan’s personal space and slid closer to the wall.

“When was this?” Roan asked irritably.

“The men went in about an hour ago, the woman half an hour later.” He looked around for a place to hide if the cop got touchy. “Okay.” Roan turned away and ran up the steps. Just as she arrived at the landing, she called to the kid. “If the woman comes out, tell her to stay by the car. Do you understand me?”

“Sure. I told her the likes of her shouldn’t be here.” He almost asked what was in it for him but decided against it. The cop didn’t look friendly.

“Yeah, me too.” Roan turned back to the door.

†

Echo felt the man she had definitely not associated with the murder of her friend tighten her restraints. Once she put all the facts together, it made perfect sense. God, I was a damn fool for not waiting for Roan.

Robert Douglas sneered as he saw her grimace at the pain he inflicted on the last turn of the knot of her bindings. “Why, Ms. Radar, you look positively upset. Surely, you knew that your meddling would have serious consequences for anyone involved. Then again, people like you never do consider the penalty for your actions.”

“Take him.” Douglas pointed to the bound man who was bleeding from a head wound. “He didn’t have a clue…never has. He only kept his job because I did all the work. Did he acknowledge any of that? Oh, no, not him, the high and mighty chief of police. Well, he’s going to be a laughingstock once everyone finds out he was duped by his lowly assistant.” A booted foot slammed into Mahoney’s ribs and he groaned in pain.

Echo tightened her lips to prevent her sob as she saw the pain Roan’s uncle was in. He’d obviously taken a beating. “You can’t get away with this…people know where we are.” The question was, would her maverick friend Roan tell others?

Douglas moved toward her and placed a pudgy finger in her cheek, delighting at the terror in her eyes. “You think the posse is going to ride in and rescue you. I bet golden girl Keating heads that posse. I can’t wait, she’s the final piece in the puzzle, then I’m out of here for good, and no one will know I was ever here. I have it all arranged. There’s evidence to incriminate the good chief there.” He waved his gun in the direction of the older man. He’ll kill you, Keating shoots him, then she gets a bullet for her good deeds.”

Gasping at the man’s wild imagination, Echo didn’t think it would happen that way, but there was a thread of doubt that it might. She closed her eyes in horror; she gave Roan the information that might get her killed.

“I thought that might make an impression. You’re sweet on her, and I can’t blame you. She’s quite the catch if you don’t mind the dark brooding type. Hey, you can go to the next life together…I’d call that a lucky break.”

“You won’t win. She’ll never fall for your plan, she’s too good at what she does,” Echo bravely retorted. She switched her gaze to Declan Mahoney who was trying to remain orientated as blood oozed from his head. “Isn’t that right, Chief Mahoney?”

Declan Mahoney heard the conversation, but it was on the fringes of his understanding. He was mortified at his status. The damn woman was braver than he was, or maybe she was just foolish. Moving to sit as upright as he could on the floor, he stared hard at Robert. For the first time in all the years he’d known the man, he saw exactly what he’d missed—insanity. “Roan will just as soon kill you as look at you, Douglas, and she’ll have no remorse. Don’t think holding me prisoner will help you overcome her…she doesn’t give a damn about me.”

Echo heard the words and a part of her wanted to cry out that it wasn’t true, but then again it might be. Roan had never disguised her dislike of her uncle. The next words Douglas spoke had her heart sinking like a stone.

“Oh, I know that, which is exactly why she’s here.” He leered at Echo. “Did you know that your precious relative is a dyke? Bet that isn’t a family tradition you want publicized.”

Mahoney tried to break away from his bonds as he snarled at Douglas and his insinuations. “You’re going to die for that, Douglas. So help me, I’ll do it myself with my bare hands.” He tried to stand, but Douglas kicked him in the groin, and he fell wailing in agony.

A sound of footsteps could be heard and Echo was about to scream when Douglas placed a hand over her mouth. “Oh, how touching, warn the love of your life. It’s so…so romantic.” He purposefully kissed her lips and put a gag over her mouth before she could spit in his face. “Sorry, this is my drama, and I make all the moves.”

He swiftly placed a gag around Mahoney’s mouth, kicked him for good measure, and chuckled in delight when the man fell over into the dust.

“And now the final player arrives.” He grinned and stepped away from his hostages and out of sight to wait for his final victim.

Chapter Twenty

Roan slowly pushed the door open and entered the building cautiously with her gun drawn. The smell was pretty much what she expected. Dilapidated buildings always had the stench of ill- repair and depravation. Her gaze darted around the interior for any evidence of Echo, her uncle, or the other man the kid said was there. On the initial scan, she saw no one, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there, only that they weren’t in the lobby.

She glanced at the board that indicated the building had ten floors and noted a condemnation notice. That didn’t equate to no one living in the building, just that no one paid the proprietor anymore. The ease she had of getting inside the building meant that squatters and anyone else of a like mind could do the same.

The lack of any appreciable sound made Roan nervous. Walking over to the elevator, she looked at its ramshackle condition—a death trap. The stairwell was her best choice, and she considered the option of waiting for backup. Once Renaldo read the note she scribbled in Painter’s notebook, she would dispatch a backup team. Jerking her head, Roan’s forehead creased; she was certain she heard something. Then silence once again engulfed the lobby. Her gaze fixed on the door next to the stairwell as she tilted her head to listen for any other sound.

Hearing nothing else, Roan frowned. Her instincts told her the sound came from behind the door that was the janitor’s office. Her hand tightened around the gun grip, and she tentatively opened the door. The ominous creaking made Roan hold her breath in anticipation of an attack but nothing. As she ventured farther inside, the size of the room surprised her. It was spacious with a number of tall steel racks partitioning the room. Several of the shelves held empty cartons and rags, which would have disappeared if they’d been of any use to anyone. The only light came from a tiny window with obscure glazing that allowed a meager trickle of light to filter inside. Roan stood still as she let her eyes adjust to the darkness.

When she couldn’t see farther into the room she said, “Echo?”

She tried to quiet her nerves, but her stomach did a somersault and bile filled her mouth, as she feared for Echo’s well-being. When she heard nothing, she bit on her bottom lip hard until she could taste the metallic flavor of blood. “Uncle Declan, are you here?” No response.

The darkness made her other senses more sensitive and she picked up on the sound of shallow breathing and a distinct tangy smell of aftershave. It wasn’t her uncle’s Aramis, but more like a supermarket replica.

“Police, show yourself.”

Roan couldn’t believe her ears as she heard gentle applause before a shadowy figure emerged from behind one of the steel racks.

Her eyes opened wide. “You…what are you doing here?”

“That isn’t a very amiable welcome, Lieutenant Keating. In fact, I’d call it downright hostile.” Robert Douglas aimed a pistol in Roan’s direction.

Roan’s gun mirrored his. “Did my uncle have you arrange this meeting?”

Maintaining a healthy distance, Douglas stepped closer to Roan. “I made all the arrangements. The interesting thing is that our dear chief isn’t aware that he’s been hounded by his own police force.” The man let out a maniacal laugh. “I call that irony in the perfect form, don’t you, Lieutenant?”

“Cut the crap…where’s my uncle and Ms. Radar?” Roan caught the man’s gaze and watched for any telltale movement that might give the game away. Sure enough, there was a flicker on cold, barely discernible emotion.

A condescending smile hovered around Douglas’s mouth. “I often wondered why you had no interest in me and never had a man in your life. Does Ms. Radar…ah, but that’s so formal…Echo…the pretty Echo with the luscious lips. Does Echo press all your buttons, Lieutenant? I can see your grandfather turning in his grave if he knew you’d turned out to be a lesbian. He so loved the traditional family values.”

“You can leave my personal life out of this. You’re not fit to speak the names of Echo or my grandfather. Exactly what are you doing? You’re too insipid to have the balls to do anything but be a lackey licking the boots of greater men than yourself.”

Douglas curled his upper lip in a snarl. “You have no idea of my capabilities…any of you. People say your intelligence borders on brilliant, but I don’t see any evidence of it. Your uncle is so darned proud of you, even though he won’t admit it, a sure weakness, one of which I’ve used to my advantage. Now I’m ensuring there are no loose ends before leaving the area.” He looked quickly at his wristwatch. “In precisely five minutes.”

Roan felt the words reverberate in her brain as she chastised herself for not shooting him when he looked at his watch. Does that mean…no way, no way in hell did he kill them. However, her stomach refused to stop churning as she glanced around to see any evidence of anyone else in the room with them. “If you’ve hurt either one of them, so help me…”

“So help you what? What can you do? Shoot me? If you do, I’ll return the favor…it will be poetic justice for all those times you spurned me.”

“Is this about me? You did this to get back at me for not taking any interest in you…are you mad?” Roan shook her head. “Forget I asked that, you obviously are.”

Douglas let out a cynical laugh. “Don’t be so egotistical. Arrogance runs in your family. Even that so-called saint of a grandfather you put on a pedestal had feet of clay. It would be my pleasure to provide you some enlightenment on that subject…but I’ll let him inform you of his sordid episodes when you meet up in hell.” The man laughed again before sneering. “Have no illusions…I’m going to kill you.”

Holding her hand steady made the wounded area of her chest react and Roan moved slightly to ease the pain. “I haven’t, but if you’re so committed to this path, why not tell me the truth? Isn’t that what all criminal geniuses want…one person to know what they did? If you tell me, it will be a fitting last gesture. You impart that knowledge only to send it to the grave with me.”

Douglas gave the woman pointing a gun at his chest a hard gaze. Smiling, he said, “I’ll tell you if you drop your gun.”

“Can’t do that…what would my superiors think if they knew I’d given in so easily?” Roan shrugged slightly. “I have a reputation to consider.”

“I’ll show you the others if you drop your weapon. You could have a tender goodbye moment with your love.” Douglas’s eyes never wavered, and his reward was seeing her facial muscles tighten.

Roan considered the offer and quickly checked off all the possible scenarios. With a face devoid of emotion, she said, “I’ll make a deal with you. Show me the others and you get the gun.”

Douglas snorted in irritation. “And you expect me to trust you?”

Roan frowned. “Why not? I could take a shot now and you’d be dead before your trigger finger squeezed the first round.”

He digested her words for a second and nodded. “Step this way.” He waggled the gun, motioning for her to go ahead of him.

Roan knew it wasn’t the smartest move, but once she saw her uncle and Echo, she could ignore his request and take him down. She saw two figures trussed up like chickens sprawled on the dusty floor, and when she saw movement from each of them, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Okay, now give me the gun.”

Roan turned around slowly and with a feral smile, pulled the trigger. The bullet hit its mark in Douglas’s right shoulder, making the gun fly out of his hand. With blood oozing freely from the wound, he groaned in pain. Roan kept her gun aimed at Douglas as she located his weapon and kicked it out of reach.

With a cynical smile, she kicked the back of his legs and watched as he landed unceremoniously on the floor. She cuffed him as he cried out in agony as the brutality of the action caused pain in his shoulder.

“You lied to me. This is police brutality. I’m going to have your badge,” Douglas cried with a crazy expression on his face.

“You’re pathetic. Trust me, there’s a line and you’re last.” She turned her attention to the now writhing figures on the floor and saw that her uncle was bleeding. She untied him and quickly gave him a brief check for any major trauma; she didn’t see any. He looked dazed and slightly confused as blood seeped copiously from a head wound. “You’ll be okay, backup will arrive soon.”

Roan turned her attention to Echo, who was no longer struggling against her restrains. “You’re going to be okay. Let me get these knots untied and you’ll be free,” Roan said as she first removed the gag and began to untie the knots.

“Thank you, I thought I was going to die.” Echo sucked in a breath before tears rolled unchecked down her dirt-covered cheeks. Then as the bindings fell away, Echo, with a cry of relief, placed her arms around Roan’s neck and hugged her tightly. “You’re so brave…a hero.”

“I got you, Echo, I’ve got you. No one’s going to hurt you again, I promise.” Roan unconsciously kissed the head under her chin. Moments later, Roan pulled back from the stranglehold Echo had on her neck, allowing her to remain close. Then with a wry smile, she smoothed away the tears from Echo’s cheeks. Inside, her stomach went back to normal; the people closest to her were no longer in danger.

In reply to Echo’s “hero” comment, she said, “Never going to happen, besides, it’s all in the line of duty, ma’am…bravery didn’t come into play.” Continuing to hold Echo close, she could hear both their hearts pumping but couldn’t distinguish between them.

Roan reflected on her words—bravery wasn’t the word to use for her actions. She had been arrogant and foolhardy and she knew that they all could be dead if things had turned out differently.

Echo snuggled farther into the shoulder and knew that no matter what happened she would love Roan for the rest of her life. If she was alone in that, she could handle it. Having Roan in her life on any level was enough…more than enough. “I guess I’d better let you go.”

Roan moved slightly to allow Echo space as their gazes locked in what was becoming an increasingly difficult task to avoid. She drew in a deep breath of intense satisfaction for the sheer vitality of holding the woman who was alive and well. “Yeah, I need to get that scumbag and my uncle to a hospital. What about you…did he hurt you?”

Echo shook her head at the intensity of Roan’s question. “No, I’m okay, except for the odd bruise.” She gave Roan a wry smile. “I don’t understand what’s going on. Did that man kill Karen and Shelby?”

Roan shook her head. “I’m not sure, but it’s a distinct possibility. I promise to give you the full story in person as soon as I can.”

Echo nodded. Her head was in a whirl as she felt shock and relief all at the same time. With a rolling of her eyes, she said, “I think I’ll take that vacation Stan offered and leave here for a while.” She took Roan’s hand and easily rose to her feet. She swayed a little in her high heels and decided that she was going to wear them forever if it meant that Roan would hold on to her.

With her attention focused on Douglas and the job at hand, Roan really hadn’t listened to what Echo had said. She inwardly smiled as she placed a hand on Echo’s back to balance her. “I think that’s a great idea.”

Echo’s face mirrored her disappointment that Roan hadn’t even blinked at her remark of leaving. She shook her head realizing that she was being selfish as she watched the man on the floor consume Roan’s attention.

Roan grinned devilishly as she saw Douglas attempting to squirm out of the cuffs. “Idiot,” she mumbled before saying, “Let’s get out of here. I want that scum in the place he belongs…behind bars.”

With help, Mahoney wobbled onto unsteady feet.

“I’ll help him outside, Roan,” Echo said, noting the chief’s distress. She took his elbow and steered him out of the room.

Roan gave Echo a grateful smile, then went down on her haunches next to Douglas. The glare from the man didn’t intimidate her. “Just you and me, let’s get you on your feet.”

She took great pleasure in dragging him to his feet by his injured arm. His cry of pain settled on deaf ears as she pushed him out of the building into the steadily darkening skies. She unlocked her vehicle and pushed him into the backseat. Then she withdrew her cell and called the precinct.

†

Echo drew in a breath of air. It wasn’t exactly fresh. It was more the thought of being in a position to breathe again. She shivered slightly when she realized how close she came to the madman killing her just like Karen. As the air hit her lungs, the acrid essence of the smoldering vehicles assailed her nostrils and she cringed. Still, it was better than the stench inside 78 Coney Avenue.

As she guided Mahoney carefully down the steps to the sidewalk, a thin arm latched onto hers and with remarkable gentleness, helped her shoulder the burden of the heavy man at her side. Once on the sidewalk, the arm proved strong as it held up the chief.

Echo turned to her helper and smiled. “Thank you,” she said to the young man who she asked to wait for her. She reached for her purse and realized it was inside the building; she had no money to pay him. In a voice filled with pent-up emotion that threatened to spill out into tears, she expelled a ragged breath. “I’m sorry, my purse is inside. I’ll go back and get it so I can pay you.”

The young man shook his head and gave her a warm smile. “No. I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.” He motioned to Roan, who was speaking on her cell. “She’d have been pissed big-time if you had.”

Echo couldn’t hold them back any longer and allowed her tears to fall. Touched by the young man’s gesture and his observation of Roan, she gulped back the lump in her throat. “What’s your name?”

“Calvin.”

“Echo,” she said quietly. “It’s good to meet you, Calvin. Do you live around here?”

He shrugged. “Sometimes.”

Roan saw Echo talking with the young man who helped support her uncle. Once she was certain Douglas was secure, she headed toward them. “Everything okay?”

Echo felt Calvin shrivel when Roan came up to them.

“Roan, I’d like you to meet Calvin. He helped me out earlier,” Echo said gently. She’d seen Roan’s ramrod stance and knew she was suspicious of Calvin.

“Okay, I’ll take him now,” Roan said as she moved toward her uncle. Echo’s arm shot out and caught hers.

“Roan it’s okay…let Calvin help.” Echo caught Roan’s eyes and smiled.

Roan finally nodded and flexed her shoulders.

Echo pulled Roan to one side and whispered, “Thanks for not being stubborn.”

“Me?” she said, touching her chest. “Stubborn? Give me a break.”

Echo chuckled and squeezed Roan’s hand gently. When they heard the sirens in the background heralding reinforcements, she reluctantly released the hand that had folded around hers.

Chapter Twenty-one

Roan wanted to escort Echo home personally, but Renaldo had been insistent that she should go to the precinct. They needed her preliminary report. They’d agreed Echo could give her statement at her convenience the next day. Nodding, Echo gave Roan a reassuring smile before leaving with Painter, who offered to take her home after she’d refused to go to the hospital for a checkup.

Roan felt her hackles rise but had to concede that Echo certainly knew how, if unconsciously, to pull people into her orbit. It made her smile slightly as she recalled Echo’s confession that she was gay. What that meant hadn’t registered until she thought she was about to lose her for good. A part of her wanted to explore exactly what that entailed, except she had another place to be right now.

As Echo left the scene, Roan made an impulsive decision. She ran into the street and tapped on the hood of the departing vehicle. Painter stopped immediately.

He lowered his window. “Is there a problem, Lieutenant?” Roan shook her head but didn’t pay attention to him as her gaze caught Echo’s. “I’ll call you later to see how you’re doing, okay?”

Echo felt her lips tug into a tiny smile at the concern. She’d hoped Roan would say something, but to do something as public as stop a police vehicle was more than she hoped. “Thanks, I’ll be waiting.”

Roan stood her ground just staring at Echo with her smile mirroring Echo’s

“Is that all, Lieutenant?” Painter never figured his hero was a lesbian. He had to admit they both had good taste in women. “Sorry, Detective, yeah…drive safely.”

Roan moved away from the vehicle and watched until it was out of sight. Then she turned her attention to the man who had caused this mess.

Never in her wildest moments could Roan ever have considered Robert Douglas capable of committing murder. In all the years she knew him, she thought he was a man without a backbone. Perhaps that was her problem. She had been half convinced of her uncle’s involvement and she’d forgotten the cardinal rule—check every avenue.

†

After giving a verbal description of events to Renaldo and the deputy chief, Roan found herself outside her uncle’s hospital room. She was rooted in place as she tried to decide whether to leave the visit until the next day. She reasoned that it was ten o’clock and probably too late for a visit. As she was about to walk back down the corridor, the door to her uncle’s room opened.

A middle-aged woman who looked vaguely familiar exited the room. “Roan…is that you?”

The woman’s voice was gentle. Roan frowned as she tried to figure out where she had seen the woman before. “Yes, do I know you?”

The woman smiled. “You might not remember. It was a long time ago. I was a friend of your uncle’s when you were living with your grandfather.” She extended her slim hand. “Laura Hanson.” Roan took the proffered hand and shook it politely. “I’m sorry.

I don’t remember the name, but you do look vaguely familiar.” The woman shrugged and Roan could see disappointment flash for a few moments across the woman’s face. “He’s awake if you wanted to go in. I was going for coffee…would you like me to bring you one?”

“I won’t be here that long,” Roan said. When she saw the surprise in the woman’s face, she added, “Thanks all the same.” The woman nodded and continued down the corridor in search of coffee.

Taking a deep breath, Roan opened the door and entered the room. Her gaze immediately drew to the pale man in the bed. A bandage covered the gash on his head, and for the first time in her life, she actually felt something more than anger toward him. “Hi, I thought I’d better check on how you were doing.”

Declan Mahoney stared at her in a trance-like state. Then he motioned for her to move closer to the bed.

Roan did as asked but refused to sit. “They say you’ll be out of here in a couple of days…mild concussion and a couple of stitches. Not bad…all considering.”

Declan sighed and wet his parched lips with his tongue. “Yes…all thanks to you.”

“I did what had to be done.” Roan shrugged and walked toward a piece of medical equipment in the room and began to fiddle with some of the switches.

“You put yourself in danger. Was that because of the girl?” he rasped as he reached for a glass of water on the bedside table.

Roan returned her attention to her uncle who looked vulnerable to her for the first time. It was in complete contrast to her image of him as she’d grown up. Weird how hospitals do that…make a person defenseless in so many ways. She’d experienced that firsthand and hadn’t enjoyed it. “That girl as you call her has a name…Echo Radar. If it wasn’t for her, we’d still have a murderer at large who lived in our own backyard, yours more precisely.”

Declan nodded and felt the flash of pain from his head wound and bit on his lip. “Then when I’m out of here, I’ll arrange to have dinner with her as a thank you.”

“You will not! Don’t even attempt to get your greasy hands on her…she’s definitely not your type,”

“Temper, temper. You always used to be so cool and controlled. What happened to make you so antsy? Have you fallen in love or something equally as shocking?” Declan knew he was riling his niece. He wanted to say how proud he was of her and her actions. However, they had bridges to build before he could do that, and she might not be willing.

“Look, I didn’t come here to argue with you. I just wanted to check…” She shook her head and turned away. Their antagonistic relationship would never get better. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” Roan reached the door. She was about to leave when her uncle repeated his words.

“Thank you for saving my life. Thank you for listening to a stranger and doing the job properly. Thank you most of all for caring.” He meant every word and waited for Roan to say something. He didn’t know what but hoped she would say something. The silence lengthened.

With her back to the room about to leave, Roan gruffly replied,

“You’re welcome.”

Declan smiled. “Go home, Lieutenant Keating, and get some rest. I’ll expect a full report from you personally as the case unfolds. You can join me for lunch tomorrow and bring enough for us both…I hear the food here is terrible.”

Roan felt a chuckle forming as she turned to meet the bland expression on her uncle’s face. “Yes, Chief. Oh, how do I know the woman who left your room earlier?”

A sad but happy look drifted across her uncle’s face. “She’s the one that got away. I’ll tell you about it one day. Perhaps when you bring Ms. Radar over for dinner one night, Laura will be there, too.”

Roan blinked rapidly and couldn’t prevent a tiny smile from tugging her lips as she bid him good night. As she opened the door, she saw the woman in question sitting in a chair cradling a coffee cup.

“He’s still awake,” she said as she looked at the woman with curiosity.

Laura gave her gentle smile. “Excitement always was an adrenalin rush for Declan. He used to love roller coasters…the higher the better.” She chuckled quietly as she obviously thought of something that was amusing.

It suddenly dawned on Roan where she met the woman. “I know you…you were engaged to my uncle. You both took me to the fair, and I threw up all over Uncle Declan after he insisted we take a roller coaster ride after hot dogs.”

“Yes, I remember that. I was just thinking the same thing. He didn’t even get cross with you because in his eyes you could do no wrong…he always used to say you reminded him of your mother.” Laura stood, moved toward the door, and saw the disbelieving expression on Roan’s face. “He was never good at revealing how he feels. I more than anyone should know that. Hopefully I’ll see you again. Good night, Roan.”

Roan stood in the corridor and pondered the woman’s remarks. Then she felt drained, as exhaustion demanded her attention. Wiping away a bead of sweat that formed on her forehead, she strode as quickly as her lethargic body allowed out of the hospital and toward her car. Unlocking the vehicle, she climbed inside and sighed heavily. It had been one hell of a day and it wasn’t over yet.

Half an hour later, Roan parked outside of Echo’s apartment building. A few minutes later, she pressed the doorbell. It had seemed like an intolerable amount of time for Echo to answer. When she heard Echo’s voice, her flagging energy picked up as she leaned against the wall listening to the intercom.

“Hello, who is it please?”

Roan heard the veiled panic in her voice and who could blame her. Now she was even more pleased she’d decided to visit her first rather than go home and do it in the morning. “It’s only your resident friendly police officer checking up on her favorite damsel in distress.” Roan frowned at her choice of words and put it down to her extreme fatigue.

There was silence for a few seconds, then Echo replied, “Put like that, Lieutenant Keating, may I offer you a warm drink for your concern?” The entry door clicked open.

“I’d be very grateful, ma’am.” Roan chuckled as she clicked off the intercom and entered the building. A speedy trip in the elevator had Roan at Echo’s front door a few minutes later. Pressing the bell, she shook away the tiredness and dragged on her best dazzling smile as Echo opened the door.

“My God, you look like hell. What have you been doing? Get in here. Have you eaten? When was the last time you stopped working and had a break?” Echo berated her as she ushered her inside the apartment and locked the door behind her.

Roan had to laugh at the concern as she held her arms in the air. “I surrender…okay? Echo, it’s late and I’m tired. I confess I’m dog tired, but I wanted to make sure you were okay. Calling you wasn’t an option.”

“I’m sorry. Take a seat and I’ll fetch you a hot drink. What would you prefer?” Echo drew in a deep breath as she resisted the temptation to take Roan in her arms and hold her close.

“Anything will be good, you choose.” Roan walked over to the sofa and sank into the comfort of the upholstery, leaned back, and closed her eyes.

Echo busied herself in the kitchen and made them both hot tea and she raided the refrigerator and prepared a couple of ham sandwiches. Knowing Roan’s usual habit, she figured the last thing she’d eaten would have been the sandwich Kelly gave her at lunch.

“Here’s tea and I’ve made you some sandwiches. I know…” Echo placed the tray on the coffee table and stopped in mid- sentence as she saw that Roan had closed her eyes and was probably asleep.

Echo had the luxury of just staring at Roan in repose. Roan looked ten years younger. She’d heard that the true face of a person was the one when she was asleep and vulnerable. If that were the case, she’d love to spend the rest of her life waking up with Roan’s face on the pillow beside her. A tear trickled down her cheek as she realized that some things in life were out of reach. What she felt could only ever be a part of what might be if dreams came true.

Roan unexpectedly opened her eyes and stared into the distressed ones of her friend. “Hey, why are you crying? I’m good, honest. Just tired.”

Echo, caught off-guard, gave a wan smile and shrugged.

“I know it was a terrible experience, but I promise you that it won’t happen again. He’s locked up and he will be for the rest of his life.” Roan dragged herself out of her napping position to sit upright and take one of Echo’s hands in hers.

“I know,” Echo murmured, wanting desperately to have Roan take her in her arms as she had earlier. Instead, she pointed with her free hand to the sandwiches and tea on the table as she rapidly changed the subject. “I bet you haven’t eaten, either. I made some ham sandwiches for you.”

Roan chuckled and released Echo’s hand as she snatched up one of the sandwiches. In seconds, it was gone. “Sorry, I was famished.”

Echo plopped down beside Roan. “Anything to help the police department.” Her lips twitched into an amused smile as she watched Roan finish the sandwiches and they drank the tea in companionable silence.

Eventually, Roan said, “I’m sorry you had to go through what you did. If I could do this all again, I’d ensure you never had to go through that.”

The words were sincere and Echo appreciated the gesture as she contemplated the vestiges of the tea in her cup and smiled slightly. “This may sound odd to you, but I’m glad I was involved.” She saw Roan’s raised eyebrows at the remark. “Not that I wanted to be killed or anything, but I understand a little more about you and the world you have to work in.”

Roan didn’t know how to answer and frowned as she attempted to find a suitable reply.

Echo placed a hand on Roan’s arm. “You don’t have to understand, just know that I do.”

“Yeah, it’s a little late in the day for riddles. I guess I’d better go. I have to be at the precinct for the interviews and statements as early as possible.” Roan stood. However, a part of her didn’t want to leave. She’d have been happy to sit there and fall asleep on the sofa knowing Echo was safe. “Another conundrum.”

“Conundrum?” Echo asked.

Roan smiled. “My mind is delusional. I need to get some sleep.”

“You could sleep here.” Echo knew there was a double meaning in her words if Roan wanted to take her up on the offer, but would she even notice?

Roan gave Echo a penetrating stare. She wanted to talk about what seemed to be happening between them because she sure as hell wanted to understand it better and not make a mistake that she’d regret for the rest of her life. That night simply wasn’t the right time, even if the place was good and tantalizing. She shrugged. “I’d better go home. Don’t want to disturb you when I get up early.”

Echo nodded. “Yeah, good call. Will I see you tomorrow?”

“I can’t promise. Sleep well, Karen would be proud of you.” Instinctively, Roan reached forward and hugged Echo close for a few seconds as her fingers gently stroked the small bruises on Echo’s face. Then she quickly released her and moved toward the door. “Don’t forget to set the apartment alarm when you go to bed.”

“I won’t,” Echo replied as she watched Roan leave. When the door shut between them, she sank down on the carpeted floor and cried like a baby.

Chapter Twenty-two

Echo peered at herself in the bathroom mirror of the hotel where they were celebrating her parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary. She looked presentable in a russet cocktail dress, which managed not to hug her full hips. As she donned more lipstick, she gave herself another appraising glance, then pushed away from the basin to rejoin the festivities.

It had been an interesting yet strangely anticlimactic kind of week after her episode at the hands of Robert Douglas. She had virtually no contact with Roan after the night of the event.

She’d been involved in the extensive interviews of Douglas after his arraignment for the murders of Shelby Cameron and Layla Greystoke, which had been a shock for Echo. She didn’t know that Greystoke was also a victim. It was Painter, not Roan, who interviewed her about her involvement with Douglas and Mahoney. The only time she saw Roan was for a brief minute at the precinct when they locked gazes until several people dragged Roan away.

For the rest of the week, she waited for Roan to call and provide her with the detailed update as she promised. She didn’t. The only information she had about the case she gleaned from the television news and newspapers. Although the details were sketchy, she was relieved to hear that the DA would be trying Douglas for the murder of two women and kidnapping of her and Mahoney.

That still left the unanswered question of who killed Karen, and it annoyed her that Roan hadn’t even called for a few seconds to see how she was. In her mind, it nailed the coffin lid shut on her dreams and expectations of what could be with Roan. After spending the entire week without any contact from Roan, Echo called her just before she left for her flight to her hometown. She wasn’t surprised when her call went to voice mail. The message she left was informative but curt.

“Roan, I’m going away. I won’t be back for ten days. Hopefully, we’ll catch up when I get back to town. Take care of yourself and don’t overdo it.”

When she arrived at her parents’ house, she felt relieved, even though they asked twenty questions about where Roan was. Somehow, she managed to feign a headache and tiredness at the late hour, without imparting any more than business was holding Roan up. In a way, looking at the ceiling of her old room, Echo felt safe again. She felt as safe as she had when Roan had been at her apartment. Since that time, a big part of her had felt insecure and fearful of what might happen next. Here at least, she wasn’t alone with her fears and she slept like a baby.

Fortunately, for her, the next day, her parents needed her to help with the final chaotic preparations for the celebration, and that saved her from a morass of questions about Roan. That and she’d decided not to inform them of her own ordeal. It really wasn’t worth worrying them about it at this time. Maybe after the party.

As she showered and changed for the evening, she didn’t know who was more exhausted, her or her parents. It had been fun and relaxing to be together as a family. After her close shave with death, she realized how important family was and she’d never consider it a chore again.

†

Most of the guests had arrived and the party was in full swing. As she listened to a medley of songs from the mid- to late sixties, she smiled at the tunes. Then she glanced at the DJ and groaned. Her old school friend Josie Skein, who her mother tried to fix her up with at Thanksgiving, was standing on the stage swaying to the music as she played the songs.

“That’s all I need. I guess it would just top my week off perfectly…trying to find excuses for why I don’t want to go out with her.”

“Go out with whom?”

Echo knew the voice for it always sent tingles of ecstasy throughout her body. She mentally pinched herself before looking at the person who had crept up beside her. With a wide smile, she breathed out a name, “Roan.”

Roan grinned. “In the flesh.”

Echo was speechless as she looked at Roan, who was dressed in black trousers with a purple shimmering silk shirt. Her perfume was exotic and sensual as it drifted around her like an inviting mist. Obviously, she had made an effort with her appearance. Her hair was tied back in a braid, and there was lipstick on Roan’s lips. Wonders never cease. Echo gazed into the blue eyes she thought she’d never see again. Her body yearned to reach out and touch the flesh, but she held herself in check. “Hi, I didn’t think you’d remember this, never mind attend it. How did you know where?” Roan winked and her smile grew wider as their gazes caught.

“It’s a secret known only to a few. Want to buy me a drink?”

Echo laughed. “Sure, actually, my parents will. It’s a free bar, unless you want something really, really expensive. What’s your poison, Lieutenant?” They ambled over to the bar. Echo ordered a vodka twist, then looked at Roan for her choice.

“A light beer, thanks.” Roan scanned the dance floor and felt remarkably at ease. She normally avoided such events.

A couple of minutes later, they were heading for Echo’s assigned table. It was empty of revelers who were all gyrating on the dance floor or catching up with old friends.

As they sat down, Echo absently swirled her finger around the ice in her glass. Keeping her gaze glued to the dance floor, she said, “Have you finished your case against Robert Douglas?”

“Yes. That’s partly why I’m here.”

Roan flicked a glance in Echo’s direction. “I’m sorry I never called, but…”

A finger touched her lips and stopped her from speaking. “It’s okay. I understand…your work comes first.”

“I used to think that, too, though not lately…but that’s another thing. And yes, it’s finished. That’s one of the reasons I’m here.” Roan looked around her for a few moments as she spoke, then gave her full attention to Echo.

Echo tilted her head in inquiry. “Do you require more information from me?”

Roan shook her head and rested her gaze on the dancers as she sipped her beer. “I made a promise to you that I would tell you the story. I’m sorry that it’s taken me so long to get back in touch with you. I’ve had a nightmare of a week. The details can wait until the morning…it isn’t a nice story. I can tell you that your friend has truly been vindicated.”

Echo was of two minds. A part of her wanted the truth in all its gory details while the other part wanted to enjoy the party with Roan. “What if I told you…” Echo discontinued her words when she heard her mother’s voice.

A woman about the same size as Echo appeared in front of them. “Echo, why aren’t you dancing? You young things never did know good music when you heard it. Take the rubbish they play these days. Isn’t that right, Paul? Now who’s your friend? I’m afraid I don’t recall seeing her before.”

Roan heard Echo groan under her breath, and she bit back a chuckle. She quickly scanned Echo’s mother. Fake blond hair, light blue eyes, a full mouth very much like her daughters’ in appearance, but that’s where the resemblance ended. She was short, tending to chubby and apparently excitable, definitely a handful in lots of ways. Standing, Roan held out her hand. “Mrs. Radar.” The older woman shook it with a slightly disconcerted look. Then Roan proffered it to the small wiry man beside her who had Echo’s eyes and a bulbous nose that you couldn’t help but look at. He gazed at his daughter affectionately, but Roan could tell he was disgruntled at being part of the conversation. “Mr. Radar. I’m Roan Keating.”

Paul Radar shook it, then gave her a grave appraising stare before nodding. “Good to see you. Ms. Keating.”

“Oh, Rowena Anne, you came. And Echo said you couldn’t make it…business and all that nonsense. What a pleasure to meet my daughter’s girlfriend at last.” Maggie Radar’s voice intensified by the amount of alcohol she drank.

Echo grimaced. It was like someone sticking a knife in her gut as she discreetly looked at Roan, who appeared to be remarkably nonplussed by her mother’s inebriated gushing. “Mom, Roan isn’t…”

“Pleasure to meet you, too, Maggie, I’m sorry I was late. I was held up with business…couldn’t be helped. However, I’m here now. Love the music, by the way.” Roan placed a hand on Echo’s knee for support, only to withdraw it when her body flooded immediately with heat from the contact.

Echo tuned out the rest of the conversation as she focused on the nearness of the woman. Then she chuckled as her mother dragged her father back on the dance floor to the strains of their favorite song.

Self-conscious, Echo looked at Roan and shrugged. “I’m sorry…my parents…what can I say? I’m sorry if they embarrassed you.”

Roan smiled. “Never apologize for parents. When you haven’t had any for as long as I have, you can’t possibly understand how wonderful it is to be welcomed like that.”

Echo felt that Roan was talking more to herself than her. “How old where you when you lost your parents?”

“Eight.” Roan looked like she was lost in a moment that no one else was allowed to enter. “I would normally have been with them in the car, but that day, I went with my granddad to a parade. Even back then, I wanted to be a cop. Strange how things work out.”

Echo heard the calmness behind the words, yet there was an underlining tremor in Roan’s voice. “I’m sorry that happened to you,” Echo whispered.

“My dad had an Indianapolis mentality when he drove. Apparently, he took a chance at an intersection, and bam, I was an orphan.” Roan shrugged. “According to witnesses, the car hit an eighteen-wheeler head-on, and it was all over in seconds.”

Echo reached over and placed her hand on Roan’s trembling fingers.

“You know the worst thing wasn’t my parents dying, and I know it should have been…it was Michelle,” Roan said absently as she played with the hand that offered her solace.

Echo frowned as she vaguely recalled Roan once asking for Michelle when she was sick. “Michelle?”

“Yeah.” Roan frowned and continued, “My identical twin. In most things, we were inseparable. She hated the police…said they frightened her.”

Echo threaded her fingers in Roan’s wanting to maintain the tactile contact. When she didn’t feel any resistance, she relaxed. “I’m sorry, Roan. How is your uncle?”

Roan had to prevent herself from replying with her usual stinging words about the man. Instead, with a slight tone of indulgence, she said, “The old goat is getting married again. Apparently, when he was younger, he ditched Laura for juicier pickings…as in money. He proposed from his hospital bed.” Roan laughed. “Laura had a witness, so he can’t squirm out of it this time.”

“You, I take it.” Echo smiled as she saw a change in her friend. There had always been a spark of anger and animosity when she spoke of her uncle. Now there was the chance that instead of catching a cold, she might actually be able to warm her hands on Roan’s expression. “You must like this Laura.”

“Yes, me.” Roan smiled as she remembered the scene. “You’ll like Laura. When you get back home, he’s invited you to dinner.” Roan grinned as she saw Echo’s look of panic.

“Oh, I’m not sure. It’s all very well, but I hardly know him and besides…”

“I’ll be your chaperone. I promise to protect you from his gushing thanks for saving his ass.” Roan chuckled as she imagined what her uncle would look like groveling at Echo’s feet…well, high heels.

Echo let out a sigh of relief. “In that case, I’d be delighted. How have you been? You look wiped.”

Roan groaned as she caught Echo’s mesmerizing gaze. “I accept that sleep has been somewhat of a luxury this week. However, on the plus side, I’ve been taking my meds regularly.” In truth, she’d driven a bargain at lunchtimes with her uncle, who was as stubborn as she was when he was in pain and refusing to take anything for it. If she took hers, he reciprocated.

There was companionable silence for a few minutes. Eventually, Echo asked, “Do you dance, Roan?”

Roan considered the question and laughed when she heard the words of the song. “Take me in your arms and love me.” Holding out her hand, she smiled. “Let’s go. I want to see if you can keep up with a young chickie like me.”

Echo chuckled and waved a warning finger at Roan as they reached the dance floor. “We’ll see who keeps up with whom,” she said as they began dancing to the tempo in the throng of the other dancers. As their arms automatically encircled each other, they both had a sense of coming home. Though there were no words, they relaxed and relished the closeness of being together again.

Chapter Twenty-three

Roan watched in silence as Echo and her parents laughed about something from her childhood. Just for a moment, she was jealous, but it was only a moment as a tiny smile hovered around her lips. She looked at Echo’s smaller hand clasped unconsciously in hers. It had happened quite naturally, and as much as Roan knew she should disengage, she couldn’t. In its own way, Echo’s hand was a link to a family, one she desperately wished she had. Time would tell if the new phase with her uncle was a step in the right direction.

“Echo to Roan, are you receiving me?” a lilting voice asked. Roan blushed when Echo caught her daydreaming and attempted unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn. When Echo gave her a sheepish smile that was out of step with the goofy look on her face, she suspected that the number of vodkas she’d consumed was taking its toll. “Loud and clear, Echo Radar.”

Echo felt euphoric. She was having a great time. “You weren’t a moment ago,” she said teasingly. “I’ll give you a dime for your thoughts.”

Roan gazed at Echo, and she felt her heart do a back flip. Whatever she was feeling about Echo had to be right because it felt so damned good. The next day, they’d have time to discuss everything, including personal stuff.

“They’re of no consequence. Look, I’m sorry to be a party pooper, but I’m asleep on my feet,” she whispered. “Do you mind if I call it a day?”

She was beyond tired; bone weary was closer to how she felt. Added to her arduous week was a body that wasn’t at a hundred percent. She’d had to fend off several critical reviews of her handling of the case and her lack of judgment in not letting others in on what she knew. The fact she’d been instrumental in having a civilian almost killed wasn’t sitting well with her superiors. No way would she allow Echo to find out that snippet of information.

When she’d checked her voice mail the night before and heard Echo’s voice, she knew that no matter what the findings were, she’d be on a plane to see her. In the end, they’d given her a degree of latitude due to the extenuating circumstances. It had, however, placed a black mark on her career prospects, one that she might never recover from professionally.

“I understand. Are you okay? Do you need me…?” Echo felt a shiver run through her at what she hadn’t said, hoping Roan might intuitively understand her need.

Roan faced Echo, gave her a serious look, and realized that whatever was in her professional future it had all been worth it. “Of course, but I didn’t have the luxury of leaving work yesterday unlike a certain person I know.” She gently touched Echo’s cheek with her finger. “Will you thank your parents for a wonderful evening and please don’t drink too much more, or you’ll have a bad headache tomorrow. I’ll call you in the morning and we can arrange to meet.”

Disappointment hit Echo like a gripe in the pit of her stomach as she realized Roan was leaving alone. Feigning a buoyancy she certainly didn’t feel, she replied, “How about breakfast? You can tell me about Douglas and we can put an end to that episode.”

Roan smiled slightly as her jaw muscles were working overtime. “Breakfast it is then. Good night, Echo.” She leaned over and with bravado that she never thought she’d need, she kissed the startled woman’s lips that became pliant and responsive under hers until she pulled away abruptly and left the table and the room.

All Echo could do was place a hand to her lips where Roan kissed her and gaze at the departing woman. Regaining her equilibrium and unsure what to do next, she began to stand when a voice made her reach for her vodka glass. She wasn’t going to be able to fulfill Roan’s request. Josie Skein had her in her sights, and it was going to take the Dutch courage of alcohol to see her through the woman’s advances.

†

True to her word, Roan called Echo at eight thirty a.m. “Hello,” Echo mumbled into the receiver.

“Good morning, it’s Roan. Do you still want to have breakfast with me at the hotel?” Roan asked, slightly disconcerted at what reaction she might receive from Echo after leaving her so abruptly.

A sleepy voice replied, “Yeah…can you give me a half an hour?”

Roan felt reassured at least in part. “Sure. I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“No, no, I’m just slow to wake up. I’ll meet you in a half hour, okay?” Echo shook her head and wished she hadn’t as a searing pain hit her forehead.

Roan cheerfully replied, “See you then.”

Echo held the phone to her face as she grumbled, “How can she be so chipper so early?” Her body and brain protested as Echo struggled to get out of bed. The party had cruised into the early hours of the morning, and she didn’t get to bed until after four. It hadn’t helped that Josie Skein had latched onto her like a limpet once Roan had left the room and attempted for the rest of the celebrations to try every line in the book on her.

Her mother in the end had solved the problem by coming to her rescue. “Josie dear, you missed the boat…Echo is already taken.”

Josie finally accepted defeat as she winked saucily at Echo and moved on. Echo hadn’t the heart or the inclination to deny it. Roan wasn’t there, so what harm would it do?

Echo felt like her head was bursting and even though she brushed her teeth and swished with mouthwash, her mouth still felt like she needed a toilet brush to remove the fuzz.

Sitting opposite Roan, she focused on how remarkably refreshed she looked. That was until she noticed the dark circles around her eyes. “I take it sleeping in isn’t one of your favorite pastimes on a Sunday.”

Roan gave the question a reasonable amount of thought. “Depends on what I’m doing.”

The suggestive words weren’t lost on Echo as she felt her cheeks sting with color as she remembered their kiss. “I’m a late riser on a Sunday. If I had my way, I’d be in my PJs all day. You know I’m away for the next ten days.” When she looked at the clock over the door of the hotel café, she shuddered; it was only nine thirty.

“Yes, I know. You told me on your message. Sorry to spoil your Sunday sleep-in. I’m one of those early-morning folks. I love the beginning of the day. By lunchtime, I tend to think the day is half over rather than just beginning.” There was a ghost of a smile on her lips as Roan stirred the three sugars in the black coffee.

“Is that because of the job or have you always been that way?” Echo picked up her own coffee and wondered if she could get away with taking some painkillers for the headache. She grimaced as a bolt of pain hit her just above her eyes.

Roan covertly watched Echo and had to prevent the chuckle she felt bubbling up from inside begging for release—Echo had a humdinger of a hangover. “Job mostly. I think you’ve noticed since we’ve met, I’m on call a lot. Sleeping in is a luxury most detectives can’t rely on. Although I remember when I was young, my sister would chastise me for waking up and going to watch TV and leaving her sleeping in bed.”

Echo smiled at Roan’s revelation of another family memory. “When I was a little girl, my mom had to drag me from the bed on school days. I guess a part of me is still like that little girl, but I save it up for Sunday.”

Their breakfast arrived. Roan had ordered bacon and eggs on a couple of hash browns and Echo pancakes with maple syrup. Their approach to the meal contrasted markedly. Roan began to eat with gusto while Echo slowly dissected her pancakes and chewed each small forkful automatically.

Roan finished her meal before Echo was halfway through hers. It was a sure indicator that she wasn’t feeling well. “You don’t recommend the pancakes?”

Echo looked up from her concentration of every mouthful and saw the twinkle of amusement on Roan’s face. She shook her head and instantly wished she hadn’t as the shafts of pain intensified. “I’m just not hungry…too early, I guess.”

“Okay.” Roan sipped her coffee before she motioned to the waitress for a refill and ordered an orange juice.

When Echo had dutifully eaten three-quarters of her meal, she pushed the plate to one side. She wondered if she should ask Roan to her parents’ home. At least there, she could be sick in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

“Have you brought painkillers with you?” Roan asked quietly.

“Yeah, but…”

Roan pushed the orange juice across the table. “Take a couple with the juice. It might help.”

Dutifully, she did what Roan suggested. Although it really didn’t help, just for a moment, the fact that Roan had showed concern made her feel better. “I actually feel sick. I was wondering if we could go back to my parents’ house, and that way if I…” She didn’t complete the sentence as her face contorted into misery, feeling the sickness about to erupt.

Roan instantly understood the dilemma. “I can do that. How did you get here?”

“I borrowed my dad’s car.” Echo was unprepared for the look of disbelief she received from Roan.

“You drove in your condition? If the police had stopped you, they might have arrested you for drunk driving. Did you think of that?” Roan retorted angrily.

Echo felt tears welling up at the censure, she closed her eyes tight as the nausea, and the headache vied for equal attention. “Can we argue about it later? Why don’t you take the keys and I’ll give directions?”

Still shaking her head at the idiotic notions people had, Roan took the keys and paid the bill.

Chapter Twenty-four

Fifteen minutes later, they were inside Echo’s family home. As they entered, Echo gave a groan, rushed down the hall, and shut herself in a room.

Roan gazed around the hall. It was pleasantly furnished and decorated in pale earthy colors. There was no appreciable sound from anyone, but they could be behind closed doors. There were at least three doors leading off the hall, one of which Echo had vanished into.

Then a door opened and Echo’s mother peeked around the door, her face wreathed in smiles as she saw Roan. “Why, Rowena Anne, welcome. I told Echo it wasn’t very welcoming of her to let you stay in a hotel. There was me thinking you young people were all promiscuous and slept together any chance you had. Unless that doesn’t apply to lesbians…but I’m sure it does. It did in my day, and that was way back…yes, well. I’ve been watching that program on TV ever since Echo told us she was gay. Oh, what’s the name…something beginning with an L. Anyway, come on inside, I’m making breakfast. Do you want any?”

Roan had to stifle a belly laugh. Echo’s mother never seemed to stop for a breath. In an endearing kind of way, it was refreshing. She talked and talked and talked. Venturing into the kitchen, which was lit by the midmorning sunshine, Roan smiled. The room had a homey feel.

“Paul, look who’s here, Echo’s new girlfriend. Of course, you could be an old girlfriend, and we’d never know. Echo has kept that part of her life secret from us for years. Would you believe we only found out when we visited her last year? I was shocked, but you get over it. What do your parents think of you being a lesbian? I’m making bacon sandwiches. Want one?”

Paul Radar raised an eyebrow at his wife’s constant tittle- tattle, then shook his head. With a mouthed good morning to Roan, he hid behind the newspaper.

Scratching the side of her face, Roan didn’t know what to say other than she wished she had a newspaper, too. “Sure, I’d love one, thanks.” She was full from breakfast, but she did have a plane to catch later that afternoon and maybe Echo would help her out…yeah, right.

“Take a seat beside Paul, dear. Paul, will you please be polite to our guest?”

He dropped the newspaper with a grunt.

As Roan watched him, she saw where Echo got her patience. She had an idea why some men of a lesser temperament murdered their wives. “Did the Lakers win last night?” Roan asked as she sat beside the man who she noted shifted uncomfortably.

She was pleasantly surprised as Echo’s father said, “Ah, you’re a Lakers fan…me too. They won…means we have another chance at the playoffs.” Paul’s face became animated as he talked of his favorite sport.

“My grandfather had two season tickets every year. Apparently, he and my grandmother met at a game.” Roan shrugged. “I still keep up the tradition. I don’t go as much as I want. If you’re ever in town and there’s a game, it would be my pleasure to let you have the tickets for you and your wife.”

“Wife indeed…my name is Maggie,” Echo’s mother said as she placed a plate of bacon sandwiches on the table. “I told you when we spoke on the phone that you could use it. Right, here we go…let’s eat. Where’s Echo anyway? It’s very rude of her to leave you to fend for yourself. Although it does mean that we can get to know you better.”

Each took one of the delicious-smelling bacon sandwiches and proceeded to eat in silence.

Roan demolished her sandwich in record time. She really didn’t want to listen to Maggie and her fantasy about her being intimately involved with her daughter. Not that it was abhorrent to her, quite the opposite. It was only a matter of time before Maggie asked a pertinent question that she couldn’t answer. Roan took the view that if listening and saying nothing much at all made Echo’s mother happy, it was bound to do the same for her daughter, at least she thought it might. Not everyone had the same acrimonious family ties she had. “Maybe it might be good if I checked on Echo. She wasn’t feeling well.”

“How lovely and caring. Echo’s lucky to have you. Now don’t tell me she has a hangover. You’ll have to remember that, Rowena Anne…she really isn’t a morning person, especially if she’s been drinking. Mind you, I’m not surprised, although I suspect you’ve found that out already. However, I was amazed when you left her alone last night what with that DJ making advances and trying to kiss her…you really should have taken her to the hotel with you. I think that woman is quite smitten with her. I did, of course, reintroduce them last Thanksgiving, but I didn’t know she was seeing you at the time. What’s a mother to do?” Maggie shook her blond head and bit into her sandwich.

With a tight smile, Roan left the room and heaved a sigh of relief as the door closed behind her. She’d had enough of Maggie’s revelations, especially about the DJ. Damn, I only left Echo for a couple of hours. She considered the option of taking the return ticket she purchased when she arrived and leaving. No, that wouldn’t be right. I need to honor my promise and inform her personally of how her friend died. Then she moved to the door Echo went into when they arrived.

She knocked softly. “Echo, are you okay?”

There was a groan but no comprehensible answer.

“Echo, if you don’t open the door, I might have to break it down to check on you.” Roan grinned at the suggestion. It would be a shock for Echo’s parents, she was sure of that.

Another moan and there was movement and the click of a lock as Echo opened the door slightly.

Roan gave her the once-over, taking in the sallow complexion and the miserable expression on her face. Feeling sorry for her suddenly made her jealousy over the DJ vanish. “Hey, why don’t you go back to bed? When you get back home, we can talk. I think I promised dinner.”

Echo went white at the mention of dinner and placed a hand to her mouth. Weakly, she replied, “I’m sorry. Just give me a few more minutes and I promise I’ll be out…okay? I can’t wait until I get back to the city before I know what happened to Karen.”

Roan nodded. “Okay. I’ll wait for you here.”

“You think I might forget you?” Echo asked as a faint smile hovered around her lips.

“Nope, but I’d rather you be up close and personal to me than the toilet bowl when we talk.” Roan smiled, lighting up her previously dark thoughts.

Echo was feeling queasy and didn’t reply as she closed the door.

Five minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” Roan touched the back of her hand to Echo’s forehead.

“I’ve felt better. Why don’t we go outside on the patio where we can talk? I need the fresh air.” Echo bit down on her lip and moved toward the kitchen.

“Maggie was cooking breakfast. She insisted that I have some. Actually, if you had one of those bacon sandwiches, you’d feel much better. “

“Roan, don’t! Please, are you trying to kill me?” Echo wailed as she forced herself to face the inevitable as they headed toward the kitchen.

As the door opened, her parents looked up and smiled. “Morning, darling, we’ve been getting acquainted with Rowena Anne. Your dad’s over the moon…she’s taking him to a Lakers game next time we visit during the season.”

“Wonderful, Mom,” Echo managed to say. “It’s a beautiful morning. Roan and I are going to have a chat on the patio.” She gave her mother a fixed smile before opening the door to the yard and sucking in the fresh air.

Roan winked at Paul as she followed Echo out. Closing the door behind them, she sat opposite Echo on the wooden patio furniture.

†

“I didn’t know you were a Lakers fan. Must be a big-time fan if you have season tickets…they cost a fortune. Why do you have more than one…oh, God, no. I shouldn’t have asked that,” Echo said in embarrassment. It was another facet of Roan’s personal life revealed.

Roan glanced around the low-maintenance yard. It was functional but pretty with numerous pots of flowers and shrubs. Ignoring the question, she replied, “Aren’t you?”

“I’m about as interested in sports as I am…in men! I do like watching the U.S. and the Wimbledon tennis championships.”

“Guess I won’t be having you at my side at a Lakers game then…that’s a pity.” Roan grinned and changed the subject. “Nice yard, is this how it’s always been?”

Echo felt her stomach tighten, and it wasn’t because she felt sick. It was her crass rejection of tickets to the Lakers game. God, that was stupid. Eventually, she said, “No, we used to have grass and I had a tree house until I was thirteen. Then Dad chopped the tree down and with it the house when it contracted some weird tree disease. When I left for college, they decided to go low maintenance.”

Roan remained silent, then took hold of Echo’s hand. “Look, I know you want all the details about the case, but maybe we should wait until you felt better. I can call you later when I arrive home.”

Echo felt a surge of energy from Roan’s flesh against hers. “I didn’t know you were going so soon.” Her mind kicked in. She didn’t want to sound like a needy person Roan would hate that. “I’d like to know face to face. Please…remember you promised.”

“I remember. Okay, if that’s what you want.” Roan dropped her gaze to their clasped hands. It felt natural, but then everything she did with Echo felt natural. With a wry smile, Roan began the sordid story of Robert Douglas.

“Apparently, he knew Shelby Cameron…had been one of her clients for some time. We eventually found via the vice squad a couple of witnesses from Cameron’s time on the streets that verified seeing him with her. One of the ladies told us that he was sadistic to the point that he almost killed her once. We believe that’s when she entered the Greystoke Project.”

Echo felt the last vestiges of color drain from her face as she heard the mention of Greystoke. “That’s when she met Karen.”

Roan looked at Echo, narrowed her eyes, and blew out a breath. “Possibly. Do you want me to continue?”

Echo squeezed Roan’s hand and nodded.

“Douglas went on a mission to find Cameron…he was infatuated with her. Then by chance, the chief had an invitation to a charity dinner for the project. He asked Douglas the next day to check it out. He said he saw Cameron talking with Thompson…sorry, Karen.”

Roan had spent years perfecting reports. Names of criminals and victims had become just another detail to her. At the pale expression on Echo’s face, she knew she had to correct her usual narration of a case. “Douglas followed Karen home and knew where she lived, in fact her regular pattern. He found out that Thomp…Karen had invited Shelby over for Thanksgiving.”

“Who would know? I only found out moments before I left work for my flight home,” Echo said in a thin trembling voice.

Roan frowned. “Greystoke…Layla Greystoke.”

“But she was Karen’s friend and mentor. Why would she tell him such a thing?” Outrage and anger filled Echo.

This time with her free hand, Roan touched Echo’s cheek and smiled.

“Sometimes, even good people have a dark side…I told you that before. In Greystoke’s case, she was struggling with the financing of her project. Without proper government aid, it was almost impossible to keep going. When Douglas said he could persuade the chief, the mayor, and a few other dignitaries to invest city funds, she trusted him. He used her, and she was like the rest of us…a flawed human being. He said he thought Cameron was a niece who had run away from home years before, and he needed to speak with her alone. All he wanted, he said, was an hour if she could arrange it. Of course, your friend Karen had told Greystoke her plans, and it had been easy to call Karen and persuade her to drop over to the project for an urgent meeting. Your friend trusted Greystoke, and it was her undoing.”

Echo nodded and felt the tears sting her eyes as she asked tremulously. “Douglas isn’t charged with Karen’s murder, though, is he?”

Roan sighed heavily. “No, no, he isn’t. From what Douglas implied, and we can’t corroborate it, of course, because everyone is…”

“Dead,” Echo supplied.

“Yes. Douglas indicated that Greystoke had given Karen a drink with an African herb in. Tasteless in cold water from what Nigel found out earlier…she had a tragic reaction to the herb. Greystoke hadn’t meant any harm. She’d offered her a drink as a delaying tactic. Karen died before Greystoke could call for help. When she did call, it wasn’t to the authorities. It was to Douglas. He arranged the scene to look like suicide, which went well with his plans to cover up his own brutal murder of Cameron. He was good, too. We were busy that day, and he made discreet calls to local dignitaries, including my uncle, to put pressure on my precinct to rush the case through. I’m sorry to say we did, and I can’t apologize enough for my part in it.”

Roan’s voice dropped in tempo. Her admission of her duplicity in the cover-up, however innocent, had been riding high in her wanting to solve the case.

“It wasn’t your fault, besides you vindicated yourself, you gave me hope.” Her gentle smile indicated forgiveness. “Why did Douglas implicate your uncle and lead you to think he was guilty of a crime?”

“Once my uncle opened the case because of a pretty woman, or so Douglas surmised…” Roan smiled slightly at the inference that Echo was that woman. “…he had two choices. Hope it all went away or leave town. It meant going to plan B, and we both know what that was.” Roan pursed her lips. “You asking for a meeting with my uncle interested him. His ego never expected anyone to find anything new. Our independent visits to the project spooked Greystoke. At some stage, she must have contacted him with the information. Douglas knew he had one more murder to perform, then no one, except him, would know the truth.

“He killed Greystoke and planted my uncle’s fingerprint and other DNA. It wasn’t difficult to do in his position. I think that was his biggest mistake and the one that caught him. We didn’t believe it…ultimately, I didn’t believe it. The rest…well, you know.”

Roan completed her story and sat in contemplative silence. She decided not to say that Echo’s involvement had been the catalyst. What did it matter, she’s probably better off with the DJ. Who’d want a morose cop as a girlfriend?

Echo considered the information carefully. “Layla Greystoke wasn’t really bad. I think she thought Douglas was telling her the truth…how would she know any different?”

“If that’s how you’d like to see it, then yes, it can be viewed that way.”

Maggie Radar opened the door to the patio, her mouth curling in a satisfied smile as she looked at her daughter holding hands with Rowena Anne. “Okay, you two, Dad and I have decided to take you out for lunch, our treat. A late lunch, of course, because we’ve only just had breakfast.”

Roan disengaged a hand from Echo’s and was about to say she probably would be on a flight back home when Echo said, “Don’t tell me you’ve already booked a table for four at Florentine’s.”

A tinkle of laughter gushed from Echo’s mother. “Why, of course, darling. Where else would you go for the best steak in the state on a Sunday? Our reservation is for three o’clock sharp.” She closed the door without waiting for an answer.

“Sorry about that. I’ll explain that you’ll be on a flight back home.”

Roan noticed the hint of melancholy in her words. When Echo stood and began to move away, she caught her arm. “I could take a later flight and stay longer if it would make you smile. If you want me to, all you have to do is ask.”

Echo gazed down at the woman who in a very short space of time had not only taken Karen’s place as her best friend, but had scorched a direct path to the center of her heart. Does that make me a fickle person? It was a question she’d been asking herself for a month or so and still hadn’t come up with a definitive answer. “Don’t be silly. I’m grateful you made the journey here to tell me in person. It makes me feel a whole lot better about moving on with my life.” She shrugged. “I guess my crusade for justice is over.”

“Yeah, I guess it is.” Roan frowned, wanting to say more but not knowing exactly what. She already indicated that Echo was important in her life, what more did she need? Releasing her tentative hold on Echo, she stood and towered over Echo, who was without her usual high heels.

“What time is your flight?” Echo felt washed out and wrung out to dry as all her energy dissipated. Her heart screamed for her to ask Roan to stay. Her mind contradicted her heart, telling her it would be too painful to belabor the leave taking.

Roan checked her watch and rolled her eyes. “In a couple of hours. I still need to collect my things at the hotel if I’m to make the flight. Will you call me a cab?”

Echo shook her head. “I’ll drive you.”

“No, we’ve been through this…you’re in no state to drive. Tell you what…why don’t you go back to bed and sleep it off? By the time you need to go for lunch, you’ll be as right as rain.”

“I’ll get my dad to drive you.” Without another word, they entered the kitchen. Echo explained that Roan had a flight that she couldn’t cancel.

Paul looked up from his newspaper and without prompting, volunteered his services as chauffer. Five minutes later, Roan and Echo stood at the door of her family home.

“I guess I’ll see you around, Lieutenant,” Echo said.

Roan nodded. “I sincerely hope under happier circumstances, Ms. Radar.”

Echo smiled genuinely before impulsively throwing her arms around Roan. She urgently whispered, “Thank you. I’ll never forget what you did for Karen…or me.”

Roan, relishing the feel of the soft body next to hers, closed her eyes at the contact. This was goodbye and she knew it. Did the DJ make an impression? How could she blame Echo? She’d given no indication that there could be anything other than friendship between them. Only she could change the outcome. Would it be fair to either of them? She didn’t seem to have a clue about what she wanted anymore—or did she? “You’re welcome and thank you for showing me that compassion is an integral part of the job. Bye, Echo.” She removed herself gently from the hug and walked toward the waiting car.

Echo watched silently as Roan climbed in next to her father. As the car pulled away, she felt like her heart was leaving, too. When the vehicle was out of view, Echo closed the door and came face to face with her mother. Holding up her hand, she said, “I can’t do a sensitive chat right now, Mom.”

Maggie hadn’t brought up her child without knowing when she was hurting, and right then, she was. “Would you settle for my hangover remedy and a hug?”

With a heart-wrenching sob, Echo ran into her mother’s arms. “I love her, Mom, but she doesn’t love me.”

“It’s okay, darling. I know, I know. Come on, let’s get your queasy stomach sorted first, then we’ll tackle the easier problem of Rowena Anne.”

“Oh, Mom, you don’t understand. She’s not even a lesbian.”

Maggie chuckled while snaking an arm around her daughter as they headed back inside. “Mothers know best, darling, don’t you remember that?”

Chapter Twenty-five

Paul was silent in the car, primarily because the woman beside him was like a solemn statue, albeit a beautiful one. He might be having problems coming to terms with his daughter’s sexual leanings, but he had to admit she had great taste. The only thing better than a son-in-law who followed the Lakers, was a daughter-in-law who did. Seats at the Lakers games were unusual in his circle of friends. Echo could do worse. “You meant what you said about the Lakers game when I’m in the city?”

Roan dragged her mind to the unexpected conversation. “Sure, Echo has my number.”

“The season’s almost over, just the playoffs are left. I guess it will have to be next year.” Paul negotiated the turn into the hotel car park.

“Yeah, great, no problem.” Roan’s preoccupation with her current dilemma had her stomach tied in knots. Emotional crises hadn’t been part of her life for years, not since her grandfather died. Somehow, Echo had managed to breach her emotional security and walked through the door, bolting it behind her, along with it all the emotional baggage that went with loving someone.

Paul pulled up at the entrance and stopped the car. “It won’t be a problem as long as you and Echo are still together next year. Do you do long-term commitments? Lesbians, I mean.” He pulled at his collar in embarrassment.

Roan felt the car slide to a stop. She hadn’t quite registered stopping or the content of what the man beside her said. Automatically, she gave a small smile. “Sorry, I was preoccupied. What did you say again, Mr. Radar?”

The man rolled his eyes at the reprieve from the answer he’d been expecting. “Paul, please. It can do that to you.”

Puzzled at the words, Roan turned to look at Paul. “What can?”

“Why, being in love, of course, and the separation. I remember when I had to leave Maggie. I did a dumb thing in college…got caught stealing a car as a prank. Police didn’t see it that way, and I ended up with a minor prison term. It was the worst time of my life leaving her behind. Made me understand one thing, though.”

“That was?” Roan asked, suddenly interested in what he had to say.

“She was the girl for me, and I wasn’t going to let her go a second time. We got married a month after my time was done. Now don’t you go telling Echo…she doesn’t know her dad was a criminal. It would break her heart. Her mother and I were a bit wild back then…hippie types…which is why we named her Echo.” He grinned as the memories came flooding back.

Roan shook her head. The whole family experience was strange but fascinating. “Thanks for the advice. Oh, and I promise to keep your secret. I’ve got to go. Don’t forget to call me when you want to see the game.” She climbed out of the car and walked up the steps and into the lobby of the hotel.

Paul scratched the back of his neck and muttered, “I thought I was taking her to the airport.” Maybe she’s changed her mind. He waited ten minutes as a precaution if the woman realized that she really did need a lift to the airport. When she didn’t come out again, he switched on the ignition and drove back home, becoming engrossed in the local news report on the car radio.

†

Florentine’s was a pretentious name for a glorified steak house, but it deserved the exaggerated title. It had the best steak in the state.

Echo sat opposite her parents, who were lovingly arguing over which steak they were going to choose. She felt almost normal, or as normal as she could in the knowledge that she’d said goodbye, possibly for good, to the one person she wanted to grow old with. Still, she had an odd glimmer of hope that Roan might remember to call her and take her out for the dinner that she promised, but she wouldn’t hold her breath. Who am I kidding? I’ll hold my breath forever.

Her mother’s concern and apparent understanding was sweet, but she really didn’t understand. How could she when she thought she and Roan were an item? Still, it was good to know that no matter how old she was, she could still call on her mom when she was hurting.

“What are you having, Echo?” Maggie asked. It was impossible not to see how distressed her daughter was since she wore a somber expression on her face.

Echo dragged her mind to the menu. Steak and steak in differing degrees of rarity, along with a variety of sauces, complemented the chosen dish and numerous options for side dishes. “I’ll have a medium fillet with garlic sauce and a side of vegetables.”

“No potatoes or fries, darling?”

“Nope, my waist is already thickening way beyond management these days. I’ll give it a pass.” Echo smiled at her mother, who was staring intently at a spot on her left with an astonished look on her face. “Have I suddenly grown two heads, Mom?” A sad expression settled on her face as she used the very same expression Roan used in her office, which now seemed like a million years ago.

“Only if you count mine in the equation,” the sexiest voice she would ever hear in her life remarked behind her. Then the chair next to hers moved and Roan sat down. “Sorry about being late, but I had to fix a few things.”

Echo, completely overwhelmed by Roan’s appearance, stuttered, “But…but…you…I mean, what about the plane home? Dad, you never said…” She gazed at her father, who quickly hid behind the menu.

Roan chuckled and caught Echo’s gaze. She winked as she felt that now familiar connection lock between them. “I was told by a very special person that this was the best place in the state for steak.” She winked at Maggie, who for once was at a loss for words. Then she turned her conversation back to Echo. “Don’t tell me that after a couple of hours away from me you forgot that I’m a steak addict. We’re going to have to work on that memory of yours.”

Echo felt happy as tears made her eyes watery as she felt her lips tug into a tender smile. The more she gave into her emotions, the brighter her smile grew. “I’d never forget that.”

“Great, you haven’t ordered yet, have you?” Roan peered over Echo’s shoulder to look at the menu.

Echo shook her head. “We wouldn’t dare, Lieutenant.”

“Lieutenant...as in the Army?” Paul asked.

Echo grinned. “No, Dad…as in the police…she’s a detective, no less. Her family is almost police royalty if there is such a thing. Her uncle is police chief in La Toura.”

Paul almost choked on his beer as he spluttered out, “You’re a detective?”

Roan scratched the side of her face and winked at the man. “Yep. Does that make a difference in going to the Lakers game with me?”

Paul rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Now you owe me a whole season, young lady.”

Echo frowned and turned in her chair to face Roan. “You owe my dad a season? What happened in the car going back to your hotel?”

Roan chuckled. “Yeah, I do, but that’s between me and your dad.” Roan smiled and winked at Paul. “I’m going to have the T- bone with fries and onion rings.”

Maggie didn’t know what to make of Roan’s unexpected appearance. According to Echo, the woman should have been on a plane and miles away. Her sensitive chat with her daughter earlier had her convinced that Echo loved Rowena Anne and she was sure that the woman was interested in her daughter.

She’d seen it in the way Rowena Anne looked at Echo and always stood as close as possible whenever they were together. If she’d seen it, surely Rowena Anne would one day. Echo just had to have patience and, of course, use her feminine wiles to help Rowena Anne realize what was happening between them. It looked like it might have been the ‘absence makes a heart grow fonder’ syndrome instead.

“Well, Rowena Anne, you’re going to need something with garlic. We’d better order garlic bread. Now where’s our waitress so we can order?”

Roan looked at Echo and mouthed, “Garlic?”

Echo felt herself blush. “I’m ordering garlic sauce on my steak.”

“Ah, that makes sense. Guess I’m going to have to give you one of my onion rings then.” Roan grinned, unaware at first of Echo’s reaction to her comment.

Echo held her breath at the insinuation; it was too much to take. She scraped back her chair and excused herself.

Roan saw the look of bewilderment on Echo’s face and she quietly excused herself to follow her.

As Roan reached the bathroom, she looked around. There was no one there. Puzzled, she retreated and looked down the small corridor. There was a door there, and she headed for it. It led to a patio where several tables and chairs were empty except for one. Stealthily walking toward the only person in the area, she was behind the chair in a few seconds. “Hey, I wondered if you were okay, maybe the sickness had come back or something.”

Echo tensed her muscles and bit her lip as she felt tears prick her eyelids. “I’m good. I just needed some fresh air.”

Roan heard the trembling in the voice and knew why, or at least she thought she did. Perhaps this was her chance to find out. “Echo, I’m sorry if I turned up and you didn’t want…your mother told me about that DJ…last night and that you’d seen her before.” She bit her lip again and finished. “I can leave.”

“No!” The word exploded like an atom bomb between them.

Taking her direction from the explosive nature of the answer, Roan asked, “Okay, if no is the answer, should I take it that you’re pleased to see me? I have a good reason for asking.” Roan moved tentatively forward until she was within inches of touching Echo.

“I’m pleased to see you, you know that. I just don’t understand why you came back, that’s all. The case is complete. You’ve told me what I wanted to know. What else is there? Don’t insult my intelligence by saying it was because you were jealous of Josie Skein.” Echo turned her head with an expression of understanding laced with abject sadness.

Roan crouched down next to Echo and took her hands in hers. “You, I came back because of you. I can’t take my mind off you. You’re in my mind and heart…you consume me. Don’t you know that? For the first time in my life, I’ve found a friend, and I want to keep her. I might not be very good as friend material, but I promise to be loyal and you can trust me.”

Echo heard the pleading sincerity in Roan’s voice and looked up into the eyes that bored into hers. The question was, would it be enough to be just friends? “You sound like a faithful dog.”

Duly, Roan stuck out her tongue and panted, giving her best imitation of a dog.

Echo sighed at her antics, how she loved the woman who she’d barely scratched the surface of understanding. “I need to tell you something, and perhaps once you’ve heard it, you might not want to be my best friend.”

Roan didn’t flinch. “Tell me.”

Echo pulled her hands away and began to wring them until Roan took them back and gently chaffed them into submission as they stilled under hers. “Tell me,” Roan repeated.

“I love you, not just love…I’m in love with you…a shock, huh?” Echo quietly retorted. Something strange happened that when she voiced her love, she felt better in an odd sort of way.

The confession didn’t shock Roan. It warmed her inside, yet she felt out of her depth and couldn’t find the words to respond. Instead, she dropped back on her haunches and fell over.

Echo laughed and it broke the tension between them. “I guess I bowled you over…that can be taken as good or bad.”

“Yeah…good, that is.” Roan accepted Echo’s hand and returned to her previous position. “Now do you think we can have dinner and get it over with? We need to talk. That steak sounded marvelous, though.”

“Do you ever think of anything but your stomach when it comes to red meat? Don’t you even care about what I said?” Echo asked with a warm smile, basking in the wonder of watching Roan tease her without inhibition. Besides, she was right. The sooner they ate, the quicker they could talk. She really did want to know what was going on in Roan’s mind.

“Yeah, I do, but right now, I need the red meat to give me courage to take the next step.”

“You have a basketful of courage in that body of yours. Why, I’m hardly a threat,” Echo said with a mock serious expression.

Roan felt she was slipping away from her reality. At the same time, it was a wonderful feeling, a mix of emotions she’d never experienced before. It was like a fingerprint in time waiting for discovery. “With you, Echo, who knows? All I do know for certain is that I want to stick around to find out.”

Echo couldn’t do anything but gasp. She turned to Roan and asked in a low incredulous voice, “You really do and this isn’t a trick of my hearing?”

Roan took in a breath, and as if in slow motion, she reached out and drew Echo’s face closer. She whispered, “I can’t think of living another day without you in it. I’m not sure if I can ever give you what you want, but I’m willing to explore the possibility if you’ll give me the chance. You quite literally have knocked me off my feet.” She reached forward and placed her lips on Echo’s full lips for an instant, causing the familiar spark of electricity to explode.

When they drew apart, Roan indistinctly said, “Let’s go eat.” Echo laughed. A part of her felt that Roan didn’t really understand what it meant by her loving her. At this juncture, who gives a damn. “Yeah, let’s go eat. I’m dying to see you eat another meal.”

“Hey, don’t go there. Your mother’s just recently turned me onto a TV program she watches that she assures will make me understand you.”

Echo giggled. “What program is that?”

Roan felt a warm glow flood her body at that sound. “Hmm, let’s see now, it had a letter attached to it.”

Echo groaned aloud. “No…my mom watches ‘The L Word.’ Oh, crap, I’m in big trouble. Have you ever seen it?”

“Nope, but it sounds interesting, though, and possibly worth investigating in light that I need to learn more about you…”

“No, Roan…trust me, I know just the thing for you.” Echo felt her heart racing as she looked into the blue eyes.

Roan grasped Echo’s hand and smiled. “Go for it.”

Echo laughed. Roan’s hand in hers was the perfect place to be. “It’s called personal tuition. Can I ask you a question?”

“Right now? Anything.” Roan waited as she saw Echo’s tiny muscles next to her mouth flicker before she spoke.

“This is probably not any of my business, but have you ever…that is…fallen in love before? At least in love with…” Echo shut her eyes. They could do this later.

Roan considered the real question behind Echo’s words. Had she ever been in love with another woman? “No. For the record, the first time I’ve ever been sexually turned on was…okay, you’ll laugh, I know it, but…”

Echo reached up and placed her hands around Roan’s oval face. “Tell me, I won’t laugh.”

“You…it was you. You know you have the most amazing swagger when you walk and your ass…” Roan rolled her eyes, then gazed into Echo’s astonished face. “Never expected that, did you?”

“Never in a million years…has my ass…wow...” Echo gripped Roan’s hand, unable to say anything else she was in delirious shock. They headed back toward the entrance to the restaurant and Echo’s waiting parents. After only moving a couple of feet, Roan stopped and Echo turned to gaze at her in question.

Roan’s throat felt dry as she tried to find more words that might make Echo understand that she was in this for…forever, she decided there and then. “I know this might…no, does…sound corny, but I’ve been waiting for you all my life, Echo Radar.”

Echo felt her heart was going to burst with happiness. In her wildest dreams, she’d never thought anyone would ever say something so romantic to her. Yet here it was in the form of a woman who was as far removed from romantic inclination as the pope. She breathlessly replied, “It might to some. To me, it’s the most eloquent expression on earth.”

Roan pulled Echo close and kissed the top of her head. “If I’d known it was going to be this easy to say I love you, I’d have done it years ago.”

Echo chuckled. Roan had understood what she meant and even reciprocated the feeling. She snuggled contentedly close to Roan’s chest. “I’m glad you didn’t. This is the most romantic moment of my life, knowing you waited for me.”

Roan smiled and turned so that she could see Echo more clearly. She saw the joy in her face and felt slightly disconcerted. “I guess put like that, I did.”

“Does that make you happy or sad?” Echo asked, the tension in her body at fever pitch as she waited anxiously for the answer.

Roan stared long and hard into Echo’s face, memorizing every line, then she shook her head and smiled. “You decide.” She bent her head slightly and captured Echo’s lips that she now realized had been calling to her from the first day. If only she’d known. Her hands moved to capture the object of her first-ever desire and moved sensually over the mounds, eliciting a moan from Echo.

When they broke apart, they were both breathless.

Roan gave a small smile of bemusement at the speed of her own sexually charged emotions as she bent to rest her chin on Echo’s head. “I…I have tickets to Hawaii for tomorrow for a five- day trip. I figured we both needed a break.”

Echo’s eyes widened in wonder. “You have tickets? When did you book them?”

“In the hotel before I came here. You looked even more wiped than me.” She kissed Echo’s nose as she saw it scrunch up at the suggestion of her tiredness. “I arranged for a week off before my flight yesterday and figured…”

Echo didn’t need to hear more. This woman didn’t need help in the romance department, she could write a book. “I love you, Roan Keating. Of course I’ll go.” She kissed Roan deeply.

Several minutes later after exploring every inch of skin they had on display, Echo reluctantly drew away and distractedly announced, “My parents.”

Roan nodded in a daze. “Hmm, parents, roll on Hawaii, and that personal tuition. What are you doing the rest of your life?”

With an ecstatic expression, Echo took Roan’s hand and kissed the knuckles as she whispered, “I’m going to spend it all with you.” They walked the few yards to the restaurant door with Echo contemplating this new stage in her existence.

Life was taking them on another crusade—love.

About the Author

JM Dragon

Born in England JM Dragon is and now a New Zealand citizen, living in the beautiful Canterbury countryside, JM Dragon loves to garden, travel and has a love of animals. Her animals, many of them strays, even the odd chicken, have proved a new focus in her life. Sharing her life with her family, two cats, two alpacas, and over forty bantam chickens in differing breeds; she’s found a totally different focus in her life than when she lived in England.

Her writing is a long cherished release for the characters that invade her mind on many an occasion. Always having written stories from a child, she found the internet a place she could share her creative world with other readers. Having stumbled across venues on the net for her writing, she found new subjects to explore. She currently loves the creative, readership and friendship genre she has comfortably taken residence in for the last twelve years. A keen reader of sci-fi, crime/mystery, classic, and romance of course.

JM Dragon is here to stay and loves to experiment with storylines-who knows what she will tease us with next.

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