“Yeah, but you and Julie just started talking recently. Did she reach out for help at any time before the divorce?” Brock asked.
“No.” Zara shook her head. “We lost touch.” Guilt hunched her shoulders. Why hadn’t she made more time to keep her friendship active? Could Jay be telling the truth? She’d seen people get totally out of control during a divorce, and maybe Julie had been exaggerating. Zara had driven up just as the two had been scuffling by the door, and she had jumped in.
Jay breathed out and tapped his fingers on the table. “Listen. We’ve all screwed up. I shouldn’t have fought with Julie, Zara shouldn’t have helped the opposition on a case, and Ryker shouldn’t have butted his knuckles in. Let’s everybody just forget it and concentrate on finding out who killed Julie.”
There was the reasonable guy Zara had dated. She should feel awkward about that, but with all the real-life emergencies happening around her, she couldn’t summon up the emotion. Thank goodness she hadn’t slept with him. “I agree,” she said.
Brock plastered his palm against his forehead. “If you’d like to find another firm to represent you, I can help you choose.”
“No. Let’s all just move on here together.” Jay steepled his hands, looking every bit the politician.
Relief flowed through Zara, although she no doubt would have a chat with Brock later. He could still fire her for putting him and the law firm in such jeopardy. Had she misjudged Jay? There had to have been something decent in him for her to like in the first place, right?
What if Jay was actually telling the truth about Julie? Had she been on drugs?
Ryker leaned back. “Just so we’re clear, Mayor. Clean slate as of now. If you ever even remotely lift a hand to a woman, I’m going to snap it off.”
Jay cut him a look and then focused on Zara. “You could do better.”
Ryker huffed out a breath. “People keep saying that.”
Zara bit her lip. A part of her was starting to enjoy Ryker’s protectiveness, and she wondered if that was all right. It seemed all right. Perhaps it was time to get back to business. “Where are we on the investigation?”
Brock spun a picture toward her. “I have a friend in the sheriff’s office, and I got most of the file. Julie was stabbed fifteen times in the neck and chest. She didn’t have a chance.”
Nausea rolled through Zara’s belly as she looked at the picture. Blood covered Julie’s entire body, and even some bones could be seen. God, her poor friend. The fear and pain she must’ve felt. “Any suspects?” She tried to keep her voice from shaking.
“Right now me,” Jay said. “They always look at the husband first.”
“I’m tracing all of Julie’s credit cards and phone calls from her cell,” Ryker said. “Should have more information for you by tomorrow noonish.” His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. “Zara? A moment, please.” Without waiting for an answer, he pushed away from the table and pulled out her chair.
She fumbled and then stood. Her breath heated. She followed him outside the conference room. “What? Is it Greg? Is he okay?” The kid should’ve come to work with her. Her knees bunched with a desperate need to run and get him.
“The police are at your house,” Ryker whispered. “Denver heard the call come in on the scanner.”
“The police?” The hallway spun around her. “What I mean, why?”
“Dunno. Our best move is to meet them there and see what’s up.” He poked his head back inside the conference room. “I need to follow up a lead, and Zara’s coming along to assist.” He shut the door before Brock could respond. “Let’s go.”
Zara followed Ryker woodenly through the office, her mind going blank. One of her neighbors must’ve seen the break-in. What if they’d also seen Ryker kidnap the attacker? What was she going to do? Should they run? Her breath panted out.
They walked outside to the truck and drove in silence through town, both lost in their own thoughts.
“If I tell you to run, then do it,” Ryker said quietly.
“Where?” She turned on him in the Hummer. “Where exactly am I supposed to run?”
“My apartment. It’s listed under a dummy corporation and can’t be traced to Lost Bastards or me. Or anybody else for that matter.” He swung into her neighborhood.
“Who are you hiding from?” she whispered.
He glanced at her, his eyes shuttering closed. “It doesn’t matter. The past doesn’t matter for us, baby. It can’t.”
Yet that’s what seemed to drive him, now, didn’t it? “Why won’t you level with me, let me into your world?” She needed to know who to fear. Or rather, who to fight.
He sighed. “You are in my world. I promise. The past is just that and only that. Well, except for Greg.” Ryker turned toward her, his gaze somber. “Greg wants us to find a woman who knew Denver, Heath, and me as kids. She was a scientist, and she studied us.”