Read Online Breaker's Reef by Terri Blackstock - Free Book Online

here?”
    “Can I talk to you, Cade? Actually, maybe I should tell Joe too.”
    Joe’s eyebrows came up. “Sure, let’s go in here.”
    He led her into the interview room, Cade following behind them. Once again, she wished she’d gone home to fix herself up before coming here. A little perfume wouldn’t have hurt, or evena little deodorant after walking here in the heat. She finger-combed her hair.
    Cade sat on the table. “What is it, Sheila?”
    “I think I might know who killed that girl.” There. She had their full attention.
    Joe pulled out a chair, dropped into it. “Go on.”
    “I don’t know if Blair told you or not, Cade, but Marcus Gibson—the writer—hired me to do some typing for him.”
    “No, she didn’t mention it.”
    “Well, he did. I’ve been typing his dictation and also entering some of his older books into his computer. And as I was typing today, I found a description of a murder that is really similar to Emily Lawrence’s murder.”
    Cade and Joe exchanged looks. “Similar in what way?”
    “A girl was shot, and her body was put into a boat to float down the river so someone would find her.”
    Joe shot Cade another look, and Sheila knew she’d brought them important information. “We need the name of that book, Sheila.”
    “It was
Crescent Hill.
I probably should have brought it with me, but he was there, and he’s so creepy. Sleeping out all night in the woods, swimming fully dressed, sneaking up on me when I least expect it …”
    “Sleeping in the woods?” Joe stood back up. “He told you that?”
    “Yes. He’s trying to get into the head of his character. But his main characters seem to always be the killers, so that in itself is creepy. I’ll tell you, I don’t know if I can go back there tomorrow. I’m starting to be afraid of him. But I know where his key is, and I can go if you need me to help you with the investigation …” She smiled, trying to work a smile out of Cade, as well. “If you promised me some personal protection, I might be willing to go back and try to see what I could find.”
    Joe shook his head. “Not a good idea. Maybe you’d better stay away until we have time to look into this. We don’t want you to be in danger.”
    Warmth flushed through her. “Well, thank you, Joe. I appreciate that.”
    “He’s right,” Cade said. “We need to look into this before you go back. We’ll take it from here, Sheila. Thanks for coming by.”
    Cade opened the door for her—the perfect gentleman—and she stepped out into the squad room. Blair stood just inside the front door.
    The smile Sheila had been trying to get out of Cade blossomed on his face, and her own heart took a nosedive.
    Sheila recognized the look on Blair’s face too. Her expression held a combination of jealousy, anger, insecurity, and fear—at least that was how Sheila saw it. Blair’s usual self-confidence seemed to slip a couple notches whenever Sheila was around Cade. She should tell Blair she had just come on police business, but she kind of liked the idea of having someone think of her as a threat.
    “Hey, babe.”
    At Cade’s warm greeting, Blair lost that threatened look and smiled up at him. He was a good head taller than she. Like it or not, they looked really cute together. “Bad time?” Blair asked.
    “No, actually. It’s a good time. I need you to go somewhere with me.”
    Sheila’s chest tightened. Cade had forgotten she was there.
    “Where?” Blair asked.
    “The library. I have a book I need to check out, and you’ll know right where it is.”
    “That’s me—” Blair grinned—“Marion, the former Librarian. I’ll help if the Ladies’ Auxiliary hasn’t recataloged everything. They’re liable to have revamped the whole system.”
    Sheila followed them out. “I’ll see you later. Cade, call if you need to ask me anything.”
    “I will,” he said. “Thanks, Sheila.”
    She stood there and watched as they got into Cade’s truck.
    “Are you