Read Online Random Acts of Murder: A Holly Anna Paladin Mystery, Book 1 (Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries) by Christy Barritt - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Christy Barritt
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wrists together so the handcuffs could go on.
“I wondered if you might be able to offer any insight.”
What? Was this a trap? Was he for real?
“Holly? Did you hear me?”
I snapped out of my stupor. “What?”
“I wondered if you mig ht know something that connects the families, since you were working with both of them.”
“How . . . how’d you know I was working with them both?”
“We found your business card, for one thing. We called your former boss at CPS, and she approved us talking to you. Is that a problem?”
I shook my head , stealing a quick glance at Jamie. “No, no problem. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
“I figured you would.” He leaned toward me, elbows on his knees. “Is there anything you can think of, Holly, that would link those two families—besides you?”
I sighed and looked off in the distance. What would connect those families, other than me? The police had to know most of what I knew already, though.
“ I can only speak about Katrina and Bernice. Both of the women had spouses who abandoned them. Then again, most of the kids growing up in lower-class homes don’t have male role models. Many of them have been abandoned by their fathers.”
Chase nodded. “Anything else?”
“Dewayne was just visiting Katrina, so I never met him before. There’s not a lot I can say.”
“Does the Praetorian Guard mean anything to you?” Chase asked. “And I’m not talking about the one from ancient Roman times.”
I stared at him a moment. “I’ve heard of them. I mean , everyone around here has.” They were a violent street gang that the police had been trying to bring down for years. Instead of them disbanding under the threat of arrest, that possibility seemed to bring them closer. “You think this is because of the gang?”
Chase nodded. “There are rumors that both were involved in the gang. No one’s owning up to it, though.”
“Most parents don’t want to admit that, I suppose. Although, to find their kids ’ killer they might.”
“Unless they’re being threatened.”
I let my head drop back slightly. “Unless they’re being threatened.”
Chase tilted his head. “I wondered if you might be willing to talk to your former clients.”
“They’re not going to tell me anything, Chase. Even though I’m not a CPS investigator anymore, they’re afraid I’ll take their kids away from them.”
“Maybe if they thought their safety was at risk , you could convince them to talk—for the sake of their kids. You know they don’t trust the police. As soon as they spotted me coming their way, they clammed up. But you have a way with people.”
“A way with people?” Had he just given me a compliment? That was strange because I had the impression he thought I was a total loser.
“Yeah, you’re sweet and kind. People take to that. They know you’re a good listener.” He shifted , but his eyes never left me. “So, what do you say?”
I nodded, hoping my cheeks didn’t heat. “Of course. I’ll do whatever I can to help with this investigation.”
A grin spread across his face . “Thank you. Whatever you do, don’t put yourself in any danger. I think I know you well enough to know that you’re not the risk-taker type. You always think things through.”
I had been that type—u p until the point in time when I’d been given a year to live. Apparently, I thought that gave me a year to make stupid decisions. I’d learned my lesson, but I feared I might be too late.
“Of course. I’m Holly I-always-think-twice Paladin.” And I usually was thought out, responsible, the one everyone depended on. My timing just happened to be lousy.
He stood. “Nice to meet you, Jamie.”
She grinned a little too widely. “You too, Chase.”
He turned toward me and offered a curt nod. “I’ll be in touch, Holly.”
As soon as he was gone, I turned to Jamie. Neither of us needed to say anything to know the other’s thoughts. This was horrible. Just
“I wondered if you might be able to offer any insight.”
What? Was this a trap? Was he for real?
“Holly? Did you hear me?”
I snapped out of my stupor. “What?”
“I wondered if you mig ht know something that connects the families, since you were working with both of them.”
“How . . . how’d you know I was working with them both?”
“We found your business card, for one thing. We called your former boss at CPS, and she approved us talking to you. Is that a problem?”
I shook my head , stealing a quick glance at Jamie. “No, no problem. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
“I figured you would.” He leaned toward me, elbows on his knees. “Is there anything you can think of, Holly, that would link those two families—besides you?”
I sighed and looked off in the distance. What would connect those families, other than me? The police had to know most of what I knew already, though.
“ I can only speak about Katrina and Bernice. Both of the women had spouses who abandoned them. Then again, most of the kids growing up in lower-class homes don’t have male role models. Many of them have been abandoned by their fathers.”
Chase nodded. “Anything else?”
“Dewayne was just visiting Katrina, so I never met him before. There’s not a lot I can say.”
“Does the Praetorian Guard mean anything to you?” Chase asked. “And I’m not talking about the one from ancient Roman times.”
I stared at him a moment. “I’ve heard of them. I mean , everyone around here has.” They were a violent street gang that the police had been trying to bring down for years. Instead of them disbanding under the threat of arrest, that possibility seemed to bring them closer. “You think this is because of the gang?”
Chase nodded. “There are rumors that both were involved in the gang. No one’s owning up to it, though.”
“Most parents don’t want to admit that, I suppose. Although, to find their kids ’ killer they might.”
“Unless they’re being threatened.”
I let my head drop back slightly. “Unless they’re being threatened.”
Chase tilted his head. “I wondered if you might be willing to talk to your former clients.”
“They’re not going to tell me anything, Chase. Even though I’m not a CPS investigator anymore, they’re afraid I’ll take their kids away from them.”
“Maybe if they thought their safety was at risk , you could convince them to talk—for the sake of their kids. You know they don’t trust the police. As soon as they spotted me coming their way, they clammed up. But you have a way with people.”
“A way with people?” Had he just given me a compliment? That was strange because I had the impression he thought I was a total loser.
“Yeah, you’re sweet and kind. People take to that. They know you’re a good listener.” He shifted , but his eyes never left me. “So, what do you say?”
I nodded, hoping my cheeks didn’t heat. “Of course. I’ll do whatever I can to help with this investigation.”
A grin spread across his face . “Thank you. Whatever you do, don’t put yourself in any danger. I think I know you well enough to know that you’re not the risk-taker type. You always think things through.”
I had been that type—u p until the point in time when I’d been given a year to live. Apparently, I thought that gave me a year to make stupid decisions. I’d learned my lesson, but I feared I might be too late.
“Of course. I’m Holly I-always-think-twice Paladin.” And I usually was thought out, responsible, the one everyone depended on. My timing just happened to be lousy.
He stood. “Nice to meet you, Jamie.”
She grinned a little too widely. “You too, Chase.”
He turned toward me and offered a curt nod. “I’ll be in touch, Holly.”
As soon as he was gone, I turned to Jamie. Neither of us needed to say anything to know the other’s thoughts. This was horrible. Just
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