Read Online ToServeAndProtect by KyAnn Waters - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: KyAnn Waters
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great.”
Standing at the sink, she glanced over her shoulder.
“I didn’t recognize you at first.” She filled the carafe with water. Dustin
wore a dark navy suit with a white shirt and a maroon and navy polka dot tie.
He looked like he could be in her line of work. The suit was much less
intimidating. In fact, she found him attractive, which made her look away.
“The alarm,” he pressed. “It could be important.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember if I turned the alarm
off when I got home. I assume the light glowed green when I stood at the sink
and drank the rest of my water because I would’ve noticed if it blinked red.”
Dustin stood and hung his jacket over the back of the
chair. “Care if I look around again?” He nodded toward the hall and started
walking before she could object.
After pouring the coffee, she followed him. He stood
at the picture windows facing east in the great room. The view started with the
football field of the university and stretched over the city. In the distance,
pockets of trees nestled amidst clusters of small square houses. Major
thoroughfares, two-lane side streets, and a town bumped up against the edge of
the Rocky Mountains and stretched to the lake on the horizon.
“Gorgeous view.”
She stood beside him. “At night it’s even prettier.”
Good hell, what was she doing? Oh yes, she knew exactly what she was doing.
Sparking his interest.
“At some point, I’ll want you to walk me through the
night of the murder.” He turned to McKenna. “I understand if you’re not ready
today.”
She handed him a large, purple mug. Steam drifted
above the dark roast with a light vanilla scent. “Did you want cream or sugar?”
He shook his head and took a sip of his, and she did
the same. The hint of vanilla flavor floated across her tongue.
“About that night,” he continued. “Your memory is
fresh. Now is better than later, but it’s up to you.” He took another sip of
coffee. “After all, you just made the best cup of coffee I’ve ever tasted.” He
winked.
Her shoulders relaxed. She’d never had a man
compliment her on coffee. Elliot rarely bestowed gratitude. He drank his coffee
in the morning whether it was instant or brewed. She brewed the best for her
enjoyment. “We can talk now.”
“Good.”
“I came in through the front door.” She wrapped her
hands around the coffee cup as if it were a magical talisman giving her
strength. “The light from the lamppost shines through the window. I didn’t turn
on any interior lights. Like I told you in the kitchen, I drank my bottled
water then headed for my room. Do you want me to show you?”
He nodded.
“Elliot eats in bed.” McKenna started up the stairs.
“He drives Doris, the cleaning lady, crazy. She finds dishes all over his room,
the bathroom, or anywhere else hunger strikes him. Elliot has always been
driven. Eating and sleeping get in the way of his work.”
Dustin followed her up the stairs. “Did you get in the
way of his work?”
She paused before answering. He’d pinpointed the
truth. “Yes.” She stopped midway up the stairs. “I thought I stepped in syrup
or something. Elliot doesn’t clean up after himself.”
She started back up the stairs. Her throat tightened
as she approached the top landing. Although the floor was clean and the walls
were freshly painted, in her mind, she could see the blood clinging and
dripping. The floor still felt sticky. Her mind spun. She grabbed the rail. The
same sickening dread washed over her. Perspiration dripped down the underside
of her arm. She started to sway and couldn’t stop the black from encroaching.
“Hey!” Dustin set his coffee down and grabbed hers,
too. He reached out and braced McKenna before she could stumble backwards down
the stairs. “Take a minute.” He helped her to sit on the top stair. “Put your
head between your knees.” He pushed on her head until she bent over. “You’re
going to pass out. After a few days
Standing at the sink, she glanced over her shoulder.
“I didn’t recognize you at first.” She filled the carafe with water. Dustin
wore a dark navy suit with a white shirt and a maroon and navy polka dot tie.
He looked like he could be in her line of work. The suit was much less
intimidating. In fact, she found him attractive, which made her look away.
“The alarm,” he pressed. “It could be important.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember if I turned the alarm
off when I got home. I assume the light glowed green when I stood at the sink
and drank the rest of my water because I would’ve noticed if it blinked red.”
Dustin stood and hung his jacket over the back of the
chair. “Care if I look around again?” He nodded toward the hall and started
walking before she could object.
After pouring the coffee, she followed him. He stood
at the picture windows facing east in the great room. The view started with the
football field of the university and stretched over the city. In the distance,
pockets of trees nestled amidst clusters of small square houses. Major
thoroughfares, two-lane side streets, and a town bumped up against the edge of
the Rocky Mountains and stretched to the lake on the horizon.
“Gorgeous view.”
She stood beside him. “At night it’s even prettier.”
Good hell, what was she doing? Oh yes, she knew exactly what she was doing.
Sparking his interest.
“At some point, I’ll want you to walk me through the
night of the murder.” He turned to McKenna. “I understand if you’re not ready
today.”
She handed him a large, purple mug. Steam drifted
above the dark roast with a light vanilla scent. “Did you want cream or sugar?”
He shook his head and took a sip of his, and she did
the same. The hint of vanilla flavor floated across her tongue.
“About that night,” he continued. “Your memory is
fresh. Now is better than later, but it’s up to you.” He took another sip of
coffee. “After all, you just made the best cup of coffee I’ve ever tasted.” He
winked.
Her shoulders relaxed. She’d never had a man
compliment her on coffee. Elliot rarely bestowed gratitude. He drank his coffee
in the morning whether it was instant or brewed. She brewed the best for her
enjoyment. “We can talk now.”
“Good.”
“I came in through the front door.” She wrapped her
hands around the coffee cup as if it were a magical talisman giving her
strength. “The light from the lamppost shines through the window. I didn’t turn
on any interior lights. Like I told you in the kitchen, I drank my bottled
water then headed for my room. Do you want me to show you?”
He nodded.
“Elliot eats in bed.” McKenna started up the stairs.
“He drives Doris, the cleaning lady, crazy. She finds dishes all over his room,
the bathroom, or anywhere else hunger strikes him. Elliot has always been
driven. Eating and sleeping get in the way of his work.”
Dustin followed her up the stairs. “Did you get in the
way of his work?”
She paused before answering. He’d pinpointed the
truth. “Yes.” She stopped midway up the stairs. “I thought I stepped in syrup
or something. Elliot doesn’t clean up after himself.”
She started back up the stairs. Her throat tightened
as she approached the top landing. Although the floor was clean and the walls
were freshly painted, in her mind, she could see the blood clinging and
dripping. The floor still felt sticky. Her mind spun. She grabbed the rail. The
same sickening dread washed over her. Perspiration dripped down the underside
of her arm. She started to sway and couldn’t stop the black from encroaching.
“Hey!” Dustin set his coffee down and grabbed hers,
too. He reached out and braced McKenna before she could stumble backwards down
the stairs. “Take a minute.” He helped her to sit on the top stair. “Put your
head between your knees.” He pushed on her head until she bent over. “You’re
going to pass out. After a few days
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