Emergency Response by Susan Sleeman Page B

“Do they have any idea what happened to him?”
    â€œNone,” Skyler answered. “The detective in charge of the case isn’t sure if there was foul play or if Leland cut himself eating dinner in front of the TV, or something innocent like that. They checked area ERs and clinics. He didn’t seek medical attention.”
    â€œI’ll need to talk to the detective,” Noah said.
    â€œWay ahead of you.” Skyler ripped a page from her notebook and handed it to him. “Here’s his contact information. He’s very interested in your hit list, and I told him you’d be calling.”
    Noah took the paper. “Strong detective work, Skyler. Thanks for your help.”
    â€œGlad to do it.”
    â€œI’ll make an appointment to meet with him as soon as possible. I’ll want to see King’s home and review the detective’s casebook.”
    â€œCasebook?” Darcie asked.
    â€œAn indexed file of everything from witness statements to medical reports and an evidence log,” Noah replied. “A good detective will have a neat and organized file that I can copy.”
    Skyler closed her notebook. “I also ran a thorough check on Pilar. She’s squeaky clean.”
    Darcie frowned. “I hate that you have to investigate them when they haven’t done anything wrong.”
    â€œCan’t be helped,” Noah said. “They’re a part of this through no fault of their own.”
    Darcie jutted out her chin, looking like an adorable, pouty child. “Then you should investigate me, too.”
    â€œAlready am,” Noah replied without a bit of hesitation. “Or at least one of my fellow detectives is running a check on you.”
    Her mouth dropped open.
    â€œIt’s protocol, Darcie,” Skyler added.
    â€œI know, but—”
    â€œBut you’re worried we might learn something about your past that you haven’t volunteered,” Skyler interrupted.
    Darcie fiddled with her ball of yarn. “I don’t have anything to hide, but yeah. My past is my story to tell. Not something I want you to learn from some report.”
    â€œThere’s a solution to that.” Noah locked eyes with Darcie, waiting for her to capitulate and talk about her past.
    She held his stare and returned it ounce for ounce. He felt the tension rolling off her, but she didn’t bat an eye. Didn’t say a word. Fine. She still didn’t plan on sharing her past with him. He deserved that. He hadn’t told her about Evan, either.
    â€œI’m still working on Mayte,” Skyler went on as if he and Darcie weren’t engaged in a stare down.
    Noah changed his focus to Skyler. “I suspect she has a long arrest record.”
    Skyler nodded. “Which is why it’s taking longer to pull together. I’ve requested case files for each of her arrests to see if any of them are gang-related.”
    â€œFor Isabel’s and Pilar’s sake, I hope the answer is no,” Darcie said with grim certainty.
    Noah wasn’t optimistic. He suspected Mayte’s habitual drug use brought her in contact with gangs, and he wouldn’t be surprised if they discovered a connection to Darcie’s attack.
    * * *
    Darcie took a breath before answering Noah’s request to spend the night at the firehouse to keep watch over her. He looked stubbornly set in his decision, but Darcie wasn’t ready to concede yet. She couldn’t. Just the thought of him staying close by all night sent unwanted emotions firing.
    â€œWell?” he asked, looking hopeful.
    â€œI’m not declining your help,” she said as firmly as she could without making him think she was ungrateful. “But I’m well protected with the team surrounding me. You don’t need to stay here tonight.”
    â€œI get that, I honestly do, but for my own peace of mind I have to be close by.” He planted his hands on his waist and met