Half Past Dead by Meryl Sawyer

his own business.
    â€œSend them in.”
    â€œYes, indeedy.”
    To avoid staring at Kat, Justin kept his eyes on Noyes as they walked into his office. Noyes wore a charcoal-gray suit a shade darker than his short-cropped gray hair and a blue tie. He was tall but slightly stooped with age.
    Kat strode in beside him, attitude oozing from every pore. She was dynamite in an outfit that emphasized high, full breasts without revealing them and showed off sculpted, showgirl legs. Tori overdid it when she tried to be sexy. Kat was hot without even trying.
    â€œThis is a surprise.” Justin stood and shook Noyes’ hand, then reached for Kat’s. He looked directly into her smoldering green eyes, and unexpectedly had an image of her in his bed, her hair fanned across his pillow—those compelling eyes wide with desire.
    â€œWe’ve received some information,” Noyes said.
    â€œWe’d like a confirmation from you before we go to press,” Kat added, dropping his hand the instant their fingers touched.
    Deafening alarm bells chimed in his head, blocking out the image of Kat. Now what? Redd chose that moment to scratch himself, and the desk began to shake. “My dog’s under there.”
    â€œReally?” Kat’s expression softened but she stopped short of a smile.
    Evidently she liked dogs. A point in her favor. He reminded himself Kat Wells was a felon. Don’t start liking her, he warned himself. “I rescued Redd. He’d been abandoned and was living in the woods. He’s still a bit shy.”
    Kat rewarded him with a real smile. A gorgeous smile.
    â€œWhat would you like me to verify?”
    Noyes glanced at Kat, obviously letting her handle this. It was surprising they were getting along so well so fast. Go figure.
    â€œIs it true that you sent the murdered woman’s body to the New Orleans coroner?”
    How in hell had they heard about it? Justin had told everyone at the station to keep quiet. Then he remembered neglecting to warn Mayor Peebles. The leak must have come from there.
    Justin tried to sound shocked. “Send the body out of state?”
    Kat stared at him with a look that said she’d read his mind and knew he was bluffing. “A reliable source claims you did.”
    Justin quickly weighed his options. He did not want this in the paper. It would just be ammunition for Judge Kincaid and Buck Mason to use against him. In a year, Justin would have to stand for election. Mason and Kincaid would back some other candidate and fling around crap about Justin.
    â€œThis is off the record.” Justin waited. He knew Noyes would realize he couldn’t print the information, but Kat might not.
    â€œAll right,” Noyes said reluctantly. He turned to Kat. “That means—”
    â€œWe can’t print it.” She glared at Justin with burning reproachful eyes. “Don’t the people have a right to know? There’s a killer out there. Others could be in danger.”
    â€œNot necessarily. Some folks think a tourist visiting the casino committed the crime. You know, someone passing through. The woman died months ago, and no one else has been killed.”
    â€œIs that your theory?” Kat inquired in a voice that was just a touch too sweet for the look in her eyes.
    Hey, she could be tough. He hated to admit it but she already read him like no one else could. Justin saw Noyes smile slightly. No doubt, he would have asked the same question.
    â€œI don’t jump to conclusions when I’m working a case. I deal in facts. Theories make you miss things.”
    â€œOkay,” Noyes said. “What were you going to tell us that’s off the record?”
    â€œI did send the body to New Orleans. I wanted as fast a turnaround as I could get. I should have the test results today.”
    Kat put her hands on her hips. “This is too small of a town to keep this a secret.”
    â€œTrue, but I’d rather