Half Past Dead by Meryl Sawyer Page B

amazing was that the sheriff had allowed her to question Maria. He probably knew it was a dead end, but he seemed nicer today than he had last night. David’s influence, she decided.
    She remembered standing in front of Justin’s desk. He hadn’t been wearing a uniform. His blue polo shirt gaped open at the neck and revealed a tuft of dark hair. He’d insolently scanned her body, finally meeting her eyes with a smile that would test a nun’s vows. When he spoke, she felt his deep voice inside her chest, and a warm glow flared into something more when she gazed into his eyes.
    Just thinking about him did ridiculous things to her pulse. No matter how attractive she found him, Justin wasn’t on her side. He was looking for an excuse to send her back to prison. Never forget it.
    She opened the salon’s door and a whoosh of blessedly cool air greeted her. She stepped inside and quickly shut the door behind her. Lola Rae was cutting an older woman’s hair.
    The line of the woman’s jaw reminded Kat of her mother. Surely by now, her mother knew she was back in town. Kat hoped she would come to see her, but doubted this would happen. An ache too deep for tears assailed her. She managed to tamp it down and told herself that she would have to go see her mother herself.
    Lola Rae glanced up and her deep brown eyes widened. “What happened to you?”
    â€œA car with no air.”
    â€œWell, sit down and I’ll fix you in a minute. Know what I mean?”
    Kat waved her off. “Thanks, but I haven’t got time. I just dropped by to see Maria.”
    Lola Rae’s expression was questioning, but Kat didn’t explain. “She’s in the back.”
    Kat found Maria in the storage room, cleaning brushes. It took Kat a few minutes and lots of hand gestures to make Maria understand what she was asking. Kat could see the young woman was fearful.
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    N ORA RAPPED SOFTLY on Justin’s doorjamb. Her blouse had smudges of dust from moving around junk in the basement. He would have had one of his deputies do it, but they were down at the river where the noodling contest was in the preliminary stages. This was the only county in a three-state area where noodling was legal and it drew a big crowd.
    Why anyone would want to catch catfish with their bare hands defied all logic, but noodling was a big sport in the area. A lot of drinking went on between rounds and that meant fights. He’d given Nora instructions to come get him to lift anything heavy.
    â€œNeed my help?” he asked.
    â€œNo. Kat Wells is here to see you…again.”
    He was momentarily speechless. If she was back so soon, she must have found out something. I’ll be damned, he thought. “Send her in.”
    Kat walked into his office as fast as her shapely legs could bring her. By the eager look on her face, he could see that she had information. Well, so had he. The state crime lab might not know jack shit, but the coroner in New Orleans was first rate.
    She sat down in the chair in front of his desk and leaned forward. “I have some information…off the record, of course.”
    He couldn’t believe her nerve. It almost—almost—gave him hope that she might make it. But the odds were against her. She was more likely to end up in prison again than to lead a normal life.
    â€œWhy is this off the record? Law enforcement doesn’t do off the record. That’s media stuff.”
    Her lips twisted into a grim smile. “Do I look stupid?”
    â€œWell, now that you mention it.”
    â€œVery funny,” she shot back, standing up. “Obviously you don’t want to solve this case. I’m outta here.”
    â€œSit down, sit down.”
    She lowered herself into her chair. It was a simple movement, but he found it very provocative. Well, hell. He’d found her sexy from the get-go, but the more he was around her, the more intense the attraction became.