MULTIPLE MOTIVES (The Kate Huntington mystery series Book 1) by Kassandra Lamb Page A

indefinitely.”
    “She’s got a point,” Liz said.
    “Okay, first task, hit the case files.” Rob pushed up from his chair. He leaned down to kiss his wife as he walked past the sofa.
    “Want to join us for target practice Wednesday, Liz?” Mac asked.
    Liz waved in the general direction of her big blue foot and the crutches propped against the end of the sofa. “I don’t think I’m mobile enough yet to be stomping around in the woods. But I’ll take a rain check. The idea of knowing how to blow away someone who’s threatening you and yours has some appeal.”
    Rob gave her another shocked look. “No matter how many years you’re married to ’em, don’t ever think you know ’em,” he muttered to Mac.
    “Wouldn’t know. Never could never get a marriage to stick all that long.” Mac had been married twice, for about fifteen minutes each time.
    ~~~~~~~~
    The afternoon sun was sinking toward the horizon as Mac drove Kate home on Wednesday. She was trying to sort out the jumble of emotions that was making her stomach churn and her head hurt.
    Discouragement was definitely in there. Her target practice session hadn’t gone well. With the pistol Mac had initially given her–a .38 snub nose he’d called it–she had hit absolutely nothing. Not even the trees to which he’d tacked the paper targets with human outlines on them. Reconsidering, Mac had produced a long-barreled revolver that looked like something out of the Old West.
    “Thirty-two. Lighter. Easier to aim. Still enough stoppin’ power,” he muttered. “Good weapon for a girl.”
    Kate had been offended by his sexist remark, until she discovered she couldn’t hit anything with that gun either. After three hours of practice, she had at least been consistently hitting the tree, several feet above the target.
    Mac’s disgusted growl, Squeeze the damn trigger, don’t jerk it , was still echoing in her head.
    This was on top of the frustrating sessions looking through case files on Monday and Tuesday evenings. She and Rob had discovered they had more shared cases than they’d first assumed, and it was taking far too long to go over them. They’d only gotten through the first third of the alphabet.
    After rehashing the details of each case, they’d only eliminated two cases where there would be no reason for anyone to hold a grudge. The compulsive spender who’d turned to shoplifting when she ran out of money and the prominent businessman caught indulging in some recreational marijuana use were both grateful when Rob had gotten them off with no jail time. Kate had provided the counseling required by the court as part of their probation. But in every other case, someone had ended up unhappy. When things get to the point where a lawyer is required, somebody is likely to be the loser.
    And now she had this other issue. As they drove down York Road, she pointed to a Walgreen’s sign. “Can you pull in there? I need to get something.”
    “Sure.” Mac swung his truck into the parking lot.
    “Uh, what I need, it’s personal. I’ll be okay if I go in alone.”
    “No way, sweet pea. Too dangerous. But I’ll stay up front. Keep an eye on the truck, while you shop.”
    Inside, she quickly found what she needed and took it to the pharmacy counter in the back of the store to pay for it. She stuffed the semi-transparent bag into her purse before heading up to where Mac was standing, his gaze moving back and forth from her to his Hummer out in the parking lot.
    ~~~~~~~~
    The doorbell rang. A shiver of fear ran through Rob’s belly as he glanced at his watch. Nine-thirty. Rather late for legitimate callers.
    Lou had nudged the curtain aside on the window in the front door and was looking out. Rob peered over his shoulder.
    At the sight of Kate’s pale face, he shoved Lou unceremoniously aside and yanked open the door. “Where’s Mac?”
    “I asked him to wait in the truck.”
    Rob pulled her inside and closed the door. “What’s the