Nowhere Safe by Nancy Bush

protectors and an even greater number of abusers. She’d learned to kill without compunction and apart from that time when she’d confronted her sister and her sister’s lover, Detective Tanninger with the Winslow County Sheriff’s Department, she’d steered clear of feelings and relationships and caring and people , ever since.
    As she turned onto the road that led to Mr. Blue’s, she determined that she would have to make sure Stefan Harmak’s mother was away from the house before she could take him out.
    But then he was hers.

Chapter Six
    Janet Ballonni studied the young woman detective cautiously, one eye on the clock. One o’ clock. Well, at least she’d come on time. But Janet didn’t want her around by the time Chris Jr. got home, which should be around three-thirty, if all went according to plan. She didn’t like the authorities messing in her life, and she really didn’t like them messing in Chris’s. Hadn’t they suffered through enough pain already?
    The young, auburn-haired detective was quite pretty with startling blue eyes and a slim, athletic build. Occasionally she caught herself up short, as if jabbed by some unseen pain. What had happened to her? And why, in God’s good name, would anyone want to be a police officer?
    â€œCan I get you something, Detective Rafferty? A soft drink, or coffee . . . ?” Janet asked cordially. She had to force herself to smile. She just wanted them all to go away and leave her and Chris Jr. alone.
    â€œNo, thank you,” she demurred. “I don’t want to take up too much of your time, so let me get to it, all right?”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œI know Detective Chubb interviewed you, but I’ve taken over the case and I would like to hear your thoughts firsthand.”
    â€œDetective Chubb left months ago,” she said, forcing herself not to look at the clock.
    â€œThere had been no movement on the case, but now we’re looking at new leads.”
    â€œOh?” Janet didn’t really believe it. They always said something of the sort.
    â€œI assure you, it’s not been forgotten.”
    Janet hmphed at that. They all treated Chris’s death like a suicide and she knew he would never kill himself. The idea! She’d heard law enforcement officers were more interested in job promotion than in actually solving crimes and she believed it. “I don’t see how I can help you. I told Detective Chubb and the other detective the same thing.”
    â€œCould you lead me through the last few weeks before your husband’s death?” the detective suggested.
    Janet smoothed her apron. It was Thursday and she always baked cookies on Thursdays. Chris Jr. had always loved the ones she made with those tiny currants and oatmeal. He couldn’t stand raisins, but the currants were his favorite. “I have no idea where to even start,” she complained.
    The detective had a file and now she picked it up and glanced into it. “Two weeks before your husband’s death, there was a complaint lodged against him.”
    Wouldn’t you know? The first thing out of her mouth was that. “Oh, that woman. She has one of those pit bulls and it came after Chris and he had to kick it. Barely slowed the beast down. It left teeth marks in his shoe and he warned her that it damn well better not bite him, or he would have it put down. I just don’t understand people who raise animals like that. They say the breed is fine, but it’s the owners who turn them into killing machines. Maybe that’s just what she wanted—a killing machine.”
    â€œYou’re speaking of Mrs. Bernstein,” she said, glancing into the file again. “I see that she had words with your husband before the attack.”
    â€œWell, she’s a liar, then! Chris never had words with anyone. He was the nicest guy. Jovial, you know. Always had a smile for