Free Shadow Fall (Tracers Series Book 9) by Laura Griffin Page A

feeling that way.
    She gazed out the window again and realized her pulse was still thrumming. He unnerved her. It wasn’t just his size, it was his attitude. Maybe she was self-conscious because he’d caught her flat on her ass. She was definitely embarrassed that she’d pulled her weapon on him.
    She adjusted the vent and got a waft of hot air. His attitude bothered her, but she liked his truck. It smelled like leather and earth and felt deliciously warm. She forced herself to ignore the little flurry of nerves generated by being alone in the dark with him. The nerves weren’t from fear but something else. And she wondered which was worse, being afraid of a man she was investigating or being attracted to him?
    “You shouldn’t come out here alone.”
    She looked at him. “Why not?”
    “We’ve got more than a few meth heads around here. You don’t want to walk up on something, not without backup.”
    She watched his face in the dimness, uneasy with the protective tone of his voice. “We confirmed the ID today,” she said.
    “I know.”
    That ticked her off.
    “Won’t be long till the media has it,” he added.
    “Where are you getting your information?”
    He didn’t answer.
    “And the other day,” she said, “how’d you know we were here, me and M.J.? Are you having us tailed?”
    Even if he was, he’d probably never admit it. But she at least needed to ask and get his reaction. Shadowing investigators could definitely be considered suspicious behavior.
    Although she had to be honest with herself. She didn’t consider him a real suspect. Despite his links to the victim, she simply didn’t feel it.
    “I’m guessing you filmed us approaching your property and ran my plate,” she said.
    The corner of his mouth curved. “Nothing that cloak-and-dagger.” He glanced at her. “I’m friends with Crystal.”
    “Who’s Crystal?”
    “She waited on you at the Waffle Stop. Bright red hair, eyebrow ring. Her dad’s Leo Marshall.”
    She just stared at him.
    “The manager at Big Pines. Try to keep up.” He was grinning now, and she knew he was teasing her.
    She turned to face the window. “Small-town grapevine. And here I’ve been all impressed with your spying abilities.”
    “You should be.” He pulled up to her Explorer and parked. “We’re the best there is.”
    She looked at him in the darkness, so confident it bordered on arrogance. And the crazy thing was she believed him—he was that good.
    His eyes locked on hers, and the air between them felt charged with electricity. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and her heart skittered. Was he going to kiss her? He eased closer, watching her, making her heart pound.
    “I’m sorry about Catie,” she blurted.
    He pulled back, as she’d intended.
    “You were fairly close, I take it?” When he didn’t answer, she kept pushing. “You knew her routines?”
    He just looked at her.
    “We’re trying to understand how she ended up at the park that day,” she explained. “Silver Springs Park. A witness might have seen her jogging, but her husband doesn’t think so, and we didn’t recover any clothes, so . . .”
    His brow furrowed, and he turned away. “She went there sometimes. She liked the solitude.”
    “How do you know?”
    “I showed it to her.” His gaze met hers again.
    Yet another circumstance linking him to the murder. And still Tara wasn’t one-hundred-percent sure of his relationship to the victim, just that he hadn’t told her everything.
    Was it a love triangle? Was he part of Catie’s marital problems? Even if they weren’t having an affair, there could have been undercurrents of jealousy.
    She pushed open the door. “Thanks for the help.” As she said it, she realized he still hadn’t explained why he’d been out here.
    He put his hand over hers, warm and possessive. “Be careful, Tara.”
    She pulled away. “I will.”
    SHE TOOK OFF without a backward glance and Liam watched her in the rearview mirror. What the