Free Risk of a Lifetime by Claudia Shelton Page A

ex-partner provided all the incentive he needed to stay in the moment. “I plan to see who bombed the building where Marcy has…had her office. If that means sticking my nose into the investigation, then so be it.”
    Landon poked his finger in JB’s direction. “You’re too damn personally involved to think with anything but your—”
    “You might want to stop before you finish that sentence.” JB’s hand fisted as he stepped within an inch of the loudmouth. “Otherwise, I’m gonna plant you in the ground.”
    Kennett, the rookie, eased to the side of the combatants.
    Deputy Evans cleared his throat. “It’s been a long day, men. Maybe we should take a step back and wait for the experts’ conclusion.”
    “All I’m saying is you’re making a lot out of some tattoo parlor getting blown up.” Landon glanced at JB. “Unless you think this is tied into that whole bank robbery episode.”
    “Don’t tell me the thought hasn’t crossed your mind.” JB relaxed his stance.
    “I don’t plan to tell you anything since you’re no longer part of the FBI.” Landon shook his head. “Damn shame.”
    “What?”
    “I said it’s a damn shame. I thought you were smarter than that.” The special agent narrowed his focus at JB. “And just for the record, I was going to say you were thinking with your heart instead of your head. That’ll get you in trouble every time. Got your last partner, Jennings, killed.”
    JB realized Landon was right. Jennings had gone on the last police call to meet an informant. Some young girl who’d come up to him on the street and said she was being used in a child slavery scheme. She’d agreed to meet him the next day with more details but had been so scared she didn’t trust anyone else coming along. Jennings had gone by himself like she wanted. Thought with his heart…not his head. He’d been ambushed and killed at the meeting point.
    Evans finished his notes and tucked the pad in his pocket. “What makes you think the target was the tattoo parlor?”
    “May be a long shot, but look at the facts,” Landon said. “Their business is closed for a few days. The owners are out of town and can’t be reached. And, from what I’ve heard around town, Cross’s Tattoo Parlor caters to some real lowlifes around the area.”
    Kennett straightened.
    Landon ambled along the perimeter of the crime scene tape. “Probably nothing more than payback for a bad drug deal.” He crouched to eye something on the ground, then straightened and walked away as his phone rang.
    JB turned to the deputy. “What can I do to help?”
    No response. He opened his mouth to ask again, but Landon walked back in to the group, so JB decided to wait.
    “Just for the record, I’m the one in charge of this case until the sheriff gets back. So don’t go trying to pull anything over on me or my men.” Deputy Evans pulled out his pen and pad. “That goes for both of you.”
    JB nodded in recognition. Guess he and Landon had just been put in their place.
    Evans looked up. “By the way, JB, Sheriff Davis requested you stay in town until he gets back. Just in case there are any more…problems.”
    “Problems? Don’t you find it a little coincidental that Marcy’s been in the line of fire twice ?” JB stepped in front of Evans. “Maybe you ought to see what her uncle thinks.”
    Hands on hips and jaw set, the deputy made it clear he didn’t like being told what to do or his decisions being questioned. “The sheriff and I discussed matters when we spoke a few hours ago.”
    “And?” Landon asked.
    “Her uncle said he’s cutting his vacation short. Should be back by the end of the week.” The deputy lowered his voice. “Coincidences do happen, JB. But I’ll have a cruiser drive by her house every so often.”
    JB looped his thumbs in his jean pockets in an effort to appear non-confrontational. He shook his head as he scanned the heap of destruction from the office building.
    Evans walked away.