Free Dying Scream by Mary Burton

I’m too nosy for my own good, but he never tells.” She studied Adrianna with a critical eye. “I’m out here just to check on you.”
    Adrianna ran a hand through her hair. “You picked a hell of a day.”
    Kendall’s eyes brightened with interest. “I’d be lying if I said this kind of event doesn’t make me salivate. I suspect it’s one hell of a story, and if I were still on the job I’d be on the phone with my crew right now.”
    “This isn’t a happy story.” She recapped the gruesome details.
    “Who’s the detective?”
    “Gage Hudson.”
    Kendall nodded. “Good cop. Tenacious. Jacob respects his work.”
    For an instant, Adrianna wanted to tell Kendall about her former relationship with Gage but just as quickly rejected the idea. She and Kendall shared the same birth parents. But trust came with time, not biology.
    “The body was just found?” Kendall said.
    “Couple of hours ago.”
    “So no press yet?”
    Adrianna cringed. “No, thank God. But I think they’re not here because I took your advice and gave that mini press conference last week. Gave the grand tour, explained what we were doing. I demystified the whole thing.”
    “I saw the news reports and read the articles. You did a good job.”
    “Thanks.”
    Kendall shook her head. “Today’s discovery is going to change everything. Unidentified dead woman discovered in an unmarked grave. This is the kind of piece my old boss Brett would be all over. He’d have had me out here reporting the story ten minutes ago.”
    “Channel 10 was the only station not at my press conference.”
    “That’s because my old boss would eat dirt before he’d ever do me a favor. You don’t want him to get wind of this story.”
    Adrianna dug her fingers through her hair. “I don’t need curiosity seekers.”
    “I understand, I do. But you are going to have to tread carefully. Reporters at all the stations have their sources in the police department. Someone is going to talk, and when they do it’ll be all over the media.”
    “Detective Hudson wants this kept quiet.”
    “I’ll bet. I know I could be a real pain in the ass for the cops when I was on the job.” Kendall’s gaze turned sympathetic. “But if anyone can keep it quiet for as long as possible, it’s Hudson and my husband.”
    Adrianna lifted her chin. “If anyone had to cover the story, I’d rather it be you.”
    The statement softened Kendall’s gaze. “That means a lot.”
    “I mean it.”
    “Well, I wouldn’t take the story.”
    Adrianna raised a brow. “If I know anything about you, Kendall, it’s that you love a good story. I’ll bet your heart is racing right now just thinking about it.”
    Kendall shrugged. “It’s beating a little fast. Old habits die hard. But I value you more than the story.”
    Unwelcome emotions rushed through her limbs. “Thanks.”
    “So what are you doing here?”
    “Going through my mother-in-law’s papers. This is the last piece of furniture I have to clear out.”
    Kendall glanced at the ledgers. “What are you looking for?”
    “If there is anything of historical value, I’ll pass it on to the buyer. If it’s personal, I’ll destroy it.”
    “That’s gracious.”
    “I’m not as selfless as you might think. Frances and Mom were friends since college and even though I do feel an obligation to keep her papers private, I’m hoping there’s something in here that’ll tell me about my adoption.”
    “We have all the answers about our birth family. What could you be looking for?”
    “Information about my parents’ first daughter.”
    “Your mom still hasn’t told you what happened to her?”
    “No. And each time I bring it up, she ends up in tears. Yesterday we talked again. I told her about the grave removal. Last night she landed in the ER with phantom chest pains.”
    “I’m sorry.” Kendall frowned. “Adrianna, why do you care so much about that child?”
    “I don’t know exactly. Maybe because I lost a