Free Reunited in Danger by Joya Fields

life—as recently as several months ago. Sure, he’d been cleared
     of the brutality complaint. But had he slammed the guy to the sidewalk too hard? His temper had overtaken him, and suddenly
     what he had watched his father do to his mother time and time again, he was doing
     himself.
    The desk job in Texas would keep him from testing his temper again. He just needed
     to sign the contract and turn in his resignation.
    Once he made sure Keely and Ben were safe, that’s when the withdrawals would hit.
     He’d grown up surrounded by the influences of drugs and alcohol. But he’d stayed clean.
     Ironically, the one thing he couldn’t seem to do without, the one thing he craved
     as much as druggies and drunks craved crack and gin, was Keely. She was his drug of
     choice.
    Helping with this case was a way to pay Ben back for all he’d done for Logan. But
     when he started the engine, the truth hit him hard. He wanted to spend more time with
     Keely before he’d have to let her go again.
    Suddenly, he found it hard to concentrate. A little dizzy. Working on an empty stomach
     was never a good thing. “We might only have one chance to talk to Su Lin’s parents.
     Let’s make a list of questions before we ask Amy Bittinger to call. We could stop
     at Vemezia’s.”
    Keely’s eyes widened and a smile lit her face.
    “Our old haunt,” she said. “I haven’t been there in years.”
    Neither had he. It reminded him too much of her. Vemezia’s had been their place to
     eat any time they had some extra cash, which wasn’t often, making the place even more
     special.
    “It’s on the way.”
    “I hope they still serve breakfast all day.”
    One last time at their special place. A moment to savor now, and a memory to take
     with him to Texas.
    …
    Keely slid into a chair across from Logan. She could hear voices happily chattering
     and shouting in the back of the kitchen and wondered what language the employees were
     speaking. It certainly wasn’t English, or even the Spanish she spoke at a rudimentary
     level. Over the years, Baltimore had become culturally diverse, and even a trip to
     a local restaurant unveiled a symphony of different languages.
    “I ordered coffee and your usual omelet while you were in the restroom,” Logan said.
    “Thanks.” She took a sip of the hot brew, then stared into her coffee, glad to have
     something to do with her fidgety hands. He remembered her favorite breakfast? What
     else did he remember? The way their bodies craved one another, the way they couldn’t
     stop kissing once they’d started? Her heart skipped a beat.
    He pulled out a notepad. “I made some phone calls and interviewed your dad’s neighbors
     again yesterday. Who’s the guy who lives in the row house to the left of your dad’s?”
    “April’s boyfriend. I don’t know him. I’ve waved to him from the car a few times.
     I think April knows something, though. She acted funny when I talked to her.”
    “She wasn’t there when I stopped by. And the boyfriend wasn’t in the mood to talk.
     Just mumbled about the owner not being home and shut the door.”
    Keely glanced at Logan. He’d probably only had a few hours sleep after his shift,
     but only his bloodshot eyes showed signs of fatigue. He used to keep his hair short
     in a buzz cut, but he’d let it grow out. A good look. A stray lock of hair fell across
     his forehead and she resisted the urge to reach out and brush it to the side. She
     pointed to the notepad in front of him.
    “What’s that? Your list of suspects?” She leaned forward to get a better look. “You
     still have Margaret on your list? Am I on this list?”
    “You were at the courthouse,” he said.
    She looked up to see if he was serious or not. Wow. If she hadn’t been in court, he’d
     consider her a suspect? At least she couldn’t accuse him of cutting any corners in
     the investigation.
    He scribbled something in the notepad. “Is this the first time Ben dealt with a