Free Killing Fear by Allison Brennan

fit.”
    “I’ve increased patrols in her neighborhood,” Will said. “And she’s getting a police escort to and from work every day. We have it covered, and Julia’s smart. She’s not going to do something irresponsible.”
    “You know how protective Connor can be.” She glanced at the television. “What happened?”
    “Another scumbag was caught. Tied to a lamppost.”
    “Same as the first guy?”
    “Seems like it,” Will said. “Makes you think they’re turning on each other, doesn’t it?”
    “Stranger things have happened,” Carina said, flipping open her small notepad. “I finished researching the two Glenn jurors we couldn’t find this afternoon. One is now living in Arizona and one is overseas in Iraq.”
    “I think that guy is safe. At least from Glenn. What about family?”
    “He has none in town. His juror interview stated that he was a sophomore in college when he served and was also in the Reserves at the time. The desk sergeant is going to try to contact him and the Arizona juror, just as a heads-up.”
    “Thanks.”
    “You never told me how your talk with Robin McKenna went. Did you tell her about Glenn’s sister?”
    Will kept his face impassive. “I was with her when I got the call.”
    Carina stared at him. “You’re not telling me something. Does this have something to do with that message left at the Jeffries house?”
    He didn’t answer. “I was just about to go talk to my old partner, Frank Sturgeon. Diaz couldn’t reach him yesterday, left a message.”
    “I’ll join you.”
    “You don’t have to. It’s already after eight. Why don’t you go home?”
    “Now I know you’re hiding something from me.”
    “Fine, come with me, what do I care?” He turned to the cop manning the hotline. “Any sighting, call me on my cell.”
    Will drove his personal car, a black Porsche 911, over to Frank’s house, just a mile from Carina’s place. He’d bought the car five years ago at a government auction. It had been seized at a border drug raid and he’d had his eye on it the entire time it was in impound. Cost him a pretty penny, but far cheaper than on the retail market.
    “You didn’t have to come,” he said to Carina.
    “I know.” She paused. “You’ve been acting weird since Glenn escaped.”
    “You read my case files. The guy’s a sick sociopath. He had not one ounce of remorse, not one shred of guilt. He’s the most arrogant criminal I ever met. The guy was so arrogant he fired Iris Jones.”
    Carina turned to him. “Have you called her?”
    “His defense attorney? Why would he go—” Will stopped. “Shit. I didn’t think. She wasn’t on Diaz’s list because she never actually went to trial with him.”
    “I’m sure she knows, but—”
    Will pulled out his cell phone, called dispatch, and got Jones’s mobile number.
    “Iris Jones,” she answered in her crisp, formal style.
    “It’s Detective Will Hooper with SDPD.”
    “What can I do for you, Detective?”
    “You heard about what happened at San Quentin.”
    “Of course.”
    “Theodore Glenn escaped and—”
    “Detective,” Jones snapped, “if you think that I would harbor a fugitive, you are sorely mistaken. I can assure you that I have no ties to that man, nor would I harbor him, nor would I represent—”
    “Iris,” Will interrupted. “I was just calling to tell you to watch your back. We have a task force here, but we’re contacting everyone involved in the case to make sure that they are taking precautions.”
    Pause. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry I jumped down your throat. He fired me. I had nothing to do with his conviction.”
    “He may blame you for something, we don’t know.”
    “I doubt—” She paused. “Detective, I don’t scare easily, but Theodore Glenn scares me. I’ll keep an eye out.”
     
    Theodore Glenn couldn’t help but feel superior. He’d been sitting right outside the police department for hours and they hadn’t spotted him.