Free Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey Page A

questions.”
    “Which would mean one of the men we spoke with knows the killer,” Finley said.
    “Make a list of everyone you spoke with.” Declan pulled a small pad and pen from his shirt pocket and tossed it to Griffin.
    “Most only go by their first name or a nickname.”
    “Yeah,” Finley said, dabbing the soy sauce from her bottom lip.
    Such a full, soft lip that he’d love to . . . Griffin straightened. Get your head in the game. They were dealing with a killer and he was entranced with Finley. He needed to focus.
    “We spoke with a gentleman named Gator today,” she said, a smile rounding her lips.
    Griffin laughed. “Don’t think Gator could ever be accused of such.”
    Finley smirked. “Well, he was a gentleman with me.”
    Griffin shook his head. “They all were. You should have seen them. Some serious roughnecks, a former sniper, even a former Navy Seal. All polite and flirtatious as could be.”
    “They didn’t flirt with me.” She pointed her chopsticks in his direction. “They were too scared with you around.”
    Parker chuckled. “Jealous sort, are we, Griff?”
    He gave Parker a warning glare.
    Parker took the hint and slouched back in his chair, kicking his booted feet up on the empty chair opposite him with a playful grin.
    “I just meant they clearly respected your presence,” Finley said, pushing her chopsticks around in her container. She looked up, her heartfelt gaze locking on him. “So did I.”
    He swallowed, warmth flooding him. How did she do that with a simple smile? Because her smile was anything but ordinary.
    Parker and Declan exchanged bemused glances, but were wise enough to let it drop. The time for silly ribbing had ceased yearsago. They were grown men. Though he doubted it’d be that easy. They’d mouth off again. They were just considerate enough to wait until they were out of Finley’s presence. Besides, as good as he felt in Finley’s presence and at the thought of spending more time with her, he still couldn’t go there. Listening to his instincts was dangerous, and even more importantly, he wasn’t where he needed to be spiritually to be in a relationship.
    God called husbands to love their wives like the church—that he believed he could do—but he couldn’t lead his wife while still struggling with his own demons. Until he conquered them, he couldn’t move forward. And he certainly wasn’t into casual dating, and most definitely not with an amazing woman like Finley Scott. If he pursued her, it’d be with passion and purpose.
    “What about your friend Gunny?” Declan asked.
    “He tried his best to be charming with Finley at least until we started asking the hard questions.” All he’d had to say was Dragunov and the man’s demeanor shifted. Did Gunny know more than he was saying?
    “He probably knows the real names, last names, of the men you spoke with.”
    “Maybe, but no guarantees. You’d be surprised at the level of anonymity most of these guys manage to keep—pay cash, stick to basic topics—guns, ammo, politics—but I’ll ask Gunny tomorrow.”
    “Tomorrow?” Avery lurched forward in her chair. “You’re going back ?”
    “We need to speak with Vern Michaels,” Finley said.
    Parker shifted. “You’re going back too?”
    Finley nodded.
    He dipped his head in Griffin’s direction. “You think that wise?”
    Griffin opened his mouth to respond, but Finley cut in before he could get a word out. “I’m going.”
    He exhaled. As much as he didn’t want her out of his sight, perhaps she would be safer at the lab. “It might not—”
    “Stop right there. I’m going. Either with you or on my own.”
    Parker’s lips twitched with admiration. “Looks like she’s not giving you a choice.”
    Griffin smiled. “Guess not.” And it didn’t surprise him in the least. The woman was the definition of determination. He shifted his gaze to Declan. “Any luck on identifying our Jane Doe?”
    Declan wiped his mouth and set