Free Vicious by Debra Webb

her calendar. Since most crimes weren’t scheduled with the police in advance, the dates appeared to be clear. “Either one works for me. Can we do this in the early afternoon?” Flying to Virginia and back in the same day would be optimal.
    “I’m certain we can arrange an afternoon closing. I’ll confirm with you soon.”
    The call ended and Jess was grateful she could check that one off her need-to-do list. Though she was in no hurry to buy another house, it would be a relief not to be paying for a place where she no longer lived.
    Her apartment here pretty much fell into that same category at the moment.
    As much as she appreciated Dan wanting her at his house with him, she missed her little garage apartment. She even missed Mr. Louis. He was a bit strange but a very attentive landlord. Jess liked him. The poor man had to be wondering what the heck was going on with his tenant. She really should stop by today or tomorrow.
    There were a million things she needed to do. Like go shopping. The same five suitable work outfits wouldn’t do forever. Her hand went to her belly. How long would it be before she would need maternity clothing? She bit her lip. Her sister would have all kinds of ideas about that. Jess cringed. Their styles were totally different. Lil was happiest in comfortable flats and cotton dresses with lovely flowers. She hated high heels. Jess loved them. She’d kicked them off more than once to chase down a bad guy. Not that the need to give chase happened very often in her current position or in her last decade with the Bureau.
    Still, she stared at her shoes. How much longer would she feel comfortable in her beloved Mary Jane pumps? A lot was going to have to change.
    Her cell vibrated and she checked the screen. A text from Wells. Jess opened it.
    On the way with Slater. He’s a little banged up but he was that way when we found him.
    A photo of Rod Slater followed the text.
    “Ouch,” Jess muttered. Apparently, Mr. Slater had been up to no good. Whatever he’d gotten himself into, it looked very much like he’d come out on the losing end. He had a nasty black eye, a bruised and swollen jaw, and a split lip. With all those injuries maybe he’d behave himself in the interview and Jess wouldn’t have to unleash Harper’s bad cop side.
    Her gaze drifted across the room to the newest member of their team. Taking Hayes on without due consideration was out of the ordinary for her. Like buying a pig in a poke. She wondered if Hayes had a bad side. Certainly he’d had a colorful one in the past.
    Time would tell.

 
    7
    Interview Room 2, 1:59 p.m.
    “Mr. Slater, you have a history of domestic violence.” Jess gave the man a moment to think about her statement. “I’d be remiss in my duties in this case if I didn’t consider you a suspect, wouldn’t you agree?”
    “I have an alibi.” He might have pulled off the look of insolence to go along with the tone if not for the one eye being swollen shut. “That’s why I don’t need a lawyer. I got nothing to hide.”
    Rodney Slater sat directly across the worn table from Jess. He looked like hell, smelled like cigarettes and cheap bourbon. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair was mussed. Evidently, the bender he’d started over the weekend had continued into the workweek. One of the perks of being self-employed, Jess supposed. He was his own boss, as he’d so proudly proclaimed when the interview started.
    Unfortunately, daddy had entrusted his only son with the family business. Dear old Rod hadn’t worked for a single thing he owned. It gave him a bad attitude, in Jess’s opinion. The entitlement mentality was not attractive on anyone over the age of five.
    Harper sat next to her. He silently stared at Slater. Didn’t seem to faze the cocky guy. He was one self-centered piece of work.
    “You claim you were at Chasers, a pool hall, from eight Sunday night until the manager locked the doors just after midnight,” Jess read from her