Free Trouble with a Badge by Delores Fossen

Moonlight Strangler. The security measures are to keep him out along with anyone else who wants to break the law.”
    Scottie smiled again. “Oh, I see. You believe Tasha’s side. I didn’t assault her, you know. An argument just got out of hand, and rather than admit she was wrong, she had me arrested and then she took off. I want to find her.”
    â€œI want a lot of things,” Levi countered. “Like a quick end to this conversation before I freeze my butt off out here. If you know anything about the Moonlight Strangler, then spill it now, or I’ll have you arrested for obstruction of justice.”
    If that threat bothered Scottie, it didn’t show on his face. “I’m willing to cooperate, to share with you what I know. But I have to find Tasha. I believe she and her baby are in grave danger.”
    â€œFrom you,” Levi snapped.
    Now, that bothered Scottie. Even at this distance and from her limited view, she could see his face go hard. “I wouldn’t hurt her. Wouldn’t hurt her baby, either. But the baby’s father might not feel the same as I do. It’s a guy named Brett Mendoza. A real lowlife. I think he wants to hurt Tasha because she left him. He might take his anger out on the baby.”
    Scottie might feel the same way about hurting the baby. A thought that sickened her.
    â€œI’ll be wanting any information you have about Mendoza, too,” Levi added quickly.
    Scottie cursed. No more smiling, nice guy facade. The dangerous thug emerged. “I need to find Tasha now!” he yelled.
    â€œSend whatever you have about the Moonlight Strangler and Mendoza to the Appaloosa Pass sheriff’s office. Once I’ve read the info, we’ll talk.”
    â€œIs Tasha with that bitch PI who’s been visiting her?” Scottie’s shout seemed to echo through the house.
    Levi had already turned to come back inside, but that stopped him. “What PI?” he asked, his tone sounding even more dangerous than their visitor’s.
    â€œYou damn well know, and one way or another I will find them.”
    â€œJust get that info to the sheriff’s office,” Levi warned him. “By the way, where were you last night?”
    â€œWhy?” Scottie snapped.
    Levi tapped his badge, repeated his question and waited for what would probably be either a well-crafted lie or more likely a well-crafted alibi that Scottie had put in place so he couldn’t be connected to the attacks.
    â€œI was working,” Scottie finally said. “At the Norse building in downtown San Antonio. And no, it’s not a coincidence that the building has my surname. My father owns it and I work for him.”
    Of course. What else? A loose cannon like Scottie probably couldn’t get a job any other way.
    â€œHow late were you there?” Levi continued.
    â€œ Late . There are security cameras that monitor who comes and goes. Get a court order and check them out if you don’t believe me.”
    â€œOh, I will,” Levi assured him. “I’ll check out a lot of things and find something I can use to arrest you if you don’t give me what you have on the Moonlight Strangler and Mendoza.”
    Scottie belted out more profanity, got back in his car and sped away.
    Levi didn’t linger out there, either. “Call me if he comes back,” he told the hands, and when he stepped back inside his attention went straight to Alexa. “You okay?”
    It took her a moment to realize why he’d asked that. She was shaking, and it wasn’t from the drop in temperature at having the door open for those several minutes while Levi had been talking with Scottie.
    What had shaken her were the things Scottie had said.
    â€œScottie must not have killed Tasha since he’s still looking for her.” Alexa had some trouble getting that out. Had even more trouble trying to deal with it.
    Because it put Tasha’s death back