Free Haunting Whispers by V. K. Powell Page A

in this case,” he stabbed the paper with his index finger, “Jeremy Sutton, was murdered yesterday. Homicide is on it. And guess who paid the guy a visit?”
    “Aud—Ms. Everhart?” Not So nodded. “How do we know she went to see him?”
    “Homicide dicks scanned the computer database for the last person who ran a check on this guy—Loretta Granger in records. She flipped like a cheap whore and gave up your girl. You’re wasting time, Butler.”
    “Just because she ran a check on him doesn’t mean she went to his house or killed him.”
    Sharp looked at her like she was as thick as a layer of bricks. “What do you want, an engraved confession? They found her fingerprints on a bottle of Pellegrino—get a move on. We’re not here to try the case.”
    “And I get this honor because—”
    “You already have rapport with her.” Sharp emphasized the word as though it held some unpleasant meaning, not like a concept he utilized every day in his ladder-climbing career.
    Rae laughed. If what she and Audrey Everhart had was rapport this would be a very unproductive trip. “Any idea of the connection between the two of them?” Rae had a feeling she already knew, but wondered how much Sharp had pieced together.
    “That’s what I want you to find out before the homicide boys rain a shit storm down on her. Mayor Downing called me personally and asked that I intercede.”
    Did Not So seriously think they could “intercede” in a murder investigation? If Audrey had visited this suspect alone, she was more independent than Rae thought…and more unpredictable. Was there a connection between Sutton and her attack? Audrey, what are you hiding and why won’t you let me help? Rae could only pray this was a huge misunderstanding.
    “Talk to the woman, find out her side of the story, and get back to me ASAP. The mayor wants to be ahead of the game if there’s bad publicity.”
    That made sense. The mayor certainly looked out for his political ass. If Audrey was implicated in a homicide investigation, he could fire her for some flimsy reason and ask questions later. Political fallout was like a foul odor, permeating and contaminating everything it touched. She didn’t want to see Audrey dragged to the cleaners…if she wasn’t involved.
    “Right, I’m on it.” On the way out of the building, she tried to call Audrey but got no answer on her cell. She played out the worst-case scenario and tried to imagine Audrey killing someone. The picture wouldn’t materialize. Violence didn’t fit her image of Audrey.
    Rae pulled into the parking lot and approached the apartment. She’d straighten this out quickly and get back to her active case. As she listened at the door, she was pleased to have a legitimate reason to see Audrey Everhart again. She stepped to the side and knocked.
    After several attempts, Audrey answered. “What are you doing here? It’s Sunday.” Her blond hair stood out from her head in wispy sprigs and the lids over her cerulean eyes were at half-mast. She looked like a sleepy kid on the first morning of school. “Don’t you believe in calling?”
    “I tried. Sorry to wake you. I need to talk to you rather urgently.” When Audrey turned and walked back inside, Rae followed. Every step Audrey took rewarded Rae with a glimpse of her perfectly curved bottom under the tail of her short T-shirt.
    Rae was so distracted she almost bulldozed a bright-pink kitten carrier in the middle of the floor. “Oh, this is new.” Rae knelt and offered her curled fingers to the little bundle of tabby inside the crate. The kitten licked and chewed her knuckles.
    “Her name is CB.” Audrey gave the kitten a few strokes, promised food would be coming shortly, and turned to Rae. “Coffee?”
    “That would be nice, thanks.” Rae sat at the counter and watched Audrey retrieve cups from the cabinet. She inhaled Audrey’s lingering perfume combined with a trace of her distinctive aroma. Arousal reared its elusive head,