Free Merciless by Diana Palmer Page A

his expression. “Something wrong?”
    He nodded. He glanced at her. His black eyes were glittery. “Come in and close the door. Do I have anything urgent pending?”
    â€œNo.” She closed the door and sat down on the uncomfortable straight chair in front of his desk. No comfortable seats for this boss; he didn’t like people overstaying their welcome. She was uncomfortable, too, and not just from the chair. Was he going to fire her? She was a bundle of nerves lately. She had a meeting pending with both Markie’s teacher and the owner of the preschool about his behavior. They were going to recommend drugs, she just knew it. She had no money, no option to change his school for a more expensive one. She was in the hot seat and she didn’t like it.
    â€œAm I being fired due to budget cuts?” she asked bluntly.
    He noted her worried expression. Joceline was a single parent with only the bare necessities and even though she had great prospects, it might take time for her to find a new job.
    â€œOf course not,” he said at once.
    She relaxed, just a bit. A jerky little smile passed her lips. “Sorry. I worry.”
    â€œThe talk about budget cuts involves travel, not personnel. At least for now. We all worry, but until they come up with robots who won’t mind working our hours, I think we’re probably safe as far as employment goes,” he said with an attempt at humor. “I need someone to talk to.”
    â€œThere’s your brother,” she said. She frowned. “I think we have a psychology consultant in an office somewhere…?”
    â€œNot that kind of talk,” he said stiffly. “I don’t discuss personal issues except with family.”
    â€œOf course you don’t, sir.” She smiled vacantly.
    He hated that damned smile. He averted his eyes. “It’s about the murder of Mac’s wife and child.”
    â€œJay Copper ordered it and he’s been arraigned for it.”
    â€œThere’s a hiccup.”
    â€œSir?”
    He leaned back in his chair with a grimace. “Copper has a nephew who he possibly sent along with Dan Jones on the hit.” He also recalled that Copper had admitted to helping Peppy kill Dan Jones for his defection, not that they could prove it without that missing tape.
    â€œI’m not surprised,” she replied. “He has a lot of idiot relations. Most of them are doing hard time.”
    He glanced at her. “Bart Hancock isn’t. And he’s Harold Monroe’s brother-in-law.”
    She was very still. The man had threatened her boss, butshe hadn’t connected him with the Kilraven case. “Bart Hancock.”
    â€œHe’s Jay Copper’s nephew. His nickname is Peppy.”
    She let out a breath. “Oh, my God,” she said, with reverence. She knew the name and the connection immediately, and it put another meaning on Monroe’s warning that his family would get back at Jon Blackhawk. If Peppy had killed a child…
    â€œI can’t talk to Mac about this, he’d go crazy,” he told her. “And Winnie’s very pregnant,” he added, alluding to his sister-in-law’s pregnancy.
    â€œWhat are you going to do?” she asked.
    â€œI don’t know. Unless we can play connect-the-dots and find somebody, anybody, tied to the case who’s willing to testify against him, I don’t know what we can do. Most of the witnesses were killed, including Dan Jones and even his girlfriend.”
    â€œHer minister spoke to Dan Jones,” she recalled at once.
    â€œYes, but he didn’t actually speak to Dan Jones confidentially,” he reminded her. “So he doesn’t know anything. It’s probably the only reason he’s still alive.”
    She felt uneasy. “Harold Monroe wants revenge for his arrest.”
    He nodded. “He’s a notorious fumbler.”
    â€œHe’s managed to avoid jail for the