Free Chance Collision by C.A. Szarek Page B

Not very much in population, but they had a warehouse district, their own hospital. Even a movie theatre scheduled to open in the fall.
    There were two apartment complexes of several hundred units. Nikki lived in the newer of the two, the Enclave, which had only been around for a few years.
    Places like Health Solutions, and many bigger chains of retail stores were starting to come closer to town, and in the last six months they even had a posh hotel open up—The Covington was advertising itself as a four-star stay. Antioch, which had always been rather affluent, was growing. Too bad the crime rate was, too.
    Pete pulled down the road that led to the heart of the old trailer park. The small building where the office used to be wasn’t visible from the main thoroughfare, a prime location for riffraff. The property was surrounded by woods, trees canopying the length of the street like an awning. Due to lack of maintenance, it was more Texas Chainsaw Massacre than Pleasantville .
    “This place really is hidden,” Nikki said, as if she’d read his mind. She looked around, making a face as she surveyed.
    “Yeah, that’s why it attracts crap.”
    “But if cops chase them out of here all the time, why do they always try again?”
    “I dunno. If you figure that out, lemme know.” Pete winked.
    She flashed a smile. “Thinkin’ out loud.”
    “You’re fine. You’re supposed to be my junior detective, remember?”
    Nikki stared, one auburn eyebrow raised as if she was trying to solve the Pete puzzle.
    Pete cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. He’d meant nothing more than a tease, but if he didn’t concentrate on something else, he would slip into the depths of her eyes. “We’re here,” he said unnecessarily, pulling the powder blue Crown Vic next to the white one Jared always drove.
    The Crime Scene van was next to a navy one with Medical Examiner written on the side in yellow lettering. Police cruisers littered the place.
    The day shift sergeant, Jason Connell, was in front of the trailer, and one of his officers was marking a perimeter with yellow police-line tape.
    “Wow,” Nikki whispered, staring in the direction of the run-down double-wide.
    “Maybe you should stay in the car,” Pete said, switching the engine off and palming the key.
    “Do I have to?”
    Instinct flared. Keep her safe. Keep her from seeing a dead body. Keep her innocent of that shit. But she’d already seen a shooting, a friend injured. Chief’s voice teased his mind. Don’t let her out of your sight. I mean it. But his boss sure as hell hadn’t meant drag her to a murder scene.
    “What was that?”
    He met her open, sincere gaze. He hadn’t answered her question. “I don’t mind if you come, but stay out of the way, and don’t contaminate the crime scene.”
    “Okay…”
    “Just stick with me and you’ll be fine.”
    The smile she offered made his heart go into overdrive but Pete chided himself and squared his shoulders.

Chapter Ten
    A murder scene. A victim. A dead victim.
    It was real, not on TV.
    Nikki swallowed hard and slid closer to Pete. She wished she could shut her eyes and block out the sights around her. Hell, she should just go back to the car, but she didn’t want to be alone. Away from her detective.
    Pete’s back was straight and he kept shaking his head as he talked to a thin guy with stringy black hair and grungy clothing. Even if Nikki hadn’t known he was a meth user from what she’d heard Jared Manning tell Pete, she would’ve seen it from one look at him.
    He was twitchy. Like all over. His face was pocked and scarred and his jeans hung low, hip bones prominent. He was too thin, and his teeth were rotted.
    Gross. Seriously, what’s the appeal of something that makes you decay?
    She schooled her expression when Mr Meth looked her way, but he didn’t stare—thank God.
    “Are you lying to me?” Pete asked.
    “No. Jesus, man, I’m telling you the truth. He said he scored big! Said he did