Free Starks' Reality by Sarah Storme Page A

like a brand.
    “Tell Coop I said thanks for the fish,” he said, his voice deep. Then he straightened and released her arm.
    Heather’s stomach flipped over.
    She turned and tried to take the steps nonchalantly, but stumbled on the last one. Fortunately, she didn’t actually fall.
    He watched her walk down the driveway. She could feel his gaze. Behind her, the door squeaked as he closed it slowly.
    Heather took several deep breaths of cool, night air and blew them out as she walked. His handprint tingled on her arm.
    The man was more tempting than chocolate.
    ~~**~~**~~
    Jake stared at the foil as he took another bite of fish.
    To hell with not getting involved. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his nights alone.
    He wanted to spend them wrapped in Heather Cooper’s long, sexy legs.
    He’d eventually be sorry, but it didn’t matter. The woman already had possession of his fantasies. As long as he guarded his heart, he’d be all right.
    Jake rose and walked slowly to the door. He handed Dog the last two pieces of fish. After locking the house, he stretched out on the sofa.
    The bed felt too big to sleep in alone in his frame of mind. He closed his eyes and covered them with one arm.
    Yes, he’d have to do something about Heather Cooper. Soon.

CHAPTER 5
    “H ey there, darlin’.”
    Jake looked up at the sound of Red’s voice in the outer office as the patrolman greeted dispatcher Helen Potts.
    Red appeared as jovial as he sounded when he rapped on the open office door. “Morning, Chief.”
    “Good morning, Red. Come in.”
    The man walked in with a bounce to his step and dropped into the visitor’s chair. “You make out okay this weekend?”
    “Yes, thanks.”
    “Well, good. Look, Chief, about Friday—”
    Jake raised one hand. “Don’t worry about Friday. I assume because you’re here, you’re willing to work with the change in rules.”
    The man nodded. “ I am.”
    Now for the real test. Jake handed Red a copy of the new work schedule.
    The man scanned the page, but registered little more than mild surprise. He was scheduled for the first and fourth Saturdays, and second Sunday. Maybe he’d expected worse.
    “All right?” Jake asked.
    “You bet.”
    Jake leaned back in his chair. “I guess you heard about what happened this weekend.”
    “About Coop’s Place? Yeah. I understand the Department of Health closed him down.”
    “They closed the kitchen for now. I was about to call the hospital to see how Ed Taylor’s doing.”
    Red shook his head slowly. “The old man’s pretty tough.”
    “His wife said he was an important government official.”
    Red chuckled. “Yeah, he ran the mailroom in the capitol for thirty or forty years.”
    “ So, I guess it isn’t likely there’s a conspiracy under way.”
    “Not very.”
    The phone rang and Jake picked it up.
    “Police.” He hadn’t yet figured out quite how to answer.
    The voice on the other end hesitated for a moment. “Is this Chief Starks?”
    “Yes. May I help you?”
    “This is Madeline White. I’m an RN at Callaway County Medical. I have a note to contact you. Ed Taylor died at seven forty-two this morning.”
    “He died ?”
    “Yes.”
    “From food poisoning?”
    “The coroner hasn’t done an autopsy yet. Mr. Taylor had been in a coma since he was admitted on Saturday, and went into cardiac arrest this morning. We weren’t able to revive him.”
    Jake took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Thanks for calling.” He returned the receiver to the cradle and looked up at Red. “Ed Taylor’s dead.”
    “Oh, shit. ”
    “Yeah.”
    “You know the old lady’s going to sue the pants off of Coop.”
    “And Tran, I’m sure,” Jake said. “I’ll see if Parks and Wildlife has any info yet.”
    “Anything I need to do?”
    “ I’ll take care of this.”
    “Okay. I guess I’ll make the rounds and see what’s happening.” Red stood, turned toward the door, and then stopped and looked back. “If that’s all