Free Deadly Justice by Kathy Ivan Page A

fingers.
    “I've never seen anything like that, you know?  Heck, I don't even like to watch horror movies, and to see something like that up close and personal?”  She shuddered.  Carpenter kept his gaze riveted on her face.  Was she lying?  Though she seemed like an open book, friendly and pleasant, he didn't trust his instincts when it came to her.  They might be skewed, because he was so damned attracted to her. 
    “It's not something you see every day.  I'm sure the police will get it all sorted out.  Why don't I make that call?” 
    He rose and walked around to the other side of the desk, sitting down quickly to hide the evidence of his body's reaction to her closeness.  Cursing at himself silently, he dialed the phone, calling one of his contacts at the DPD and made arrangements for a detective to interview Andrea that afternoon, here at his home.  He watched her wide-eyed stare, and knew the reality of the morning's events was setting in. 
    The shock and gruesomeness of the unprovoked attack appalled Carpenter, but deep in his gut he knew it was a message from Webster.  Somehow, either knowingly or unknowingly, Lawrence Mitchell did something to piss off Richard Webster, and the trashing of his office spelled out what would happen if he crossed him again.  Too bad Andrea got the message first. 
    Where the hell was Lawrence Mitchell?  He knew from talking to Andrea the previous night that he'd been a no-show for the fundraising benefit at the museum.  Was his absence really a matter of him skipping out for a long weekend with his bimbo of the month, or was there something more sinister afoot?  Hopefully, he'd have answers soon, since his whole team was working on this morning's developments. 
    “My friend at the Dallas Police Department is going to stop by this afternoon to take your statement.  In the meantime, why don't you head upstairs and try and get some rest?  It's been an eventful morning.” 
    “That's probably a good idea.  Thank you.”  She stood and leaned across the desk to touch his hand and a warmth spread in his chest.  “I mean it.  I'm not sure what I'd have done if you hadn't shown up when you did.” 
    He slowly eased his hand free.  “You'd have handled things.  You're a strong woman, and I have no doubt you'd have been up to the challenge.  Now, let me show you to the guest room, and let you get some rest, until the DPD gets here.” 
    He walked around the desk and motioned to the door, following behind her.  Within minutes, he'd gotten her settled into the upstairs guest room and headed back down to his office, his mind going over all the morning's strange findings.
    No matter what the police found, he knew Webster was behind this.  A trashed office, Mitchell missing, and Andrea being scared out of her mind.  It was just the sick, twisted kind of game he loved to play.  He was a master manipulator, and didn't have any problem working behind the scenes, though he doubted he'd done the dirty work himself.  No, he used gullible fools, like he'd been three years ago, to be his scapegoats. 
    Still, he wondered how much Andrea really knew about Webster.  Was she an innocent in all this, or was there more going on with the Southern beauty than just administrative work. 
    With a sigh he picked up the phone.  He needed to stay unbiased, and treat her like a suspect until his team cleared her.  Heaven help her if she was working with Richard Webster.  Because as much as he wanted her, he wouldn't be stopped.  Not by her.  Not by anything.  Webster's reign of drug running and weapons would end and he'd be the one who'd bring about his destruction.
    Even if it meant destroying Andrea Kirkland in the process. 

 

Chapter Ten
    D arkness still enveloped the skyline when his phone rang.  “Carpenter.” 
    “Hey, boss.  Got the preliminary results from the blood at Mitchell's office.  Get this, it ain't human.  According to the police lab, it's pig