Free Love Inspired Suspense April 2015 #2 by Dana Mentink, Tammy Johnson, Michelle Karl Page A

kitchen counter a week before.
    â€œI didn’t know how else to fix it,” she said in answer to his unasked question.
    â€œNo criticism here. I fixed a leak in our rowboat with some duct tape one time.”
    She closed the lid and put the machine in the sink. “So it doesn’t walk off the counter. In another three hours, we’ll have bread.”
    â€œWe? I, uh, I thought maybe you wanted me to go.”
    She brushed off her hands and sat at the kitchen table. “It occurred to me on the drive over that I don’t know how to proceed.”
    â€œWe’re not talking about bread anymore, right?” he said.
    â€œThe investigation. Now that I’ve got a name and photo, what should I do next?”
    â€œMy first pass would be to call Reggie and see what he can find out.”
    â€œI thought you were angry with him.”
    â€œHe did a bonehead thing, but he’s still my partner in all of this.”
    She gestured to the chair opposite. He sat and made the call, putting it on speakerphone.
    â€œThat’s it? That’s all you got?” Reggie said.
    â€œThat’s it,” Mick confirmed. “Ginny’s her name, and I just texted you the photo.”
    â€œNot much to go on. What am I supposed to do with that?”
    â€œDo what you can. I’ll do the same.”
    Reggie paused. “I think we’re getting off track here. Tucker’s the bad guy. Even if he found a little friend to share snack cakes with, he’s still the target.”
    Mick drummed fingers on the table. “Other angle we can take is the rooftop diagram.”
    â€œWhere will we get with that?”
    â€œDunno, but Tucker had some reason for being interested in it.”
    â€œDo whatever you want, but I think you’re spinning your wheels,” Reggie said.
    Keeley could hear exhaustion in his voice.
    â€œI’m going to monitor the police radio,” he said. “They might stop him at a roadblock. In the meantime, I’ve got feelers out with some of my buddies, ears to the ground, that sort of thing. When he pops up, I’ll get him.”
    Keeley wasn’t so sure. He’d eluded police for months already.
    â€œHey, uh,” Reggie started. “Listen. Um, Keeley, I apologize for putting you at risk today. I saw Tucker there and I forgot about anything but taking him out. It was wrong and it won’t happen again.”
    â€œYour motives were good,” Keeley said. “No harm done.”
    â€œAww, my motives are rarely good,” he said with a laugh. “Just ask Mick.” Reggie yawned. “I’ve got to get some sleep. Talk to you mañana.”
    â€œGood night, Reg,” Mick said.
    â€œNot until Tucker’s caught.” He disconnected.
    â€œHe doesn’t sound like he’s going to follow the Ginny lead,” Keeley said. “Are you sure he’s on our side?”
    â€œHe’s on his side, which happens to be our side because we both want Tucker captured, only...”
    â€œOnly what?”
    â€œReggie would be fine if Tucker wasn’t taken alive.”
    She felt a chill at hearing it spoken aloud. “He wants Tucker dead.”
    â€œDon’t you?”
    The notion surprised her. “I never thought of it. I always wanted him in prison, far away from Junie, and I wanted him to pay for the rest of his life for taking LeeAnn’s, but I don’t wish him dead.”
    His brow furrowed. “Why not?”
    Why not? Why shouldn’t she want the man to die who’d taken her sister’s life? The grief and anger pooled inside as she thought about LeeAnn and how much she’d lost. Life was unfair—tragically, hopelessly unfair. “Because I don’t want my heart so filled with hate there’s no room for anything else.”
    Mick examined her face as if he was reading the pages of a book. His brown eyes were soft and searching, tender pools in a mountain of