Free Bones Of Contention: The McKinnon Legends - The American Men Book 3 by Ranay James Page A

choosing without his permission and without his company.
    “I’m not saying you need my permission.” Josh's insides were tied up in knots. She was an intelligent woman by all accounts. He was failing to comprehend why she was digging in her high heels.
    “Your connection to Debbie places you in danger even if you hadn’t been the one to identify her, but you did identify her. Please, don’t sit down on this one. Choose something else to fight me on, but please not this. Please, rethink this date with Trey.”
    “I have given it thought. I may be blonde, but I’m not stupid, Lawman.”
    “I know that, Jamie. You are a very intelligent woman. What I’m saying is this guy may not be the killer, and probably isn’t. You’re right in he doesn’t fit the profile. Yet, he may be endangering you by having brought you the car, and I’m saying he could be just as much a target as you now that he has touched this case.”
    This was something she had not considered.
    “I refuse to live my life in fear.”
    “I don’t blame you one bit and no one is asking you to either. I’m just saying we need to use our heads and move cautiously. At least until we solve this thing.”
    She was not as concerned as Josh. She had moved since Debbie’s disappearance. She lived in a safe neighborhood where everyone looked out for each other. “I’m going to be fine, Josh. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”
    She made her point by waving to her neighbor across the street. “Hi, Mr. Owens,” she said cheerfully.
    "Hi, Jamie, is everything alright? Is he bothering you?" Mr. Owens asked, drilling holes into Josh like he did the nasty reporters.
    "Just a friendly little disagreement," she reassured him as Josh flashed Mr. Owens his badge, letting him know Josh was one of the good guys. With that assurance, Mr. Owens returned to his home.
    “Jamie, I found you with ease. It isn’t like you are hiding, and there are other victims. He has struck again, and if I’m right, he has hit not just once, but four times in the last week. Use your head.”
    She stopped and looked up at him. Her feelings were swirling inside her like water in a whirlpool threatening to pull her under.
    “What are you asking of me, Josh? What exactly is it you want me to do here? To completely lock myself away from the world on the off chance it really was me instead of Debbie who was supposed to die?” she asked standing on her front porch.
    She did not give him opportunity to answer.
    “No,” she paused in thought.
    “No,” she said this time more firmly, shaking her head and confirming her stance. “I will not let you place me in a world where I cannot live my life. I will not live in fear, Josh. Not after all this time.”
    Josh was not asking her to shut herself off from the world. He just wanted her to take precautions.
    “I happen to like my life just how it is.”
    She did like her life to a degree and having him, a complete stranger, waltz in here and tell her how to run her life just was not sitting well. He cared. Something she could ill afford.
    She was going to be late if she kept this up. She needed to have him leave.
    He was stalling her. “Do you have time to give me a few moments to discuss a few details we have on the new murders? You might be able to give me some insight into the mind of the maniac.”
    “No, I really don’t. I’m late as it is.”
    Furthermore, she did not want him inside her home. She had not allowed anyone inside since she bought the place a couple of months back.
    Josh changed his tactics.
    “Well, if you are hell-bent on going, then let me make you feel like an important celebrity having your own personal bodyguard. I have been trained by the best personal security company in the world, and I can promise no one will even know I’m there.”
    “I will know. Thank you for the offer, but really I’m good.”
    She did not need a guardian angel. She did not need him hovering either. She was a grown woman who could