Arouse Suspicion Read Online Free PDF Page A

wound. There was also gunpowder residue on his fingers, another indicator that he'd fired a weapon."
    This wasn't what Nick was hoping to learn. "That's why it was ruled a suicide."
    "That's right. Except Dad was at the shooting range that day, putting in his monthly firearms practice. That could account for the residue on his fingers."
    "But wouldn't it have worn off?"
    "It can take up to twenty-four hours for the residue to disappear completely from the skin."
    Nick sat stiff-backed in his chair, his mind racing. "Did the killer know that he'd been to the range?"
    Danni shrugged. "If it was someone in the department, like you suspect, then yes, he could've. The schedules are posted where everyone can see them. But there's something else that's bothering me."
    Nick wondered why all of it didn't bother her. Hell, it bothered him. Just hearing the cold, analytical words of the autopsy made his skin grow clammy. "What's that?"
    "Who did he trust enough to get that close to him?"
    Her question solidified a hard fact. "He knew his murderer."
    She picked up a green paper clip and bent it open, making it look like a fishhook. "Proving it will be hell."
    "I know. I tried."
    "I heard." Danni straightened another curve in the paper clip. "It seems you've made quite a name for yourself."
    "What're you talking about?"
    Danni tossed the now-straight paper clip onto her desk and leaned forward. "Why didn't you tell me you'd pissed off everyone?"
    Busted. "All I did was ask some questions."
    "You pretty much accused everyone of being involved in a conspiracy." Danni shook her head. "If the killer is hiding within the force, you've built a wall we'll have to take apart one brick at a time in order to find him."
    Nick rubbed his throbbing brow. "Nobody believed me. Hell, you didn't even believe me, and you should've been the first one to stick up for Paddy."
    Danni's face reddened, and she picked up another paper clip, this one blue, and began unbending it. "You're right. Even though Dad and I weren't on good terms for over ten years, we were slowly starting to mend our fences. I should've known he wouldn't kill himself."
    Nick had the insane urge to comfort her in his arms, but he suspected she wouldn't appreciate his sympathy. "You were in shock," he said lamely.
    Danni's head came up, her eyes snapping and glittering. "Don't make excuses for me, Sirocco. I screwed up."
    Although surprised, Nick understood her lashing out at him. She was in pain, and he kept prodding at the festering wound.
    Her phone buzzed.
    Frowning, Danni hit a button. "Yes?"
    "It's two o'clock," her receptionist said.
    Her scowl grew. "Thanks, Cathy." She faced Nick. "I've got a surveillance job."
    "Can't it wait? We should go over to the center."
    "No. I've already put it off a week, with Dad's funeral and all, and I can't afford to lose a client." She stood and grabbed what looked like a man's old suit coat from the back of her chair. She donned it and tugged her hair out from under the collar. Her curls spilled across her shoulders, catching the light and reflecting reddish tints.
    She paused and caught his gaze. "If you're right about the killer being a cop, you're in more danger than I am."
    "What're you talking about?"
    "You didn't exactly use tact and discretion at the station when you were asking questions about my father. That, and the fact Dad thought you could've helped him tells me you're the one with a bull's-eye painted on your chest."
    Nick hadn't even considered his own safety, but that wasn't his foremost concern. Still, if he could use her logic for his objective... "You could be right. We should stick together until we figure out who killed him."
    A little furrow wrinkled the skin between her eyebrows, like she suspected she'd been played. Then the now-familiar stubborn glint entered her eyes, and Nick held up a hand. "No, Danni." Her name slipped out unintentionally. "One person's already been murdered. If we're going to find the truth, we need to