In the Shadow of Evil Read Online Free PDF Page B

police?"
    "Maybe." Layla set the pages on the pile with the others, then grabbed the listing of every independent she'd hired for the project.
    "Then why aren't you letting them do this?"
    Layla made eye contact with her, allowing Alana to see the despair and desperation she felt. "Because this is the project I just won the CotY regional award for. And I was site foreman for the job." And if there was a link between the incident and someone she'd contracted, she could lose. Worse, her reputation would be damaged beyond repair.
    "Oh, Layla, I'm sorry. I didn't realize—"
    "You couldn't have." Layla blew her bangs off her forehead. "Now you see why I need to check everything." She ran her finger down the list of independents.
    Electrician: Denny Keys. Carpenters: J. B. Carpentry. Supplier: Y Building Supplies. Plumber . . . Bob Johnson.
    Layla's gut clenched, and she snatched Bob's contract. Please, no. Don't let it be. But her niggling fear was there in black and white.
    Bob had utilized three people from Second Chances.
    Coincidence? She didn't believe in them. But Gavin hadn't been at the retreat yet. Still, what were the odds?
    "What?" Alana studied her.
    "Bob was the contracted plumber."
    "So?"
    "He used three people from the retreat."
    Confusion then understanding then worry crossed over her sister's face. "You like Bob. Trust him. You talked to him yesterday. You said he was outraged at the prospect of drugs being on his site." Alana smoothed down her hair.
    "I did. And he was. Someone could be involved in drugs without his knowledge." Layla touched her sister's arm. "You know how addicts hide things."
    "There are signs. Physical deterioration. Loss of—"
    "I know." Didn't they both know it all too well? Too intimately? How her sister could stand to be around addicts all day after what they'd lived through was beyond her.
    "I'm just saying surely someone would have noticed a change."
    "Maybe. Unless he didn't know them well."
    Alana's eyes narrowed. "Just because three of mine were used, doesn't mean they're involved."
    "I didn't say that, Al—"
    "Anybody could be involved. You know this program works. You've supported it. Fred and I make sure the psychiatrist says they're ready to work before we consider letting them enter the work-release program."
    "I do support it." Layla shook her head. "There might not even be any connection between Bob and whatever crew he used and the murder. I'm just trying to be proactive. Knowledge is power."
    "By insinuating the retreat's residents could be involved?" Alana crossed her arms over her chest. "And don't quote Dadaisms to me."
    "I'm not saying that. Not even implying it. I'm just trying to get a handle on everything."
    "It's not even your job."
    Layla swallowed hard, forcing herself not to react to her sister's hostility. It was only the fear talking. "I know. But the police will ask, and we'll already have the information prepared."
    Alana cocked her head but her stare pierced Layla. "And you need to know."
    "I do." She held her breath as her sister chewed her bottom lip.
    Finally, Alana sighed. "I do too. If someone from the retreat is even remotely involved, I need to know. If I'm not careful, I could lose funding." She shook her head. "If it's proven the retreat is involved, it could even close me down."
    Layla nodded. "So we need to do everything we can to find out the truth. To protect both of us."

FOUR
    "A man of courage is also full of faith."
    —MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO
    ONLY ONE LEFT. JUST one.
    He slammed the folder shut. He'd shredded Dennis's files as he took care of the evidence trail. He'd come so far in the past nine months . . . covering up every single lead that could come back to him. Nothing that would draw the attention of the authorities. Nothing that would link them so anyone would get suspicious.
    And now he just had one building that could be tracked back to him. But that one was a doozy. He'd have to finesse his way through the last one.
    What would be