Justice for Sara Read Online Free PDF Page A

open. She was certain of it.
    Heart thundering, Kat stared at the paneled wooden door. The old-time glass knob.
    Do not open that door, Kat. Call the police. Now.
    And tell them what? That some sixth sense warned her something was wrong? Right.
    She closed her eyes, took a deep breath. She had been here before, many times. Afraid of the shadows, her imagination running away with her.
    But the boogeyman hadn’t jumped out at her, not once. She had shut the door without thinking. It was an old house. The heavy panel had swung shut on its own.
    What an idiot. Open the damn door, Kat.
    She grabbed the knob and twisted, the glass cool against her palm. As the door creaked open, her doorbell chimed.
    Startled, she snatched her hand back and swung around. The bell chimed again, followed by firm knocking.
    “I’m coming!” she called, hurrying that way. She peeked through the sidelight and saw Luke Tanner standing on her doorstep. “Sergeant Tanner?” she said, cracking open the door.
    “May I come in?”
    She stared at him, surprised silent. “I’m sorry,” she said, when she could speak, “it’s just so weird to have you show up at my door right now.”
    He looked beyond her, into the house. When his gaze returned to hers, she saw concern in his eyes. “Is everything all right?”
    “Yes, I’m fine. I’m just—” She stepped aside so he could enter. “Come on in.”
    He did, though she noted how his gaze scanned behind her and his right hand hovered over his gun holster. “I got an anonymous call. Caller said you were in trouble. Have you been here all evening?”
    An anonymous call? Rubbing her arms again, she shook her head. “No, I had dinner with Jeremy and Lilith. At their place. I got home a few minutes ago.”
    She glanced over her shoulder, in the direction of the bedroom, picturing the closed door.
    “What?” he asked.
    “It was silly. At least I thought it was.” He waited. “Don’t laugh, but I had this weird, creepy feeling something was wrong.”
    His lips twitched. “Normally weird, creepy feelings aren’t my area, but I think in this situation I’d better make an exception. How about I take a look around.”
    “I already have. Everything was fine except—” She hesitated a moment. “The bedroom door was closed and I remember leaving it open.”
    “Let me check it out. You stay here.”
    He drew his gun and made his way almost silently down the hall. Ignoring his order, she followed, cursing every creaking floorboard. How had he managed to avoid them?
    When he reached the door, he motioned her to stay back and to the far side. In case an intruder burst out. The same reason he flattened himself against the wall. And moments ago, there she’d been, ready to simply open the door and step inside, totally vulnerable.
    “Police,” he called out.
    She held her breath. Only silence answered.
    He called out once more and when he again got no reply, he inched the door open with his foot. She watched as he stepped inside, gun out, then as he swung from right to left. He moved beyond her vision, then reentered it a moment later.
    Kat swallowed hard. She felt a little like a character from a romance novel—admiring a man’s backside when she should be afraid for her life. But he did have an amazing backside. And watching him do his cop thing had been kind of sexy.
    “All clear,” he said, lowering the weapon.
    She cleared her throat, flustered. Until now, she hadn’t had any use for cops—she’d hated them mostly. And here she was, feeling flushed and aware of one—who happened to be the son of the very cop who had made her life a living hell ten years ago.
    “I knew I was being ridiculous,” she said. “I hope you don’t hold it against me.”
    “Actually, you weren’t. At least I don’t think so. You better take a look at this.”
    She crossed to him, legs unsteady. He indicated her bed.
    Lying across her pillow was a baseball bat, a bloodred bow affixed to the grip.

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