ZERO HERO (The Kate Huntington Mystery series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

week running for their lives. The experience had forced them both to face their fears about losing each other.
                “That was a bit different,” she said. “We didn’t have any choice about whether or not we were in danger. But this time–”
                “Kate, this is what I do . It’s not usually dangerous but sometimes it is. That’s why I carry a gun. You were the one who told me years ago, on our first date that you refused to call a date,” he gave her a small smile, “that you try not to let fear dictate what you do. That’s true for yourself, but you don’t always apply that when it comes to those you love.”
                Damn! He’d backed her into a corner with her own words. “Okay, that’s playing a bit dirty, don’t you think?” But she couldn’t quite keep the corners of her mouth from curling upward.
                “Look, darlin’, why don’t we talk about the case some more, and let me see if I even think I can help. Then we’ll decide from there. So what makes you so sure this guy is innocent? You said you’ve only been working with him for a little over a week, and you know drug addicts are notorious liars.”
                That gave her pause for a moment. Was she being naive?  She shook her head. “He’s not your typical drug addict. And yeah, I’ve only worked with him a short time, but it’s been pretty intense. He’s the client I went to Pennsylvania with on Saturday. We met the uncle of a little girl Pete wasn’t able to save, and then had a marathon therapy session in the car on the way home. Pete was finally starting to put things in perspective.”
                “So why was he downtown buying drugs yesterday?”
                “He wasn’t. The drug dealer was a friend of his, from high school. Pete was trying to get him to go to an NA meeting with him. In the twelve-step groups, it’s the eleventh step, to try to help other addicts get into recovery. But the guy was high, waving his gun around. Pete managed to get it away from him. That’s how his prints got on it.”
                “What was the fight on the street about?”
                “Pete was trying to convince Jimmy to get his life back on track. Jimmy was yelling at him that his life was just fine, thank you very much. He had money and women, what else could he want. Pete grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him, and started yelling back. Then he realized it was all futile and walked away.”
                “And you’re convinced this guy is on the up and up?” Skip asked again.
                “Yes, I think he is, and I think you’ll be convinced too, once you meet him.”
                “So you’re okay with me taking the case?”
                Kate blew out air. “I didn’t say that.” She looked down at her hands in her lap. “What would you do if you did take it?”
                Skip took one of her hands in his. “First thing would be to talk to the police and find out what they’ve got on your boy. See if I can poke any holes in their case big enough to get them to rethink the whole thing. If that doesn’t work, then we’d go looking for who the real killer might be.”
                Her stomach clenched. “Which is the point where you start messing around with some of the slimiest slime in Baltimore.”
                “True, but I would do so with the utmost care. Kate, I know what I’m doing. Have you ever known me to be reckless?” There was a touch of annoyance in his voice now.
                Uh, oh!  She backpedaled. “Of course you know what you’re doing. You’re excellent at what you do, which is why you and Rose have been so successful. But these are very dangerous people you’d be dealing with.”
                “Let’s take it one step at a time, shall we? I’ll