Beautiful Storm (Lightning Strikes Book 1) Read Free Page B

had passed since they'd run in and out of each other's houses in the neighborhood known as Little Havana. He'd left Miami when he was fifteen and Liliana had joined the Navy after high school so she could get a college education and eventually a law degree. Their lives had gone in completely different directions.
    He didn't want to lose hope, but it had been two months, and the trail had been cold from the start, except for the trail that led to him. That was one the police kept going down. But no matter how many times they questioned him, his story wouldn't change, because there was no story, only the truth.
    A sudden clanging of the elevator brought his head around, and he was startled to see a uniformed police officer step out. His tension dissipated as the officer walked forward, the flashlight from his phone illuminating his features.
    "Diego," he murmured, seeing the familiar brown eyes of one of the few friends he had left in Miami.
    He and Diego had run with the same bad crowd in middle school and gotten into a lot of trouble together. Michael had been forced to change his life when his grandfather had yanked him out of Miami and sent him to boarding school.
    Diego had straightened out his life by becoming a police officer.
    While Michael appreciated that Diego was now on the right side of the law, Diego's job was starting to put a dent in their renewed friendship.
    Diego stopped a few feet away from him. He stood about five foot ten, and had a square, stocky build that had made him a really good linebacker back in the day.
    "What are you doing here, Diego?"
    "I was going to ask you the same question. I stopped by your apartment and your office. I should have figured you'd be up here. You always did like to get—high." He laughed at his own joke. "I'm talking about your love of heights, of course."
    "Of course," he said dryly. "Why are you looking for me?"
    At his question, the humor in Diego's eyes vanished. "I need to ask you a question. Where were you earlier tonight?"
    His gut tightened. "Are you asking as a cop or as a friend?"
    "Both."
    "Something has happened." He saw the truth in Diego's eyes. "What?"
    "Liliana's military ID tag was found."
    His heart thudded against his chest. "Where?"
    "First, you need to tell me where you were tonight, why you're soaking wet." Diego's gaze ran up and down his wet clothes.
    "I went for a run after work. It's been raining."
    "What time did you leave your office?"
    "Around four. We closed up early because of the storm. I did some work at home, then went out when the weather improved."
    "Anyone see you on your run or at your apartment complex?"
    Every question made his nerves tighten. "I saw my neighbor in the elevator, Mrs. Spidowski from 12B. You can talk to her if you want. Now are you going to tell me where Liliana's ID was found?"
    "Virginia Key Park."
    He was more than a little surprised with Diego's answer. "That's nowhere close to any place we've been looking."
    "I know. A woman came down to the station tonight. She told Detective Kellerman that she'd seen a man and a woman struggling by the carousel. When she went to investigate, she found the military tag with Liliana's name on it."
    Adrenaline and hope shot through his system at Diego's words. "So Liliana is alive?"
    "Unfortunately, the witness didn't get a good look at the woman. To make matters worse, she somehow got injured in the park and has a significant bump on her head. Kellerman isn't entirely convinced the witness saw anything more than shadows in the wind, but she did bring in the tag. That part is for sure." Diego sighed. "You know what I'm going to ask next—where did you run?"
    "Nowhere near the park." He ran a hand through his wet hair, unable to believe that he was still a suspect. "If your department keeps looking at me, you're never going to find Liliana, because I didn't take her, and I don't know where she is."
    "I believe you, Michael, but I know you. The detectives don't. And you were the last