Monroe, Melody S. - Verdict (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Free Page B

kitchen, his cell rang. The caller ID flashed Harrison Lowry’s name on the screen, and his muscles tensed. “Stone.”
    “We’ve had another incident,” his superior said.
    He steeled his body and walked over to the open bar, his back to Susan. He lowered his voice. “Hit me.”
    “Janet Starkey was found murdered this afternoon. That makes five dead jurors.”
    He slid onto one of the stools and shot a glance at Susan. She twisted toward him and pinned him with her probing stare.
    He dragged a hand down his unshaven chin. “Wasn’t she under our protection?”
    “Yup.”
    “Which means—”
    “No one’s safe anymore.”

Chapter Two

    Stone stashed his phone in his hip pocket, filled his glass with water, and trudged back to his chair. Susan waited for him to tell her about the call. The way he stared off into space and flexed his hand set her on edge. “Is everything okay?”
    “That was my boss.” He chugged the water like a man who hadn’t had a drink in months.
    When he didn’t follow up, she pressed him. “Did something happen?”
    His jaw clenched. “Yes.” He set his glass down. “Janet Starkey, another juror, was murdered today.”
    She jerked. “Murdered?”
    The fact this monster wasn’t going to stop sharpened her nerve endings. Every crime scene photo of mutilated bodies she’d shown in court swirled in her mind, from the victim’s cold eyes to the ruthless manner of death. The blood shot to her core and her hands clenched. Would she be next?
    No. She wouldn’t let the bastard get to her no matter what it took.
    “Taylor?”
    She forced out an exhale. “I remember Janet. She was a high school teacher. Very intuitive.”
    But Janet was so much more. A woman, a mother, a caring citizen. This woman’s family and friends would be grieving for her as much as she was over Anne-Marie’s unnecessary death. The killings had to stop. Now.
    “Richard Thomason, the man in charge of relocation, moved her less than two days ago.” He straightened. “There shouldn’t have been any way to find her.”
    “How did she die?” She tried to ignore the hard pulses beating against her belly.
    His lips pressed together. “Hit and run. Janet was crossing the street when a car came out of nowhere.”
    Susan’s heart dropped to her stomach. “How horrible. Didn’t she have a bodyguard?”
    “I’m afraid not.”
    She needed more information, more facts. “Perhaps this was a random accident. What did the police findings show?”
    “There were two witnesses who both said the man drove straight toward her.” He looked down at his steepled fingers. “Not only did he…” Stone glanced to the ceiling.
    She narrowed her eyes. “Not only did he what? Tell me.”
    He caught her gaze and held it as if deciding how much information to spill. “The man hit her once, then backed up and ran over her again.”
    That horrific image seared into her brain. She shot a glance at the front door and tightened her hold on the pillow. “How did the Caravello family find her?”
    “That’s what I’d like to know.”
    So he did believe someone in the mob boss’ family was involved. “Do we need to move again?” She hated how her voice wobbled, considering how she prided herself on being strong.
    Stone’s shoulders relaxed. “Not yet. As long as I’m around, you should be safe.”
    She didn’t like the “should be” part.
    “Remember, we’re not one hundred percent certain the killer knows you’re alive.” He jumped up. “Let’s look around and get you settled.”
    From his rigid body and hard, focused eyes, he had also been affected by the tragic news. While the avoidance tactic wouldn’t work on her, for now, she wouldn’t argue. As she reached up to slip off her bulky cardigan, her muscles rebelled. “Ouch.”
    Stone was at her side in an instant. “Let me help you.”
    “I can do it.” Damn body. She lifted the lapel and stopped to catch her breath.
    “You don’t have to do everything