Touch of Betrayal, A Read Free

jerkwad for shooting at me and confirming there’s something here I need to find.”
    “We’ll split it. I’ll take half the property.” He’d used his Pierce-in-charge voice and it grated along my nerves.
    “Not necessary. I can do it, and you must have stuff—”
    “My priority, Everly, is getting you to Hawaii yesterday. Let’s get this done.” He pulled a wad of plastic bags from his back pocket and shoved half in my direction.
    “I haven’t talked to Mitch about going with him, so it’ll be a while before I can leave.” I snatched the bags from his hand and headed toward the far corner of the property. It wasn’t exactly a lie. I hadn’t talked to Mitch. I did text him, but his return message had been cryptic and adamant. He didn’t want me anywhere near Honolulu. It didn’t make sense. Not that I’d ever asked to travel with him when he worked, but everyone lived in Hawaii now, and it hurt that he didn’t want me with him.
    Lost in thought, I stumbled over a bump in the uneven ground and glanced down … “Pierce!”
    My brain froze, caught in indecision. Should I bend over for a closer look at what appeared to be the bones of a human hand? Or run like Hades had a bead on my soul?

 
    TWO
     
    I stepped back, my feet sinking into a trough of mucky dirt the explosion had left behind. The shifting breeze filled the air with the scent of wild lilacs, a direct contrast to the rush of horror working its way down my spine. I took another step back. Not far, just enough to get some perspective on the situation, and bumped into Pierce.
    “That’s a hand.” It came out a croak, so I cleared my throat. “You can see the bones, and it looks human.” I held my arm up, palm facing me, and curled my fingers in. “Yep. Like he was grabbing for something.”
    A shiver raced under my skin, and I rubbed my upper chest—right about where I thought my soul might live.
    Pierce nodded, reaching for his cell. “Better get Hayes out here.”
    The shakes took over my muscles. “Why do I always have to be the one to find dead bodies? Why didn’t someone discover this sooner? Seriously, it’s been more than a year since the explosion, and I know law enforcement has searched the property several times.”
    “That’s why.” Pierce had never been big on using more words than absolutely necessary.
    “What’s why?” I shuffled the anxiety rolling in my belly aside, and squatted next to him for a better look at the arm, which was mostly covered with dirt and debris.
    “Probably took time to work its way to the surface,” Pierce said. Then he turned his attention to whoever answered the phone, describing what we’d found.
    I was stuck on the horrific idea that bodies could move around in the ground after they were long dead. Creepy.
    Pierce tapped me on the shoulder. “You’re looking green. There’ve been a couple big storms. Probably shifted things enough to expose the body. Hayes is on his way.”
    Heaviness weighed on my shoulders. “I’ve only seen the chief once since I’ve been back, and he hasn’t called me in to help on any cases. I’m not sure I’m ready for a face-to-face discussion about unidentified remains. On my property.”
    “Hayes is in a tough spot with you. Adam understood your skills, no explanation needed. Any other detective would’ve required an extensive briefing.” Pierce, putting the truth in perspective.
    “Yeah. I know I’m unexplainable to the average cop—the average person, really. But I’ve been so isolated since I sold the townhouse, and now there’s this.” I waved my hand over the ground. “No wonder Mitch hasn’t wanted me to leave the house.”
    Pierce made an odd noise, like a pissed-off lion had been trapped in his throat, and then he jogged toward the driveway. My Prius was the only car parked there. “Hey,” I yelled after him. “How’d you get here?”
    He pointed to the sky, winked. “Parachute.”
    I’d forgotten how annoying he could be.