Yellow Ribbons Read Free

His cell or hers? The generic ring tone made it difficult to tell, though from the close proximity, it was probably his.
    He kissed her again, building them up for another round while the phone kicked over to voice mail. But the caller wouldn’t be denied. Another muffled ring followed—her phone this time. Then the tweedle of a text message on his, then hers, then yet another ring.
    Muttering curses that made him a proud marine, he left the bed. She listened to the rustle of clothing. Another curse she couldn’t decipher. The bed dipped with his weight next to her.
    “I hate being interrupted. Don’t you?” The telltale snick of a switchblade answered the question for her. She gasped when the cold steel touched her skin.

Chapter Two

    Lani Hollister saw the crime scene long before she reached it. In the desert, a person could see for miles. Flashing red-and-blue lights cut through the night, rivaling training flares bursting over the Marine Corps base. This scene was a mere two miles from her house. It’d taken her longer to put on jeans and a pullover sweater than it had to reach the house. She wondered if her location was why she’d received the call. It wasn’t usual for her to respond to a crime scene in town, even one involving military personnel. She couldn’t imagine why Jordan Beck had called her. Or why the Naval Criminal Investigative Service was on scene. It couldn’t be good. Judging from the emergency vehicles crowding the street, it was very bad.
    She parked her car as near as possible, two houses away. Neighbors hovered near the line of police tape edging the property, craning their necks for a better view. Two members of the Citizens Patrol made sure they stayed behind the yellow tape. God only knew what evidence the gawkers might have compromised.
    Lani paused by her vehicle, studying everything before she walked into the disaster. Wide yellow ribbons, weather worn and pale from at least six months on display, draped two towering palm trees in the front yard. A unit was scheduled to return in a couple of days from Afghanistan. In her heart, Lani knew a marine would come home to tragedy.
    Two little girls sat in the back of the ambulance, teddy bears clutched in their arms. Each wore Dora the Explorer pajamas and pink piggy slippers. Tears ravaged their pale faces. The youngest hiccuped with her sobs. Long light brown hair was sleep tangled. Blankets provided by the paramedics were draped over their shoulders against the crisp February night. Lani doubted the girls realized the blankets were there.
    She hated cases involving children, hated to see any situation where a child was traumatized. It ate at her gut, made her feel helpless. She glanced at the stars overhead, hoping to pull in some extra strength from the Milky Way, but the emergency lights drowned them out. She didn’t want to do this. It was the capper on what had been one suck of a day.
    Shoulders squared, Lani forced her feet to move. Boot steps running up behind her stopped her. A glance back revealed Master Gunnery Sergeant Greg Landess hurrying her way. He’d made it in record time. Very bad if both of them were here.
    “Captain,” he said, falling in step beside her. “Here already?”
    “A short drive for me, master guns,” she replied, grateful he’d matched his longer stride with her shorter one. She didn’t have the energy to try to keep up with him right now, and the man moved like Superman.
    “Any idea what we’re dealing with?”
    “No. Must be big if NCIS called us in.” Lani shook her head, even though she knew he was looking at the scene, not her.
    “Looks like every law enforcement agency in the area is on hand.”
    Not everyone, but close to it. Jordan was somewhere in all the hubbub. “At least we don’t have to contend with a media circus.” That was one of the many benefits of living in a small town.
    “That won’t be the case once the word gets out. Damn…kids,” he muttered.
    One of the male