Yellow Ribbons Read Free Page B

Staff Sergeant Roger Tipton, CID. It looks like a massacre in there. After he was done with her, he slit his throat.”
    That might explain why they were called in. “I’m surprised the major isn’t here.”
    “Jordan said he called but got no answer and no voice mail. That’s why he opted to call us, because he knows we’re closer.”
    Which begged the question of why NCIS was on top of this? “Are we sure this is murder/suicide, not murder/murder?” Which didn’t make it any better. Two people were dead. Shit was going to hit the fan.
    “Sheriff’s coroner arrived about ten minutes before us. I don’t think anyone’s sure of anything at this point. You learn anything from the kids?”
    “Their dad’s a captain. A man who told them there was no Santa hurt their mother.”
    “Bastard…on many levels.”
    Stark shadows cut angles in his clenched jaw. She might outrank him, but Greg Landess was not a man Lani ever wanted to cross.
    “I’m finding this very hard to process. Tipton was a top-notch marine. One of the best.”
    “Maybe that’s why he did this.” Lani doubted what she was about to suggest would do much to ease his upset. “Once adultery and fraternization were discovered, he’d be facing court-martial. His career would be over. Maybe he couldn’t deal with that.”
    Greg’s hard gaze settled on her, sending a shiver through Lani’s body. “Suicide, maybe. But murder? You can feel the rage in that bedroom.”
    “He blamed her for leading him astray?”
    Mouth twisted, he stared into space.
    “Okay, master guns, here’s what we’re going to do.” Take charge. That was her job, the part Lani had a love/hate relationship with. “I’m going to see what Jordan’s got. All things considered, it was a courtesy that he called us in the first place. I don’t care who you have to wake. I want you to find out who the husband is and what unit he’s with. I’m sure the neighbors can at least provide some information. Try not to step on any local deputy sheriff toes in the process. Contact the unit’s Key Wives and see if someone can take the children until their father returns. I’m sure CPS won’t have a problem with them going to a friendly, familiar environment rather than being put into the overloaded system.”
    “On it, ma’am.” He tilted his head a tad. “You eat tonight?”
    That brought her thoughts screeching to a halt. “No.”
    “Good. It’s brutal in there. I guarantee you’ve never seen anything like it. I know I haven’t, and I don’t want to again.”
    “Jordan let you in the crime scene?”
    “Juarez is one of the detectives assigned. You know he doesn’t have the best reputation. Ron Pattison called Jordan and asked him to be eyes-on until he could get here. Sad when even your partner doesn’t trust you. Juarez didn’t say a word when Jordan ushered me inside for a look.” He fished a logbook from his jacket pocket, his cell phone from his jeans, and walked away.
    Lani wrinkled her nose at that news. Anyone but Juarez. Apparently his partner felt the same way and was no longer bothering to hide his dissatisfaction at having been stuck with Juarez. Why else ask Jordan to back him up? Unless Pattison anticipated NCIS’s eventual involvement and made the call.
    She second-guessed her need to see the scene, though. If the sight shook a hardcore marine like Greg, she was screwed. Since the victim-suspect was one of theirs, a look was all either of them would ever be allowed. Jordan wouldn’t have allowed it if he didn’t need their expertise.
    As if he’d heard her mulling over her choices, Jordan stepped outside and looked right at her. A woman in her field couldn’t back down. On the surface, Jordan Beck was quiet, observant, methodical, and no one was a better special agent than he. She enjoyed working with him. His instincts were sharp, they had great camaraderie, and once a person got to know him, Jordan’s easygoing humor came through. Though she