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automatically began running her fingers across the pup’s sides. While her chin was being licked, Bree shifted her gaze from the ground, connecting with the detective’s curious observation.
    The images of a gun, body bags, jail... They all circled her head, making it swim. Brenda Ellen would have been walking Dallas last night. She felt desperately ill and dropped her face into the black fur.
    “You didn’t catch him?” she asked.
    “I didn’t find anyone, no.”
    “Is she...? Is that why you were bringing Dallas home?” Oh, my gosh, she’s dead. Sabrina could tell she was right by the detective’s sympathetic sigh and awkwardness.
    “I need to ask you a few questions, Miss Bowman.” He extended his hand to help her stand.
    Sabrina had no choice. Because of her, Brenda Ellen had died. Perhaps she should be arrested and leave the investigating to professionals. She placed her cold fingers within his warm grip and stood. She didn’t want to go to jail. “I’m Bree.”
    “Yeah, I remember.”
    He kept hold of her hand, steadying her. Gone was the shyness, the awkward bit of flirtation from the diner. They stood there for several seconds until Dallas whimpered and pawed at her legs.
    “Maybe we should go inside?” he asked.
    “Can we? After that guy was there? I mean, don’t you need fingerprints or something? He killed Brenda Ellen.”
    “Did you actually see someone?” He shoved into her hand some silver material that he’d used for a leash, then tugged her to the sidewalk, protectively pushing her a couple of feet behind a giant sycamore. She winced as the snow covered her feet.
    “He pointed a gun at Joey out the door. The kitchen’s a wreck and you said someone killed her.”
    “I didn’t say anything.”
    “Didn’t you?”
    “No.”
    “But you found a body and Dallas was at the lake. There’s eggs and grease and a mess.” She wasn’t making sense and, from his curious expression, could tell he was confused.
    “Did you actually see someone in the house?”
    “Yes. He chased me outside and was going to shoot us, but then you got here.”
    “What makes you think that? What did he look like?”
    “I don’t know. He had a mask and a gun. I saw the gun.” Her hands shook. She hadn’t been this frightened since stabbing Griffin with a scalpel. “She never, ever eats fried food.”
    “Ma’am, I’m having a hard time following. You aren’t making much sense. I didn’t find anyone inside, but I can check it out if you want to wait in the car.”
    * * *
    “H E KILLED HER , didn’t he?”
    Bree Bowman was losing it and sort of melted onto the sidewalk along with the snow from the night before. He didn’t believe she’d actually fainted but it was close. Jake did the only thing he knew how to do...
    He grabbed the leash and lifted Bree. She was a tiny thing, fitting easily into his arms. She was crying hard, and was half-frozen from being outside without a coat or shoes. Her tiny feet were a bluish color, waving in the air. His only option was the house. Crime scene or not.
    The door banged half open again. He took a second to look this time at what it hit. He recognized the suitcase from the diner—so she was a house sitter, not only a dog walker. The bottom of the case was still wet, so she hadn’t been there long. She clung to the dog leash and Dallas pulled them a couple of steps forward. Jake whacked his hip on a drawer.
    “I’m so sorry. I needed the meat mallet in case someone attacked.”
    “Drop the leash, Bree.”
    “I can’t.” She locked her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer. “She’ll run through the house, maybe destroy evidence. She’s certain to get into things and someone was here. They chased me.”
    “I’ve got it. You can let go.” She searched his eyes and then let go as instructed.
    When he set her on her feet, he kept an arm around her waist to steady her. Dallas continued to tug and beg to be free.
    “What makes you think your boss