Read Jill Elizabeth Nelson for Free Online Page B

waiting for him to slip up again. He’s not so bad, you know. Just needs someone to understand him.”
    Right. He’d heard that same song from women with black eyes and busted jaws, courtesy of the poor, misunderstood dirtball they called boyfriend or husband. He didn’t want Taylor to end up another statistic. Mason was known to have the Elling temper.
    â€œAt least let me give you a lift back to your own car.” Rich offered a smile.
    She tucked her lower lip between straight white teeth that must have cost her folks a hunk of change, and then shook her head. Her gaze was fixed on the young man who stood swaying on the entrance walk.
    â€œI’ll probably hang out here awhile. Play video games. Whatever.” She opened the car door, and Rich stepped out of the way as she emerged. “I’m nineteen years old and headed for college in a few weeks. I appreciate your concern, but you and my parents will have to stop mother-henning me.” She flipped her blond hair over her shoulder and stomped off.
    â€œIf you think you need a ride,” he spoke after her, “call me no matter what time it is.”
    Heart heavy, he got into his SUV. Something was seriously funky in that household, and a bright girl with a promising future like Taylor didn’t belong in all that darkness. But he couldn’t control her choices. Just like he couldn’t control Jan Keller’s choice not to tell him what she knew about the baby that was buried in her backyard.
    He guided his vehicle out of the driveway and onto one of the torn-up city streets. Behind him a pair of headlights came up quickly, bouncing over the bumpy track. Whoever it was needed to slow down and keep their distance. Frowning, Rich’s hand moved toward the control for his bubble lights, then froze. The car behind flashed its headlights and signaled to pull over. Rich eased to the side of the road, and the other vehicle stopped behind him. The car’s door opened, and the dome light revealed Nicole climbing out. Rich met her between their vehicles. The headlights from her car outlined her figure but left her features in shadows.
    â€œHi.” He ventured a small wave. “Thanks for handling matters so well back there.”
    She let out a small laugh. “Here, I thought you were going to scold me for horning in on the investigation.”
    â€œI probably should, but I get the sense that you werecaught up in the moment and ended up where you didn’t expect.”
    Her shoulders slumped. “The whole day has been like that. More like the past year.”
    Was something heavy going on in Nicole’s life even before her husband was killed? Rich stopped the question from popping out of his mouth. He didn’t have the right to ask anything like that yet.
    â€œWhat have you got there?” He motioned toward a bag she cupped in a palm as if it were fragile and precious.
    â€œI was waiting at the intersection up the street for you to leave the Ellings so I could give you this. It’s from Hannah. Baby Samuel’s hairbrush. Maybe there’s still usable DNA on it.” Nicole held the bag out to him.
    Rich let out a low whistle and took the offering. “Thanks. I knew you’d handle Hannah like a pro.”
    â€œNo handling necessary.” She crossed her arms. “She volunteered. At least one person in that house wants the poor child identified.”
    Rich nodded. “We need an ID to have any hope of finding out who might have buried the infant on your grandparents’ property.”
    â€œYou’re giving them the benefit of the doubt?”
    Her breathless hope sent a shaft through Rich’s heart. He steeled his emotions. “No more than I would any other citizen in good standing. Innocent until proven guilty, remember?”
    She cleared her throat. “Well, thanks for that anyway.”
    An awkward silence stretched between them.
    â€œGood night,” she