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before. A mature kind of cold inspection. He didn’t like it at all. The last time he’d seen her they’d been in love. Her looks had been warm.
    But Dante had left town. So maybe she was still just a little pissed off at him about that. And maybe he couldn’t blame her for giving him an icy, hard stare.
    Plus, the circumstances of them meeting each other again weren’t exactly ideal.
    “That’s all for now. I have work to do.”
    She walked away.
    “So Anna’s a detective, huh?” Dante looked at Gabe after Roman went to talk to Anna.
    “Yeah.”
    “Kind of a hard-ass, isn’t she? That’s new.”
    “You’ve been gone a long time, Dante.”
    “I guess I have.”
    He’d imagined a lot over the past twelve years, but Anna becoming a cop wasn’t one of the things he’d thought about. Her married with a couple kids, yeah. Becoming a schoolteacher or a nurse, he could totally picture. He’d even thought the worst, like that traumatic night would turn her to drugs or make her a runaway. A hundred other nightmarish things he’d never wanted to pop into his head had. And he’d taken responsibility for all of them—thoughts that had left him in a cold sweat and guilt that made his stomach feel empty and sick. But a cop? He’d never included that in possible scenarios for Anna.
    She looked comfortable in the job, directing the uniforms and whispering with the medical examiner. She knelt next to the body, pointing here and there and actually touching George.
    The Anna of twelve years ago would never have done that.
    This wasn’t the Anna of twelve years ago.
    He supposed he had the answer he was looking for. Anna was fine. She’d survived what had happened here in the alley, had moved on with her life and had become a success.
    And now there was George’s murder in the alley.
    What happened here?
    Roman walked over to them. “You two are sprung. Dante, let me know where you are once you get settled.”
    Dante nodded. “Will do.” He headed over to Anna, who stood over the crime scene techs as they worked the scene. The coroner’s assistants had wrapped the body and were putting it on the gurney.
    “I have to tell Ellen.” God, he didn’t want to do that.
    She nodded. “I’m sorry. I’ll go with you. I need to ask her some questions.”
    “This is going to be rough for her.”
    “I know it will. I still need to ask the questions.”
    “And I understand that. Which is why I’ll be with her.”
    “Okay. We’re wrapped up here. You two going to Ellen’s, too?” she asked, looking at Gabe and Roman.
    “Yeah,” Roman said. “Since we found George, I think it’s important we’re all there for her.”
    Gabe nodded. “Someone needs to get in touch with Jeff, let him know what happened. I’ll take care of that and then I’ll catch up with you at Ellen’s.”
    “All right,” Anna said. “I’ll meet you all there.”
    Dante thought about how he was going to tell Ellen on the drive back to the Clemons house. There was no way to prepare her for this. She knew as soon as she opened the door and saw Roman, saw Anna, saw the badge.
    “It’s bad, isn’t it?”
    Dante took her hand. “Let’s go inside and sit down.”
    She trembled as he put an arm around her and led her to the sofa. She sat, and Roman slid next to her. Gabe came in right behind them and took up position behind Ellen.
    “You remember Anna?” Roman asked.
    “Of course. How are you?”
    Anna didn’t smile. “I’m fine, Mrs. Clemons. I’m sorry to have to tell you this—”
    “We found George,” Dante said, interrupting Anna.
    Ellen shifted on the sofa to face him. “Where?”
    “In an alley off Lindell.”
    Her bottom lip trembled and tears filled her eyes. She squeezed Dante’s hand. “Is he dead?”
    Dante nodded. “Yes, Ellen. Someone killed him.”
    She reached up, covered her mouth, then burst into tears. “Oh, God. Oh, no. George.”
    Dante pulled her into his arms and let her sob. Her loud crying woke the