Read The Murder Game for Free Online

should have been under FBI protection while they’d hunted down the BQ Killer, but instead, she had succumbed to Griff’s persuasive charm and accepted his offer of protection. Nic didn’t think she’d ever forgive Griff—one of the many sins for which she couldn’t forgive him—for whisking Barbara Jean away and keeping her in seclusion here at Griffin’s Rest. Apparently, even after Cary Maygarden had been killed and she was no longer thought to be in danger, Barbara Jean had chosen to stay on and was now in Griffin’s employ.
    The moment Barbara Jean saw Nic, she paused and smiled. “Good morning, Special Agent Baxter. It’s so nice to see you again, but I wish it were under more pleasant circumstances.”
    “Yes, me, too. And please, call me Nic.”
    “You’re a bit early. Breakfast isn’t quite ready.” Barbara Jean eyed the table, neatly set with placemats, silverware, and china. “Griffin and Maleah should be down shortly.” She glanced sweetly at Sanders. “Damar has prepared his special breakfast casserole and homemade cinnamon and raisin scones.”
    “It smells delicious.” Nic tried her best to curb her curiosity about Maleah. Was she one of Griff’s women? Probably. But when she’d spoken to Griff yesterday, while he’d been at Lindsay and Judd’s, hadn’t he mentioned dropping off someone named Lisa Kay?
    “Would you care for coffee?” Sanders asked.
    “Yes, I’d love coffee, but I can get it myself.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    By the time she’d poured the black brew into a china cup and was about to take the first sip, a woman entered the kitchen. Pretty and blonde and stacked. About five four. And somewhere between twenty-five and thirty-five, probably thirty. She was dressed casually, in neat navy blue slacks and a kelly green cotton blouse.
    Nic could certainly see why any man would be attracted to her.
    “Morning all,” the woman said as she visually scanned the room. Her gaze settled on Nic. “Hi. You must be the infamous Nic Baxter.” She smiled and held out her hand as she approached. “I’m Maleah Perdue, the Powell agent assigned to Griffin’s Rest this week.”
    Nic returned her smile, feeling oddly relieved that she wasn’t being subjected to breakfast with Griff’s latest girlfriend. “So, I’m infamous around here, am I?”
    “Most definitely,” Maleah said. “During the BQK case, your name was synonymous with The Devil.”
    “I wouldn’t have it any other way, not with Griffin Powell. Believe me, his name is synonymous with arrogant SOB in my office every day.”
    Nic and Maleah were laughing when Griff entered the kitchen. He glanced from one woman to the other, nodding at each in turn. “Something tells me that all this early-morning good humor is at my expense.”
    “Could be,” Maleah admitted.
    Sanders brought Griff a cup of coffee immediately and said, “Breakfast will be served momentarily.”
    Griff motioned to the table. “Ladies.”
    He waited until each of them had taken a seat and Barbara Jean had positioned her wheelchair in front of a place setting before he sat down at the table.
    He turned to Maleah, on his left. “Have you received any information this morning?”
    Sanders placed a canned cola and a straw in front of Maleah, who popped the lid and inserted the straw before replying. “Actually, some info came in overnight. I haven’t printed it out yet, but I can give you a rundown from memory.”
    “What sort of information?” Nic asked. “About the two victims?”
    Maleah nodded. “With only their names and the basic info on both women, I was able to get quite a bit of personal information. The Web has made everyone’s personal life an open book.”
    “Other than similarities in the way they were murdered, did the two women have anything else in common?” Griff asked.
    “Hmm…I suppose the answer is yes and no. There’s nothing in their backgrounds to connect them. They were born in different states, lived in different