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Miss
Priss’s pal displayed. Her teeth dripped with venom, much more Tyson’s type. A
woman with that kind of temper collected trouble like trophies. With her around,
trying to gather information would be waste of time and it would be useless to
try any intimidation tactics on McKenna Porter, murderess.
    “Tomorrow, at the station.”

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter
Four
     
    McKenna sat in the front seat of Dawn’s car staring
blankly out the window. She didn’t want to return to her house. It had never
been filled with love and laughter, but it was the only home she’d ever known.
    They approached the house. Yellow tape flapped in the
breeze. The delicate flowers that yesterday bloomed gloriously in the summer
sun now lay trampled and broken. The glass panels in the sturdy front security
door usually gleamed crystal clear, but reflected nothing beyond the smudged
greasy film left by the fingerprint dust.
    “We don’t have to go in,” Dawn said with her hands
still resting on the steering wheel. “Mom wants you to come and stay at our
house. She’s worried.”
    McKenna carefully pushed the door open with her
bandaged hands. “Not this time. Your family has always been there for me. I
probably would’ve turned out just like Elliot if it hadn’t been for you and
Scott…before he died.”
    Dawn came around the car so McKenna could lean against
her until her legs steadied. “Scott failed you. He was selfish.” Dawn glared at
the dark sedan across the street. “Pigs,” she said disgustingly.
    “They’re just doing their job.” She glanced at the
unmarked car. “Probably worried I’ll leave the country.”
    “What do you think?” Dawn hollered at the two men in
the unmarked car. “Does she look dangerous? Go home! Leave her alone.” She
walked with McKenna into the house.
    They both stopped and stared at the blood. Dawn was
the first to flinch but then walked over the spatters and stains as if nothing
was amiss.
    McKenna sank into the leather loveseat in the great
room and lifted her feet onto the ottoman. “I’m scared. Detective Pearce
appears to be very capable. If this investigation goes too deep into my past
they’re going to find out about Scott. His family still blames me for his
death.”
    The click of Dawn’s shoes against the hardwood
flooring echoed down the hall as she went to the kitchen. “Don’t go there,
Mickey.” She returned with a diet soda for each of them. “I’ve been thinking
about it. Everyone saw us leave the coffee shop together after yoga.” Dawn
popped the top of her soda and took a drink. “I dated a traffic cop. They’re
all the same, like sheep. Just lead them where you want them to go. If we want,
we’ll make them believe we were with each other the entire night.”
    She couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you suggesting that
we went carousing all night? Don’t be ridiculous.”
    “Well, then, we’ll tell the cops we’re a couple.”
    McKenna covered her mouth to keep soda from spraying
out her nose.
    Dawn reached over, clasped their hands together, and
gently stroked the discoloring gauze wrapping her wounds. “Tell me what you did
after you left the yoga studio. Don’t leave out anything. You won’t be lying, I
will.”
    “If you get caught, they’ll charge you with
interfering with an investigation or something.” She shook her head. “No, in
the morning I’ll go down to the station and speak with Detective Pearce.” If
she could keep her head together and not do something as stupid as stare at his
masculine face with chiseled features and his toned body built for getting the
bad guys. God, he thought she was one of the bad guys . She put a hand to
her forehead. Pain stabbed through her temples. The pressure seemed to build by
the minute.
    “You can’t worry about me, Mickey. You need to think
of yourself—”
    “I can’t worry about myself,” she interrupted. “I have
to look at the bigger picture. Someone was in this house. If they got