Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(68)

Zara leaned back and tipped her head to look up at the ceiling of the truck. “It’s an odd coincidence, though. You, Heath, and Denver being at the same orphanage way back when.”

“According to Greg, it’s no coincidence.” Ryker slowed the truck as her house came into view.

Two police cars blocked the driveway, and uniformed cops were beginning to move down the sidewalk. A forensics van was parked half on the street and half on her lawn.

“What in the world?” Zara jumped out of the truck.

“Zara, wait.” Ryker pulled to the curb, stopped the engine, and barreled out of the truck in one smooth motion. He reached her and grabbed her arm, halting her on the snow-covered driveway. “Calm. Let me handle this.”

Detective Norton came out the front door, took one look at her, and reached for his phone to bark something. Finishing, he stomped down the walkway, his boots scattering snow. “Just canceled a BOLO on you, Ms. Remington.”

She faltered. “A BOLO? I don’t understand.”

The detective paused and scrutinized her. “What happened to your jaw?”

“Ah.” She rubbed the bruise along her jawline.

“Mr. Jones? I’d like you to come down to the station to answer a few questions,” Detective Norton said, his gaze hard.

Zara sighed. “Ryker didn’t hit me.” Why did everyone keep suspecting the poor guy?

“Then who did? And while you’re at it, please explain what happened here. Your door is busted, and your living room appears as if a large altercation took place.” The detective blocked her way to the house.

She sighed. “I got carried away the other night exercising, and frankly, I don’t owe you an explanation. Please leave my premises, as you don’t have a warrant to search.” Yeah, that was right. She thought. Maybe?

The detective slowly lifted his head. “We were called in about a possible kidnapping. There’s blood in your kitchen. I could see it through the open doorway, thus I don’t need a warrant.”

She blinked. So he had probable cause to search? She was a paralegal, not a lawyer, so she wasn’t sure. Could she lie to him? Since it wasn’t a federal case, she could lie, but would that be hindering an investigation? It wasn’t illegal to lie, yet if the lie led to obstruction, then it could become a problem. What the heck should she do?

Two weeks ago the answer would’ve been clear: Tell the truth to the police. Now? Now she had to protect Ryker and Greg. God, things had changed. The feeling of responsibility weighed down her shoulders, and yet she’d never felt so alive. She had people who mattered to take care of, and she could do it. She would to it. “I cut my hand, so now you can go,” she said evenly.

Several techs walked out carrying brown boxes of evidence. Her heart sank. Would they be able to identify the guy Ryker had kidnapped? If they did, would he tell the truth?

Snow swirled down, and she blinked it from her eyelashes. “Who called you, anyway?”

The door to her neighbor’s house opened, and Detective Norton nodded toward the porch.

“Grams?” Zara whispered.

Her grandmother gave a happy cry and rushed off the porch, her sensible galoshes scattering wet snow as she ran across the lawn. A bright pink scarf protected her white curls, and a long green coat covered her tiny body. Snow matted against her thick glasses. “Zara.” She barreled into Zara’s arms for a rose-scented hug.

Zara returned the hug, careful of her Grams’s delicate bones, and then leaned back. “I thought your trip ended next week?”

“Yes.” Grams waved red nails in the chilly air. “Florence got caught doing the nasty with that retired grocer from Missoula. Well, his wife joined us for the second part of the tour, and things just went to hell. So I came home.”

Zara snapped her head in a quick shake and held tight to the one person who’d always loved her. “Florence?”

“Yes. Those hormone pills make her horny.” Grams shook her head and looked up at Zara. “Anyway, I came over, saw the mess, and immediately called the cops.”

“I’m fine,” Zara croaked out. She had to protect this frail woman at all costs.

Grams partially turned and then fluttered her eyelashes. “I do hope you’re Ryker.”

A smile played around Ryker’s full mouth. “I am.”

“Yep. I would’ve bought new undies for you, too.” Grams smiled big.





Chapter





24




Ryker tried to ignore the elderly woman in the backseat of the truck, but it was difficult, considering her face was right next to his. She perched her hands and head over the seat like a colorful bird. He had no clue how to deal with old ladies.

“You even smell good,” she purred.

“Thanks, Mrs. Remington.”

“Call me Grams, Ryker. Everybody does.”

Grams? He shifted in his seat. What would it be like to have a Grams? Looked like he was about to find out. As a lonely and scared kid, he’d wanted family members to provide warmth. A grandmother was almost too much of a dream. “Please put your seat belt on, Mrs. Grams.” If they were in a wreck, her little bones would snap. He had to protect her now, too.

She completely ignored him and turned her head toward Zara. “You never did say who hit you, Zara. I know it wasn’t Ryker. His eyes are kind.”