Bones Don't Lie (Morgan Dane #3)(46)

Morgan turned her face away.

“I’ll wring your pretty neck.” He released her arm and wrapped his hands around her throat. He didn’t squeeze hard enough to choke her, but the pressure of his thumbs on her windpipe made her gag. Fear leaped in her chest, and her heart jumped.

Enough!

Morgan drew her handgun and pressed the muzzle into the soft flesh of his groin.

He froze. His grip loosened, and Morgan swallowed.

“I said let me go.” And now she needed to wash her neck. With bleach.

The idiot appeared to consider trying to take the gun.

“Don’t do it. My father was a cop. My grandfather was a cop. My sister is a cop. My brother is NYPD SWAT. If you move one millimeter toward my weapon, I will shoot your man bits off.”

His fingers opened, and he raised his hands. Before he could step backward, his body went airborne. In one swift movement, Lance spun Warren away from Morgan, kicked Warren’s feet out from under him, and introduced his face to the gravel.

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you to ask permission before you touch a lady?” Lance twisted both of Warren’s hands behind his back. He glanced up at Morgan. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” She returned her weapon to its holster and rubbed her neck. “Other than I feel like I need to shower.”

Nerves and adrenaline tumbled through her belly, the combination making her queasy, as usual.

“Get off me.” Warren twisted his face around, his eyes snapping and the muscles in his jaw twitching.

“Shut up.” Lance put a knee into Warren’s lower back.

“Crystal is dead,” Morgan said.

“What?” Warren wheezed.

Lance eased his weight off his back.

“Didn’t the police notify you?” she asked. “You’re still her husband.”

“Yes.” A flicker of something crossed Warren’s face. “There was a cop on my doorstep last night, but I don’t answer my door to cops.”

Can’t imagine why.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Morgan said out of habit. “I thought you knew.”

“You’re serious.” Surprise finally dawned on Warren’s face. “She’s dead?”

“Yes.” Morgan nodded.

“Holy shit.” He squirmed. “Am I under arrest?”

“No.” Regret filled Lance’s answer.

“Then let me up,” Warren whined. “You’re hurting my back.”

Morgan rubbed her bicep.

“Can you behave?” Lance asked.

Warren nodded, and Lance hauled him to his feet.

Lance jabbed a finger in his face. “If you so much as look at her with anything short of respect, I’m putting you right back down.”

“Fucking police brutality,” Warren complained. “I should sue.”

“Guess what, Warren?” Lance’s lip curled in a snarl. “I’m not a cop.”

Warren swallowed. “Who are you?”

“I work for her,” Lance said. “She’s a lawyer.”

Confusion wrinkled Warren’s thick Neanderthal forehead. “How did Crystal die?”

Morgan clicked her pen. “She was found hanging in her home.”

Warren’s face went slack. “She killed herself?”

Morgan didn’t answer. “Does that surprise you?”

Warren snorted. “Crystal is—was—way too selfish to kill herself.”

“Is there anyone who might want to murder her? Besides you?”

Warren’s face paled, and he took two steps backward. “I didn’t touch her! I haven’t even seen Crystal in months.”

Since Warren was already off balance, Morgan tossed him a curveball. “When was the last time you saw Mary?”

“Mary?” Confusion puckered Warren’s face. “She left town more than twenty years ago.”

“Tell us about your relationship with Mary,” Morgan said.

Warren’s gaze flickered to the ground. “Not much to tell. She never liked me.”

“How old was Mary when you married Crystal?” Morgan asked.

“Ten.” Warren’s tone shifted to wary.

Morgan made a note. “When was the last time you saw her?”

“I don’t know.” Warren avoided eye contact.

Liar.

“Mary is dead too.” Morgan watched his eyes. “Did you know that?”

“No.” Warren’s gaze snapped back to hers. “I thought she’d left town.”

Maybe the truth. Some people lied so often, they had trouble keeping their facts straight. Warren struck Morgan as one of those people. Accomplished liars knew to keep their answers short and not to embellish.

“Mary was murdered.” Morgan said.

Warren backed up another step. “Well, I didn’t do it.”

But the news that his stepdaughter was dead didn’t bother him.

Lance stepped sideways behind Warren as if he were afraid Warren would run. “Why would we think you killed your stepdaughter?”

“Because you’re here.” Warren’s lips mashed flat. His arms folded over his chest in stubborn defiance. “I’m not answering any more questions.”