Chasing Shadows (First Wives #3)(68)

“Agreed,” Shannon added.

“Do you think I should come home early?”

“Hell, no. She’ll never forgive me if you nix your honeymoon early because I bugged you.” Lori glanced at the clock. “I have to go. Any news, we call each other. Promise?”

They agreed before hanging up.

Reed stood by with a coffee cup in his hand, a smirk on his face.

“What are you smiling about?” Lori asked.

“I’m just wondering what you would do to have a spy on Avery to ease your mind.”

She shook her head like he was crazy, then stopped and stared. “You can do that.”

“I could. But I’m not going to.”

“You walk a fine line, Reed. Reckless since I’m PMS-ing.”

He tried not to laugh. “I’ll be sure and come home with chocolate and wine.”

She grabbed her briefcase and pointed at him. “You do that.”

He kissed her before she could walk away.



Armstrong walked into the downtown main precinct with his badge on the outside of his plain clothes.

“Officer Ferrero?”

“Detective now, promotion went through five months ago.”

“Congratulations.”

Armstrong shook the hand of a man he’d met in person only one time before. “Thanks for meeting me today.”

“No problem. Sit. What can I do for you?”

“I reopened the Grant case you signed off to me last year.”

“I saw the e-mail you sent. I was surprised. I thought the main suspect was dead.”

“We did, too. Our only witness came up with new information.”

“A year later? That’s unusual.”

“If you remember right, Ms. Grant was pretty jacked up. Head injury. Anyway. I wanted to make sure the description of this guy isn’t buried on a desk. I’d really like to bring him in.”

Ferrero nodded. “His picture is on the board. I’ll make sure he is mentioned in all call.”

“I appreciate it.”

They stood.

“I thought I would do a little legwork while I’m in the city. Any suggestions on tattoo parlors that might have done the work on our suspect?”

“Several. But I’d start with Van Lynch. He’s the top insect guy. He’s up on Fourteenth.”

Ferrero walked him out. “Mind if I ask you something?”

“No, no. Go ahead.”

“Is this personal? It’s just an assault case.”

Armstrong turned to shake Ferrero’s hand at the station door. “Yeah, a little. I don’t like it when I make the wrong call and let someone like him off the hook. I don’t want to see an innocent person go down because of this guy.”

Ferrero smiled. “I’ll call if anything shows up.”

“Appreciate it.”



“You’re back.”

Avery smiled and reached out her arm. “I want a tattoo.”

Zelda smiled. “Do you have a drawing?”

Avery removed the design she had Monique make that morning. Avery was pretty sure the three art students were camped out at the coffee shop daily now that she was constantly handing out hundred-dollar bills like they were Monopoly money.

“Cool. Come on in the back.”

Avery followed her behind the desk and sat in the chair Zelda pointed to.

“Have you thought about your boyfriend’s artwork?”

Avery swallowed hard. “I think we broke up.”

“Oh. Is this a breakup tattoo? Because I have to caution you . . .”

“No. This is for me,” Avery quickly said.

“Good. Get comfortable. I’ll get the paperwork.”

It took Avery sitting on her hands that morning to not call Liam and apologize for being such an asshole. But to what end? They would be right back where they started. Him wanting to fix her problems and her not wanting him involved in however this ended up. Her life, her way, her demons. The therapist she’d seen all of four times after the incident had told her that no one could go through the emotional process for her. How right she was.

Less than thirty minutes later Zelda pushed her seat back with a satisfied smile. “What do you think?”

Avery looked down at her stinging arm. “I like it.”

“The spider dripping off the word is a nice touch.”

“I thought so, too.”

Zelda applied ointment and a bandage. “Tell me, is there a boyfriend who wants a spider tattoo?”

Avery looked at the top of Zelda’s head and thought . . . Why lie? Stop lying. “No.”

“That’s what I thought. So what was up with the art you showed me?”

“The guy with that tattoo jumped me in a garage on Fifth Avenue last year. Messed me up pretty bad. Up until last week I thought he was dead.”

Zelda once again pushed her rolling chair back. “That’s rough.”

“It hasn’t been easy.”

She nodded toward Avery’s forearm. “Obviously. You find that dude and then what?”

“I don’t know. Can’t say I’ve really thought it that far out. Chances of me really finding that guy aren’t looking very good.”