Edge of the Heat 3 Read Online Free Page B

sent to Germany so I didn’t talk to him much for 2 years. When my enlistment was done and I came home he was different somehow around women. It’s been 11 years now and I’ve seen him date very casually, but he’s never gotten close with a woman since then.”
    “In 11 years? Could he be gay?” Emma asked. She expected Craig to laugh and say no way, but he didn’t. Instead his face grew serious, contemplative.
    “I’m pretty sure he’s not gay. I wondered that once but I thought about it and it’s not like he’s leading some secret life somewhere that he hides from people. He just doesn’t date anyone. And those women I’ve seen him date casually? They were actually one night stands. He’d meet a woman, bring her home, but never see her again. He doesn’t do it often. Probably only when he feels like he can’t stand to be alone in his bed for one more second.”
    Emma nodded. “You’re right, it doesn’t sound like he’s gay. Just like he’s ruined for relationships.”
    “Did I ever tell you what he said when I asked him what his deal was, back when he ignored Vivian that day in my hospital room?” Craig asked.
    Emma shook her head.
    “Well, he didn’t make a lot of sense, but he said something about her being rich and he implied that she was probably not a very nice person because of it.”
    Emma sat straight up, a little irritated. “Well that’s just silly. Vivian’s a wonderful person. He’s just not giving her a chance! What does he have against people with money anyway?”
    Craig chuckled. “Now I’m going to tell you something that will blow your mind.” He leaned in and whispered into her ear, “Hawk is rich.”
    “What?”
    Craig leaned back, obviously pleased with himself. “Yep. Like I said, he’s a complicated guy. His family is uber-rich and he grew up with that whole lifestyle. The mansion, the fancy cars, the prep school, the country club. All of it. He’s always wanted to make his own way though, and he always wanted to be some sort of law enforcement officer. His dad used to push him to be an attorney so he could get into politics, but that’s not what Hawk wanted. He wanted to be in the trenches.”
    “So his family is rich then? But not him.”
    “Nope, he’s rich too, as far as I know. His grandpa set up a trust fund for him and his sister when they were just babies. I’m not sure how much money we are talking about but I think it’s at least a couple of million dollars. He got full access to the fund when he was 25, but he told me once he's never touched it. He could just give it all to charity but I don’t think he’s done that. I’m not sure what his plan is for it. He doesn’t like to talk about it.”
    “Well now things really make no sense. So if he’s rich, and his family is rich, then what right does he have to judge Vivian because she is rich?”
    “Well, I got the idea that it had something to do with women in particular. Like maybe Vivian reminds him of someone he dated who wasn’t very nice.”
    Emma nodded. “Ahhhh, that makes more sense. And if she was rich then he’s just grasping at the most obvious connection in order to not have to examine it or something.”
    “You should have gone into psychiatry,” Craig teased.
    “Yep, I would’ve made a great shrink. I wonder exactly what this woman did to him to put him off dating for 11 years.”
    “If Lucy was still here I’d ask her.” Craig said in a far-off voice.
    Emma felt a little pang of emotion in her chest at the mention of Lucy. Was it jealousy? Pain? Guilt? She wasn’t sure. Lucy was Hawk’s sister and had been Craig’s fiance when she was alive. Lucy was the reason Craig and Hawk were here in Westwood Harbor investigating Norman. Their only evidence said Norman had killed her. Emma sighed. Why did life have to be so complicated?
    The patio door opened and Hawk, mouth perpetually set in a grim line, stepped over the threshold. He already had a beer in his hand and big bags