In the Shadow of Evil Read Online Free Page A
Author: Robin Caroll
nose. "I'll get on him Monday."
Maddox nodded. "I'd appreciate that."
The coroner and his assistant began their process of removing the body. Maddox turned back to Houston. "Find anything else?"
Houston shook his head. "Just the gun. You?"
Maddox pulled the evidence bag from his pocket and waved it. "Found this out front."
"Cigarette butt?"
Maddox shrugged and slipped the bag into the scene kit Houston carried. "Might be nothing but could be something."
"Never know at this stage in the investigation."
And that's just what they'd walked into—a full-blown investigation. Maddox's curiosity kicked into gear.
Maybe this was just what he needed to get in line for the commander position.
SHE'D WON THE REGIONAL award!
Layla's hand holding the letter trembled. After everything—her hard work . . . clawing her way to the top despite the men's attitudes toward her—finally, she was up for national recognition. The one that would show the world that she was a great contractor, just as her father had been.
Contractor of the Year. Even on a regional level, it was an honor. But a national win would mean so much more.
At least to her.
She swallowed back the emotion and glanced around her kitchen. All of her father's skills passed down to her, which she'd used to design her house. Her home. She smiled at the plaque hanging over the breakfast bar. Scripture of 1 Corinthians 1:9, her father's favorite.
"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
God was faithful. She'd gotten recognition for her ability. True joy she hadn't felt since before her father had died filled her chest until she thought it'd burst.
"Layla?" The front door slammed. "Where are you?"
Moving from the kitchen counter, Layla called out to her sister. "In here." She rushed to meet Alana in the foyer, waving the letter. "Guess what!"
Her sister's frown deepened. "What?"
Layla laughed and handed the letter to Alana. "Read for yourself." She twirled around on the hardwoods, dancing in the light flooding through the panes in the front door. Even the rain had disappeared, making the day all the more celebratory. "It came in the mail yesterday, but after meeting with Bob and then calling you, I didn't even check the mail, so I opened it this morning. I can't believe it!"
Alana's eyes widened and moisture pooled. "Oh my. You've won. Congratulations. You deserve it." She grabbed Layla in a hug and squeezed.
"It's the regional, but that means I'm under consideration for a national. Can you believe it?"
"I'm so happy for you. This is wonderful." Alana laid the letter on the entry table and hugged her again. "Daddy would be so proud." Her voice cracked.
Layla's eyes filled with tears and her throat clogged. Only her sister knew exactly how much this meant to her. Sure, recipients of the CotY awards got great promotion out of the contest. Got new clients because of the recognition. But Layla wanted it for a different reason.
To honor her father's memory.
She hugged Alana again, then lifted the letter. It still felt so surreal. "I think I'm going to get it framed."
"I don't blame you." Alana laughed, but it didn't carry her usual chipper tone.
Something wasn't right.
Layla glanced at the clock—8:10—then studied her sister. "So, why'd you come by this morning? It's a bit early for you to be away from the center."
"You haven't heard?" The frown marred her sister's delicate features again. "Fred called me first thing this morning."
"Heard what?"
"Apparently not." Alana moved to the living room. She flipped throw pillows from the couch and recliner. "Where's your remote?"
Layla grabbed the remote from the top of the television and handed it to her sister. "What's going on?"
Alana turned on the TV, set it to the local news channel, then upped the volume. "Hang on, they'll be running it again in a minute. They've been covering it all morning." She glanced at Layla and shook her head. "How can you not watch
Maddox nodded. "I'd appreciate that."
The coroner and his assistant began their process of removing the body. Maddox turned back to Houston. "Find anything else?"
Houston shook his head. "Just the gun. You?"
Maddox pulled the evidence bag from his pocket and waved it. "Found this out front."
"Cigarette butt?"
Maddox shrugged and slipped the bag into the scene kit Houston carried. "Might be nothing but could be something."
"Never know at this stage in the investigation."
And that's just what they'd walked into—a full-blown investigation. Maddox's curiosity kicked into gear.
Maybe this was just what he needed to get in line for the commander position.
SHE'D WON THE REGIONAL award!
Layla's hand holding the letter trembled. After everything—her hard work . . . clawing her way to the top despite the men's attitudes toward her—finally, she was up for national recognition. The one that would show the world that she was a great contractor, just as her father had been.
Contractor of the Year. Even on a regional level, it was an honor. But a national win would mean so much more.
At least to her.
She swallowed back the emotion and glanced around her kitchen. All of her father's skills passed down to her, which she'd used to design her house. Her home. She smiled at the plaque hanging over the breakfast bar. Scripture of 1 Corinthians 1:9, her father's favorite.
"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
God was faithful. She'd gotten recognition for her ability. True joy she hadn't felt since before her father had died filled her chest until she thought it'd burst.
"Layla?" The front door slammed. "Where are you?"
Moving from the kitchen counter, Layla called out to her sister. "In here." She rushed to meet Alana in the foyer, waving the letter. "Guess what!"
Her sister's frown deepened. "What?"
Layla laughed and handed the letter to Alana. "Read for yourself." She twirled around on the hardwoods, dancing in the light flooding through the panes in the front door. Even the rain had disappeared, making the day all the more celebratory. "It came in the mail yesterday, but after meeting with Bob and then calling you, I didn't even check the mail, so I opened it this morning. I can't believe it!"
Alana's eyes widened and moisture pooled. "Oh my. You've won. Congratulations. You deserve it." She grabbed Layla in a hug and squeezed.
"It's the regional, but that means I'm under consideration for a national. Can you believe it?"
"I'm so happy for you. This is wonderful." Alana laid the letter on the entry table and hugged her again. "Daddy would be so proud." Her voice cracked.
Layla's eyes filled with tears and her throat clogged. Only her sister knew exactly how much this meant to her. Sure, recipients of the CotY awards got great promotion out of the contest. Got new clients because of the recognition. But Layla wanted it for a different reason.
To honor her father's memory.
She hugged Alana again, then lifted the letter. It still felt so surreal. "I think I'm going to get it framed."
"I don't blame you." Alana laughed, but it didn't carry her usual chipper tone.
Something wasn't right.
Layla glanced at the clock—8:10—then studied her sister. "So, why'd you come by this morning? It's a bit early for you to be away from the center."
"You haven't heard?" The frown marred her sister's delicate features again. "Fred called me first thing this morning."
"Heard what?"
"Apparently not." Alana moved to the living room. She flipped throw pillows from the couch and recliner. "Where's your remote?"
Layla grabbed the remote from the top of the television and handed it to her sister. "What's going on?"
Alana turned on the TV, set it to the local news channel, then upped the volume. "Hang on, they'll be running it again in a minute. They've been covering it all morning." She glanced at Layla and shook her head. "How can you not watch
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