In the Shadow of Evil Read Online Free Page B

the news?"
    "Doesn't interest me. Anything really important, I hear from you." She smiled, but her sister didn't return the gesture.
    Must be serious if Alana was in a sour mood on the wings of the award notification.
    "Here it is." Alana perched on the arm of the couch.
    Layla sunk to the recliner while the reporter stood in front of a burned house. Her mind stuttered and her heart caught as the news fed her more information. Nausea rose, searing the back of her throat. "Hope for Homes? Our house?"
    Alana flipped off the television and nodded. "Burned. And they found a body inside."
    "But the owners haven't moved in yet."
    "Right."
    So whose body was inside?

THREE
    "High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation."
    —CHARLES KETTERING
    HE STARED AT THE caller ID. That was quick.
    Maddox flipped open his cell and leaned back in the tattered chair of his desk at the Criminal Investigations Division. "Hey, sweetie."
    "Don't sweetie me, Maddox Bishop." Megan's voice didn't carry a trace of irritation. "This is gonna cost you."
    He grinned as he pictured Megan's blonde hair, blue eyes, and pouty lips. "I know, I know. Supper at a five-star restaurant of your choosing."
    "It is a Saturday, you know. Maybe I should make you spring for a movie too." Her flirting came across the phone line as thick as her Southern drawl.
    He chuckled. "If you're good, I might even buy you a nightcap."
    "Oh, Bishop, you know I'm good."
    Maybe it'd been a mistake to call Megan. After all, he'd stopped seeing her when she crossed that line . . . when she'd gotten that look in her eyes. The look that said she wanted more. Of the relationship. Of him. He could never let that happen. Not with Megan.
    Not with anyone.
    "What'd you find out?" He fought to keep the sternness out of his words.
    She laughed, full and throaty. "You always were good at evasion."
    "Megan . . ."
    "Stop sweating, Bishop. I'm not holding out for a ring or anything. I got all the details you wanted. And more."
    He heard the hurt in her voice but forgot all about the sweating of his palms as he grabbed a pen and sat forward, hovering over a legal pad. "Ready."
    "I think it'd be easier to fax it. Your number still the same?"
    "Yeah." Why wouldn't she just tell him who owned the house? "What's up?"
    "This one's complicated. You'll see. I'm shooting it to you now."
    The fax machine in the space he shared with Houston hummed to life.
    "It's coming through." He spun to face the office machine.
    "Good. I'm outta here. Believe it or not, I have better things to do with my Saturday than come into the office to do you a favor."
    The first page dropped into the slot.
    "Thanks, Megan. I really appreciate this."
    "Yeah, yeah. Like I haven't heard that before. You still owe me. I won't let you slip out of it."
    "I'll call you as soon as I get a breather on the case."
    "Bye, Bishop."
    He shut the cell and reached for the three pages the fax already spit out. His stomach tightened as he scanned, then read the information. The crime scene had been a Hope for Homes? That made no sense. Who would want to burn down a charity house?
    He grabbed the rest of the pages and read faster than his mind could process the information. Recipient of the home was to be one Sally Caldwell, single mother of four children all under the age of eight. Worked as a waitress at the local diner. Nothing about her indicated any criminal history. But Maddox would definitely interview her today.
    His cell phone chirped, causing him to spin the chair. He flipped open the phone. "Bishop."
    "Hey, Maddox. How ya doing?"
    Maddox smiled at the usual greeting of "Uncle" George Vella. "Hey, yourself. What's up?"
    "I'm heading to the woods this evening for a hunt in the morning. Wondered if you wanted to tag along."
    Oh, man . . . what he wouldn't give to go. He hadn't been able to bag a buck all season. And hunting with George was always a good time. "Camping out?"
    "Yeah. Near Scotty's place. You