The Night Is Deep (A Liam Dempsey Thriller Book 2) Read Online Free

state police?”
    “I was a homicide detective in Minneapolis. Now I’m a police consultant.”
    She squinted at him. “You’re the cop from the Tallston incident, aren’t you?”
    “Yes, but like I said, I’m not a cop.”
    “Well, I can assure you, Mr. Dempsey, we have the situation under control at this time.”
    “I’m sure you do, but Owen requested that I come.”
    Perring opened her mouth to reply but a voice from the house cut her off.
    “Liam, so glad you’re here.” Owen Farrow trotted down the steps and hurried to them. He hugged Liam tightly before standing back, holding him at arm’s length. Owen hadn’t aged a day since Liam had last seen him. His sandy hair was still parted to the side, though now a white bandage clung to the back of his skull, and there wasn’t a spare pound on his runner’s frame. The only other difference was the slight growth of stubble on his chin and cheeks and the watery quality of his bloodshot eyes. He’d been crying. “So good to see you.”
    “You too, Owen. I’m sorry it’s not under better circumstances.”
    Owen’s fingers tightened on his shoulders and his jaw clenched, but he managed to nod. “Thank you for coming.” He turned to Perring who was watching them both. “Detective, I want Liam given all the authority of an investigator on your team.”
    “Mr. Farrow, I can assure you—”
    “And I can assure you, Detective, that if Liam is not allowed to help find my wife, the chief will receive a call from me immediately.”
    Perring swung her gaze between the two men, then nodded curtly. “Understood. Can I suggest that we move the conversation inside?”
    “Of course,” Owen said, leading the way.
    They followed him into the towering home, passing several uniformed police officers who studied Liam with the same curiosity and distrust that had been in Perring’s eyes.
    The house was immaculate inside, just as Liam remembered it from his brief visit three years ago. Rich hardwood floors ran everywhere throughout the home and each wall was adorned with minimalist paintings. Owen led them into a dining room that would have encompassed Liam’s entire first floor. A command center was being set up on the immense dining table. Half a dozen men and women were stringing cords to outlets, and computers sat on almost every available surface. The room smelled of coffee and warm electronics.
    “Listen up,” Perring said, and everyone in the room paused amidst their tasks. “This is Mr. Liam Dempsey. He’s going to be helping us out on this one. Everyone will treat him as a fellow investigator, is that clear?” There was a murmur of assent from the task force and Liam felt his skin prickle as dozens of eyes focused on him. “Okay, that’s all. Carry on,” Perring finished. A middle-aged man in a smart, gray suit approached Perring, murmuring something Liam couldn’t hear before turning to him.
    “Detective Rex Sanders, I’m Denise’s partner. Nice to meet you, Liam.”
    “You also,” Liam said, shaking hands with the detective.
    “Owen tells me you’re the best cop he’s ever known, but I won’t hold it against you.” Sanders smiled, revealing square, even teeth. Liam returned the smile then turned to Perring and Owen.
    “So what can you tell me so far?”
    “I’d like to sit down, if that’s alright with everyone?” Owen said. Perring nodded and they followed him past a high-ceilinged kitchen lined with expansive windows that provided an epic view of the lake. Waves rolled into the shoreline, breaking on the sand before sliding away again, their movement tireless. Two people wearing masks and latex gloves were kneeling beside a set of French doors leading to a covered porch. Neither of them looked up as the group passed.
    Owen brought them into a spacious living room that held even more windows than the kitchen as well as a flat-screen TV that Liam at first mistook for a doorway into another darkened room. Owen sat on a white couch