Yellow Ribbons Read Online Free Page A

premeditation.
    “How did you manage to get here so quickly, Mr. Shilling?”
    The coroner looked up and lifted a bushy black eyebrow. Weariness deepened his crow’s feet. “Unfortunately, I’d been called to another scene earlier today. I’d just finished up there.” He resumed his preliminary investigation of Tipton’s body. “I’m putting time of death between two and three hours ago.”
    “Call came in to an hour ago.” Jordan pulled a pack of peppermint gum from his shirt pocket and took a piece.
    “She was at the gym earlier tonight,” Lani told them. “About six. She was leaving as I was walking in. We exchanged a polite nod, but that was the extent of any communication I’ve ever had with her. I didn’t know who she was until now.”
    “So ten to fifteen minutes to get home. She’d have to get her kids, get them dinner…unless she had a sitter. Time of death between six thirty and seven thirty. Gum?” Jordan held the packet out to her.
    She waved off his offer. “Anything else you can tell me, Mr. Shilling?”
    Benny Juarez muscled his way past her. Lani cringed when she saw him. She’d been hoping Ron Pattison would be here by now and save them all the agony of Juarez’s presence. She’d had dinner once with Juarez by accident a year ago, both of them having shown up at the same time at the same restaurant. As far as Lani was concerned, it was one too many times. A pretty package hid the asshole inside. The man was too bossy, too much a braggart. He’d transferred in from San Bernardino, and word had it none of the local deputy sheriffs—especially Pattison—were pleased about that. Lani could see why. He was borderline incompetent.
    “Not your jurisdiction, Lani.” He also had little respect for rank. “ Posse comitatus .”
    It was going to be a long night. Drive fast, Pattison . “I’m not here to enforce any laws or interfere with the investigation. The victims are Marine Corps family, and the commanding general will want as much information as we can provide. Trust me. I have no intention of doing anything to compromise this investigation. I was called to the scene by Special Agent Beck.”
    He glowered at Jordan. “Which reminds me… Why the hell are you here?”
    A subtle grin lifted one corner of Jordan’s mouth. “Your partner called me and asked for my eyes-on, since the deaths involved military personnel. I believe his words were… Well, that’s between the two of you. He wanted me to do whatever it takes to make this resolution seamless and speedy. Hence my calls to Provost Marshal personnel.”
    Now whose balls are bigger, asshole ? “You were saying?” she asked of the coroner.
    “Well, I wasn’t saying anything yet. I just got here myself. There’s so much blood, it’s hard to make a clear determination, though it appears as though we’re dealing with a murder and a suicide. He’s got cuts on his hands consistent with stabbing.”
    “But with the rage involved, why take the time to tie her up first? And his throat—”
    “So much for not interfering or influencing the investigation.” Juarez snorted.
    “Give it a rest, Juarez,” Jordan snapped. “She’s asking relevant questions. If she hadn’t, I would have. I’m here at the request of your partner. In fact, I believe I was here before you, which begs the question… Where the hell were you?”
    Alpha male tactics from Jordan Beck? That was…odd. Judging from the coroner’s glare, Shilling didn’t appreciate Juarez’s posturing either.
    “Tying her up could suggest a sex act gone bad,” Jordan said. “From the look of things, they were amateurs at this type of sex play.”
    Lani felt heat creep up her neck. She prayed she wasn’t blushing, or if she was, that no one noticed. She’d thought the same thing. Hearing it from someone else made her uncomfortably aware of how she spent her off-duty hours.
    “Unless he planned this and brought everything, laid in wait until she got home,”