Yellow Ribbons Read Online Free Page B

Jordan added. “But the captain’s right. It takes a lot of force to cut your own throat like that.”
    “Considering the viciousness of the murder, his rage was out of control. Adrenaline high, out of his mind…drugs,” she suggested.
    “All possibilities.” Shilling studied the body. “He’s cut from ear to ear. Left to right. Doesn’t appear to be any hesitation from what I can see. Knife’s in his right hand.”
    Lani pulled in a sharp breath. That’s what was off. She should have caught that from first glance. “Staff Sergeant Tipton was left-handed.”
    “That is the dumbest… Look at this blood.” Juarez gestured wildly. “There are no footprints leaving the scene.”
    No, there weren’t. Overlapping blood spatter made it difficult to determine if there were any voids created by another party. Once the techs processed the scene, they might come up with fingerprints or DNA.
    “It could simply mean the killer knew what he was doing. Tipton is left-handed. That cut to his neck isn’t a slice of the jugular. It’s from ear to ear. After doing that”—she pointed toward Regina’s body—“how much energy would he have left? Why his neck and not his wrists or his gut? Do your job, detective. Investigate, don’t jump to conclusions.”
    Snarling, he shoved between her and Jordan. “It’s time I talked with those kids.”
    “Bullshit.” She fisted the back of his suit jacket and jerked him to a halt.
    He spun around, breaking her hold on him. His eyes shot bullets her way; his face was mottled with anger. The bastard didn’t scare her in the least. She rather hoped he’d make a move and give her an excuse to take him down.
    Lani got in his face, purposely baiting him. “The closest you’re getting to those girls is the distance you need to hear what someone else asks them. They’ve been upset enough for one night. They don’t need you badgering them.”
    Lani shouldered him as she walked away, Jordan and his barely audible snicker right behind her.

Chapter Three

    Lani strode from the house, Jordan two steps behind her, smirking. Determination put an edge on his captain that Greg wasn’t ashamed to admit he liked. No one stood in Lani’s way when she got that fierce look in her eyes.
    Juarez dogged them, looking pissed as hell. Greg was surprised he didn’t try to bully his way to the forefront. Something had gone down inside. He was sorry he missed it.
    Susie and Amber lay slumped under Greg’s arms. Grief and exhaustion had finally caught up with the little girls. They were all cried out. He hated to wake them, but he didn’t want them to hear any of the conversation he knew was about to happen. He also wanted to keep Juarez as far from the girls as possible. He motioned a paramedic over with a nod, indicating the girls. Together they managed to lay the girls down and tuck the blankets around them. Neither woke. Then he turned and trotted toward the other three, trying to cut them off before they neared the kids.
    Lani’s shoulders lost some tension when she saw him headed their way. He realized then her intent had been to keep Juarez away too. Judging from the glee on Jordan’s face, she’d probably threatened Juarez with castration if he dared go near them. The man was the king of assholes. Rumor suggested he might not be a detective much longer. Greg didn’t want this man’s desperation and incompetence screwing up the investigation.
    Greg looked forward to Lani’s assessment of the crime scene and wondered if she’d noticed the same things he had. He’d wanted her to see it firsthand, make her own evaluations and judgments so they could dissect it later. He loved the way her mind worked—logical, precise, without prejudice.
    “Status?” Lani asked, both of them coming to a stop before each other at the same time.
    “Captain Whittaker returns sometime in the next few days. He’s part of his unit’s advance party. Of course, they can’t give exact dates over the