Trouble Walks In Read Online Free Page B

“My brother is getting married in a few weeks, and I’ll be out for a while. I’ll be using up the rest of my time for the year, and I can’t risk not being able to go because I didn’t do my paperwork. I’m the best man after all.”
    â€œThat you are, McGuire,” Jenkins said through a snort of laughter. “But all work and no play, and you’re gonna end up like me and Sara here. All we got is each other and this damn job. No wife, no kids. Just me and her.” He smiled at the aging bloodhound who currently had her head nestled on top of Bowser’s. “Ain’t that right, sweetie?”
    The old girl whined in response but didn’t move.
    â€œSeriously, McGuire,” Jenkins said, sitting in the chair in front of Ronan’s desk. “You coulda taken today, y’know. You sure as hell have enough time left over.”
    â€œReally, Cap.” Ronan shook his head and held up one hand. “I’m fine.”
    â€œRight. You always are.” Jenkins’s mouth set in a thin line. “How’s your friend? Didn’t you say that your girlfriend, that real estate agent lady, knew the Bowman woman they found by the river?”
    â€œShe’s not my girlfriend. Maddy’s just an old friend from back home.” Ronan went to the printer and grabbed the reports. “But yes, she knew Lucille Bowman, at least casually. Maddy’s a broker, and they ran in some of the same professional circles.”
    â€œWell, tell your friend to watch her ass.”
    Ronan stilled and carefully placed the reports on his desk. A knot of dread curled in his gut, and the serious expression on the captain’s face didn’t do anything to ease it.
    â€œThey think the murder was somehow connected to Lucille’s job?” Ronan let out a slow breath. “Shit.”
    â€œDon’t know yet.” Jenkins folded his hands on top of his round belly. “All they know right now is she was supposed to show an apartment on the West Side—an open house or something—and she never made it. Hell, those real estate people have all their contact info online now. It’s easy to find someone and track ’em down, if you want to.”
    â€œWhat are they thinking?” Ronan’s gut clenched.
    â€œHusband ain’t good for it,” Jenkins said. “His alibi is airtight. No affairs, financials are in order. Whoever did this knew her though—or at least knew where she was going. Hell, she obviously didn’t get dragged through the streets of the city kicking and screaming, so odds are that she knew the perp in some way. They’re still waiting on toxicology. You know that shit takes forever.”
    â€œDamn it.” Ronan ran one hand over his face and sat in his chair. “Maddy is always doing those open houses. Not to mention the running around she does for individual appointments. She works her ass off. You’d think that her life depended on it.” He let out a slow sigh. “Hell, she lives and breathes it.”
    â€œYou’d know somethin’ about that. Wouldn’t ya?”
    â€œIt’s not the same thing, Cap. Those rich, fancy clients of hers love her because she drops everything to get them what they need. The woman is nothing if not tenacious.”
    â€œI guess that includes resisting your charms, eh, McGuire?” Jenkins laughed and wagged a finger at Ronan. “You like this broad, so don’t even try to deny it.”
    â€œOf course I do. We’re friends.”
    â€œYeah but you wanna be more than friends.” Jenkins raised his salt-and-pepper eyebrows. “You know how I can tell?”
    â€œNo.” Ronan stapled the reports and busied himself, trying not to let Jenkins know how right he was. “Enlighten me.”
    â€œEver since she came to town, you haven’t been out on a single date.” Jenkins hoisted his rotund form out of the chair