“We’ve got a problem. Andrew Reed’s alibi is fiction and Detective Lee didn’t check it out.”

  Jenkins’s expression hardened. “How do you know?”

  “Julie and I looked into it today. That store was closed due to fire damage the day Catherine died. I thought about confronting Lee about why he didn’t check it out, but I decided to run it by you first.

  “Also, we’ve learned the fiancée’s family is loaded. Reed has managed to go through Catherine’s estate at an alarming rate. Several deals have gone south on him. I haven’t talked to the parties involved, but I will.”

  Jenkins tapped his fingers on the desktop. “Why don’t you wait on talking to Lee. Let’s see what else you come up with.”

  Ash nodded and reached for the door. He paused, his hand on the knob. He looked back to his boss.

  “What’s wrong, Ash?”

  “When we started this investigation, I told Kelly that Ralph Lee had the best closure rate in the department. She gave me a skeptical look and wondered if the rest of his cases were as shoddy as this one.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s made me wonder, Captain. And now, after discovering this, about the Reed alibi, her comments are eating me alive.”

  “You’ve got a point. Keep working on this case. I’ll look into it.”

  Ash knew that Captain Jenkins was a careful, honest cop. If he said he would check, he would.

  “All right.” Ash pulled open the door.

  “Ash.”

  He paused.

  “Have a good time tonight.” Captain Jenkins grinned.

  “That’s what I want, to mix with the polite folks playing cowboy. But I’m not riding any mechanical bulls.”

  Jenkins’s laughter followed Ash.

  Ash knocked on Kelly’s door at six-thirty. His gut warned him to be on guard. He glanced around the neighborhood to see if anyone was watching. He didn’t doubt Mrs. Schattle was, but she wouldn’t produce this feeling.

  Kelly opened the door. Her hair was tumbling out of its twist and her blouse was pulled out of her skirt, the top button undone. He could see the dark shadow between her breasts.

  “I’m sorry I’m running late.” She swept her appearance with her hand. “I got caught in court, then Craig decided he wanted to be chatty.” She stepped back and motioned him inside. “Apparently, our reunion is the talk of the D.A.’s office.” She shook her head. “Everyone wants to give advice or get hot information. I nearly laughed in Craig’s face when he was telling me how to handle a romance with my ex. I wanted to ask him how well he did with his.”

  “If it’s any comfort to you, the other detectives are looking at me as if I’ve lost all my sense. Their consensus is that I’m nuts.”

  “Oh, that’s real flattering to me.”

  His gaze flew to her face. Mischief sparkled in her eyes.

  “Go get dressed, Counselor.”

  Grinning, she walked into her bedroom but didn’t close the door. “Give me five minutes to change.”

  Well, Ash could now identify the warning he’d felt, and it had nothing to do with the bad guys. It was this thing building between Kelly and himself.

  Damn.

  “It was a miserable day at work. I had two new cases just assigned. Trying to schedule depositions, talking to defense attorneys. You should’ve seen the scam one of the lawyers tried on us.” Her voice drifted in and out. He stepped closer to hear.

  “What was it?”

  She laughed and it did amazing things to him. “He quickly changed his tune after he talked to me, and I told him the unimpeachable witnesses we had. Also videotape from the store. I don’t doubt he’ll want to cut a deal.”

  Ash was reminded what an excellent attorney his ex was and what enthusiasm she brought to her work. And how she didn’t cut corners. He’d forgotten her strengths in the turmoil of their divorce.

  “I have good news on the Carlson case.”

  She appeared at the bedroom door. Jeans hugged her legs and the blue western shirt hung out from the denim. Her feet were bare. “What?”

  “Andrew’s alibi is complete fiction.”

  She stepped closer. “How?”

  “Julie and I went to the coffee bar that Andrew claims to have gone for a drink. The place was closed due to a fire.”

  “Why didn’t Detective Lee discover this?”

  “I don’t know. I talked to my boss about asking Lee, but we’re going to wait. We did run into Andrew at the coffee bar. He asked why we were there.”

  “And what was your answer?”

  “Police business. He looked like he wanted to bust a gut.”

  “Good. Let him twist in the wind.” She held up her hand. “I’m almost ready. Five minutes.” She disappeared into the bedroom.

  He wandered around the living room. Plants were placed around the room. That was another of Kelly’s passions—gardening.

  He glanced down at the Oriental carpet covering the floor. He remembered when they had found this treasure at an estate sale. Kelly had been giddy with delight to find it. She was still in school and he in patrol. Neither had money, but when they saw this carpet, they paid the outrageous price.

  “I’m ready.”

  He turned to view her. She’d pulled her hair into a ponytail at the base of her neck. Her western belt and cowboy boots gave her an authentic look. He remembered when she had bought those boots. They’d gone to get him a pair of boots, then the salesman had talked her into some, as well.

  “Let’s go and see what information we can collect tonight at the Sweeney’s barbecue.”

  Emory Sweeney smiled at Kelly.

  “It’s so good to see you, young lady. I’m glad you came to this dog-and-pony show.”

  Kelly laughed and glanced around the flagstone patio. Trees shaded the area and a large garden was blooming with various colors of azaleas. Decorative pots scattered around the area were filled with blooms. “You’re the one who’s throwing this event.”

  He grinned. “I have to keep up my influence in this city. It’s a small price to pay.” He nodded to Ash. “It’s good to see you.” He extended his hand.

  Ash grasped the old man’s hand.

  “Tell me. I’ve heard that you two are causing talk. You decided, since Hawk got married, to take the plunge yourself?”

  Kelly’s heart nearly stopped. She turned to Ash, wondering at his reaction.

  He slipped his arm around Kelly. “While working on the Carlson retrial, we discovered we still have things in common.”

  Emory looked from Ash to Kelly. She wanted to squirm under his careful examination. He stepped closer. “I’ll warn you that the Procters are supposed to be here tonight.”

  Terrific. “Thanks for the warning.” She nodded, then wrapped her arm around Ash’s and started forward. “I’m glad he warned us,” she whispered.

  “Don’t worry. I doubt they’ll want to speak to either of us,” he answered.

  It proved to be one of the few times Kelly could remember that Ash was flat-out wrong. The instant the Procters spotted them, they bore down on Ash and Kelly like a hawk on a mouse.

  “What is going on, young woman, that your detective there is asking our family lawyer questions about Catherine?” Mr. Procter demanded, pointing at Ash.

  “We thought this mess was finished,” Mrs. Procter added.

  The elderly couple glared at them and Kelly felt Ash’s body tighten.

  “We were trying to tie up loose ends,” Kelly offered, hoping that her innocuous comment would satisfy them.

  “Such as?” Mr. Procter demanded.

  Kelly debated for a moment about the wisdom of her move, but instinct told her to go for it. “Did you know that your daughter had seen your family attorney about obtaining a divorce?”

  Both Mr. and Mrs. Procter stared at her as if she’d grown a second head.

  “That’s not true,” Mrs. Procter protested.

  “It is according to a friend of your daughter’s and your family lawyer.”

  Mr. Procter glared at them. “That is a lie. Divorce has never disgraced our family.”

  That explained a lot about why Catherine had dropped the proceedings.

  “If these slanderous rumors aren’t stopped, I’ll make sure the D.A. doesn’t win this next election,” Mr. Procter continued.

  “Is that a threat?” Ash quietly asked, the deadly menace clear.

  Clearly the old man wasn’t used to people challenging him. “It’s a warning.” He grabbed his wife and marched off.

  Kelly sagged against Ash. “I guess I blew that. But I now know Catherine didn’t tell her parents that she and Andrew were having trouble.”

  “Or maybe, she told them, but they ignored her and that’s why they are so upset about what’s happening now.”

  What Ash said made sense. The Procters exhibited all the classic signs of guilt. “It might help us if we could discover if Catherine had confided in her parents.”

  “I’ll add it to the list of things that need to be checked out.” He scanned the crowd. “We might want to give Jake a heads-up that these folks are gunning for him.”

  Kelly closed her eyes. She didn’t want to do that, but Jake deserved a warning. “Let’s find him.”

  Ash watched as Kelly talked to her boss. From this distance, it appeared that Jake wasn’t happy.

  “You look like you’ve lost your best friend,” Hawk commented, stopping by Ash’s side.

  “Naw. I’m just watching as Kelly explains the little faux pas that occurred earlier.”

  Hawk raised his brow. “What was that?”

  “We had a little run-in with the Procters. Apparently their daughter checked into getting a divorce from her husband. Either her parents didn’t know or didn’t want to know.” He shrugged. “We were given the line that Procters don’t divorce.”

  Hawk shook his head. “They’re from the old school that don’t do divorce.”

  Ash frowned.

  “There are still those folks who haven’t come into the current age. I bet if they own a computer, they hire someone to run it for them.”

  The idea caught. “That’s a good point. If they have a personal secretary, that individual might know if Catherine told her parents about wanting a divorce.”

  “Why are you still checking into that? I thought you suspended that investigation.” Hawk studied Ash, then his eyes widened. “You didn’t drop the case, did you?”

  Ash nodded toward the edge of the patio away from other people. When they were alone, he said, “You guessed it.”

  “Captain Jenkins okay with that?”

  “We’ve got it covered. Both Jenkins and Thorpe are in. But because of the howling from certain quarters, we’ve decided to tackle it in a less—publ—”

  “I get it. So the dating your ex-wife is part of this cover?” Hawk’s gaze searched his.

  “Yup.”

  Doubt laced his gaze. “And that’s all?” he pressed.

  Ash knew exactly what Hawk was asking. But he wasn’t ready to admit anything but his job. “That’s all.”

  “Sure.”

  From Hawk’s tone, Ash knew he hadn’t fooled his ex-partner.

  Kelly nodded to her boss and walked toward them.

  “How did it go?” Ash questioned.

  Kelly glanced at Hawk.

  “He knows,” Ash informed her.

  She shrugged. “Jake wasn’t thrilled, but he didn’t back down. He told me to continue. If he lost his job, he lost it, but justice was to be pursued.” She smiled. “I knew there was a reason I admired him.”

  “Then we’re still going forward.”

  “We are.”

  Hawk studied them. “Do you need any help this afternoon?”

  “Just keep your ears open, see if you hear anything about Catherine or Andrew and his new love. We also want to know if Andrew was abusive to his wife or his ex-mistress,” Ash answered.

  “I haven’t ever heard about him beating Catherine, but it was common knowledge that you didn’t want to anger him. Why don’t we talk to my father-in-law, Emory Sweeney. He might be able to shed some light on the subject.”

  A baby’s gurgle floated through the air. Hawk’s head came up and turned. His face completely changed from no-nonsense lawyer to a man enthralled when he saw his wife and young daughter. It always amazed Ash the change in Hawk when Renee came into his life. With the birth of their daughter, Hawk had become a puddle of emotion. Who would have thought such a thing could happen? Hawk’s face bore a very different expression from any Ash had witnessed in the years he’d partnered with him.

  “I saw you two with your heads together over here. What are you planning?” Renee asked, stepping to Hawk’s side.

  “Nothing,” Hawk answered, pulling the baby from Renee’s hold and settling her in the crook of his arm.

  “Don’t try to play me, Matthew Hawkins.” The teasing expression in Renee’s eyes softened her words.

  “We’re talking about Andrew Reed and that big society murder several years ago,” Ash volunteered.

  “What about that case?”

  “Have you heard about anything about his temper?” Ash pressed.

  “No, but the man reminds me of Hawk’s ex-wife—sleazy and not someone I wanted to know or trust.”

  Kelly’s eyes widened at the reference, but Hawk simply laughed. “Yeah, now that I think about it, they do seem to have a lot in common. Interested in money.”

  Renee shared a look with Hawk. “But probably the best person to talk to is Dad. He knows a great deal about the elite of society.” She turned and scanned the crowd for her father. “Give me a minute to find him.”

  Hawk looked at the child in his arms. “Isn’t she the most beautiful baby you’ve ever seen?”

  Kelly’s eyes softened and her fingers brushed the baby’s cheek. “Yes, she’s beautiful. Mind if I hold her?”

  Hawk gave Kelly his daughter. Kelly’s face softened as she gazed into the baby’s blue eyes. As she softly rocked the little girl, Ash noticed the moisture in her eyes. She quickly wiped her eye and smiled at the child. Suddenly the picture of Kelly holding a baby—their daughter—flashed into his mind, bringing pain and regret.

  “Kelly, Ash, Dad’s waiting for us in the library.” Renee stepped to Kelly’s side and took the squirming bundle. “Mind if I come and listen?”

  “Not at all,” Kelly answered.

  The library was Ash’s favorite room in this massive house. Walls of books, floor to ceiling. The large free-standing globe and massive desk proclaimed that this man had money.

  Emory sat in a dark leather chair by the fireplace. He motioned Kelly and Ash to the sofa across from him. Renee and Hawk settled on the opposite sofa.

  “I hear you want to pump me for information about Andrew Reed.” Emory smiled. “So pump.”

  “I wouldn’t exactly label it that way,” Kelly began.

  “But that’s what it amounts to, isn’t it? You remember, young woman, I’ve been doing this kind of thing in the city of Houston since before you were born.”

  The crusty old man had a point. “Yes, but this information could be very vital to our investigation,” she answered.

  His eyes narrowed. “So the D.A. didn’t drop the case of the Reed murder?”

  “No,” Ash replied, wanting to spare Kelly the brunt of the responsibility. “But it’s easier to proceed under the table without the grief we get from certain people.”

  Emory nodded. “I understand and sympathize. So tell me, what is it you want to know?”

  “Have you heard rumors about Andrew Reed having a nasty temper?” Kelly asked.

  He thought a moment. “No, I can’t say that I have. But I’ll tell you that if you can’t benefit Andrew, he doesn’t want anything to do with you. The man’s only love is himself. Soon after Catherine married him, I invited him to a charity event, a golf tournament, I sponsored for deprived youths. He golfed the first time, but from his attitude, I knew that the only reason he did it was to keep his in-laws happy. When I asked him again, he politely refused, making the excuse of a previous engagement. But I knew that it would be a cold day in hell before he’d give any more of his time or money. I didn’t ask again.”

  “So you never heard of him hitting his wife?” Ash asked.

  “No, I can’t say I have. But I will tell you that I once heard a couple of the servants at a party saying that he nearly chewed off the servant’s head for spilling a drink on him.”

  Kelly sighed. “Unfortunately, that describes any number of people in his social set.”

  “Edna May Vanderslice,” Renee blurted out. The baby fussed and Renee brushed her fingers over the child’s cheek. She sighed and went back to sleep.

  “Who?” Kelly questioned.

  “Surely you know her.” Renee’s eyes widened. “My husband still shivers at the mention of that old lady.”

  Hawk laughed. “I do, indeed, but there’s an honest woman, who sees through the act of most people.” He turned to his wife. “Isn’t she here?”

  “I don’t—”

  “She is,” Emory interrupted. “Why don’t we go find her and you can question her yourself.”

  Renee and Kelly found Edna May signing a check in her support of Jake. The tiny old woman, with steel-gray hair and piercing brown eyes, smiled with she saw the baby.

  “Ah, let me see that darling girl,” Edna May said. After she patted the baby’s head, she winked at Renee. “I told you that you got a good one and this little one just proves it.”

  Renee flushed. “You did, indeed. Edna May, this is Kelly Whalen of the D.A.’s office. She wants to ask you a couple of questions.”

  The old woman carefully studied Kelly. “Ah, you’re here with that good-looking cop. I’d grab him up, but it looks like you did.”

  Kelly’s heart jerked.

  “What is it you want to know?” Edna May asked.

  Gathering her thoughts, Kelly asked, “I want know what you know about Andrew Reed.”

  “That he’s a SOB. Anything else?”

  Renee laughed. “I told you that she’d tell it like it is.”

  Kelly cleared her throat. “There are still questions that haven’t been answered about Catherine Reed’s murder.”

  “It’s about time someone was asking them.” Her eyes hardened. “I was there that night when that little lady walked in and saw that jerk with his mistress, her pinned up against the wall and him—” She took a deep breath. “I would’ve shot the bastard then and there and not let him shame me that way. But Catherine was too much a lady, thought too much about what her parents would say if she pitched a fit. She should have.” Edna shook her head. “I don’t doubt Catherine and Andrew had words on the way home. The way she was murdered was vicious.