“The chain of custody,” she said, not liking what she heard. Not liking it at all. As a former prosecutor, she knew that could invalidate anything found on the car.

  “Not that I’ll let that deter me,” Ian said. “I’ll start by opening a formal investigation. That’ll allow me to get forensics out to Peck’s place. I’ll have to work with County, as the accident happened out of my jurisdiction, and Peck’s place isn’t in our control either. But I’m sure the detectives at County will be glad to let us handle it. Maybe we can find DNA or a print on that nut.”

  “Would it even last that long?” Malone asked, allowing just a bit of hope to surface and ease the knot in her stomach.

  She got murmurs of don’t know and good question from the guys. She took out her phone and called Sierra. When her sister-in-law answered, Malone tapped the speaker button. “You’re on speaker again with Ian and the Byrd brothers.”

  “Go ahead,” Sierra said.

  “How long does touch DNA last?” Malone asked.

  “Depends on the scenario,” Sierra said. “Exposure to heat, water, and sunlight are the biggest factors that degrade DNA.”

  “We just saw my parents’ car. It’s still in the same condition as the day it crashed. It’s been kept in a windowless garage. It’s dry, but the building is metal. Probably got pretty hot in the summer. The nuts on the tie rod are rusted.”

  “That could be a problem,” Sierra said. “The only thing to do is try to collect it, if it exists. You’ll want someone who’s very experienced in DNA to do the work. Someone like Emory.”

  “Thanks, Sierra.” Malone hung up and looked at Ian. “I know we have a conflict of interest here, but Sierra’s right. Emory is the best person to handle it. What if you got permission for her to do the work?”

  “This could be related to Junior’s murder and we still have a potential conflict of interest,” he said.

  She clutched his arm. “You could have one of the state DNA scientists observe and document her every move to try to eliminate any suspicion.”

  “That might work. When I go in to open the investigation, I’ll propose it to my lieutenant.”

  She tightened her grip. “Can you talk to him the minute we get back?”

  “Sure. You could even come with me to review pictures that Londyn has likely taken of the suspects she’s interviewed.”

  Malone released Ian’s arm and swiveled to look at Clay. “Is it okay for me to go to the precinct with Ian?”

  “Should be fine,” Clay said. “We’re very familiar with the location, and the three of us can move you quickly and safely inside.”

  “Agreed,” Aiden said.

  “I’m in,” Brendan said.

  “Thank you,” she said, already thinking about capturing the killer, then entering a courtroom and watching him or her stand trial to pay for the heinous crime that permanently altered her and Reed’s lives.

  7

  Ian and Malone left the Nighthawk team in PPB’s lobby for the return trip to her house, and Ian led Malone down the hallway and into the busy bullpen. The area smelled like bitter burned coffee, not an unusual aroma, as the near empty pot was often left on the burner by a tired detective.

  Londyn sat behind her desk, running a finger down a column of names on the reunion attendance list. Her large eyes were narrowed, and her hair was pulled back today, revealing her long neck. She looked up at them and smiled, but it was tight.

  “You remember, Malone,” Ian said, resting against the corner of her desk.

  “Of course.” If Londyn was put off by seeing their suspect in the detective’s bullpen, her impartial mask didn’t reflect it, but she had to be wondering why he’d brought her there instead of just having Londyn email the photos to him.

  Londyn picked up a stack of files from the chair by her desk. “Have a seat.”

  Malone dropped gracefully onto the chair. Her designer clothing and boots made her stand out in the department, even sitting next to Londyn, who dressed fashionably and was more put-together than most of the detectives, who often looked rumpled after long hours of work.

  Ian focused on Londyn. “I hoped you’d have photos from your interviews for Malone to look at. Assuming that you were able to do some interviews.”

  Londyn leaned back in her chair and took a long swig from a can of diet cola. “I went through the first half of the list and got right over to the hotel before people checked out. Everyone agreed to let me take their photos, and I have a few guys who could fit the build. None of them admitted to knowing Junior, though.”

  “You think they were blowing smoke?” he asked.

  “The truth. Unfortunately.” She ran her hand over her hair that needed no smoothing. “I’m just about done reviewing the second half of the list from the hotel manager, and I’ll be heading back to the hotel in a few minutes. But I can make time to show the pics.”

  “Thank you,” Malone said.

  “Don’t thank me. If you identify the guy in my photos, my next interviews aren’t as urgent.” Londyn chuckled, then looked at Ian. “But seriously, if I didn’t have to go back to the hotel, it would give me more time to lean on Junior’s phone company. They’re taking their sweet time in getting the files to me.”

  “Not unusual,” Ian said. “But frustrating.”

  Londyn mimicked pulling her hair out and chuckled. “I did talk to Junior’s doctor. He knew about Junior’s cancer and had referred him to a specialist, but he had no records from the specialist saying Junior had gone to see him.”

  “So the cancer might’ve been a factor in what he planned to tell Malone.” Ian pondered the news. “And his mother,” he added, remembering the notation on Junior’s copy of the reunion flier.

  Malone looked up at him. “You plan to tell his parents about the cancer?”

  Ian shrugged. “It might make them feel better, knowing he was spared the suffering of death from cancer. And perhaps knowing they were going to lose him anyway might help with the grief.”

  “I think it would,” Malone said. “Now that I know my parents’ accident wasn’t one, it helps to know the crash wasn’t my dad’s fault.”

  “Maybe I will tell them then.” Ian stared over Londyn’s head and thought about when he’d met with Junior’s parents. Ian still wasn’t sure what he would do, but he would take Malone’s comment into consideration.

  “How did the visit to Peck’s place go?” Londyn started to lean back, but her hands were cuffed behind her, so she stopped. “Did he know if the car was tampered with?”

  “He didn’t, but he still has the car in the same condition.” Ian explained what they’d learned.

  Londyn’s eyes widened. “Seriously. Wow. Who’d have thought that car would still be around.”

  “It was a lucky break. I’m going to talk to the LT and open an investigation. It’s a long shot that there’ll be DNA or prints on the vehicle after all these years. Having an expert work the scene might be essential to recovering it. So I’ll ask his permission to use the Veritas DNA expert to handle the car. I’d appreciate your support on this.”

  “Of course.” Londyn looked at Malone. “Any thoughts on why your parents were murdered?”

  “None.”

  “The Veritas team is doing a deep dive on their background,” Ian said. “Hopefully it will produce a strong lead.”

  Londyn pinned her focus on Malone. “You and your brother must be unsettled by the news.”

  “Yeah.” Malone clutched her hands tightly in her lap.

  Ian ignored the continuing need to comfort her and stood. “Okay if I leave you here to look at the pictures?”

  “Not a problem.”

  “I’ll come back after I meet with the LT and finish opening the new investigation.” He crossed the room to Hoffman’s office and knocked on the open door.

  “Good, take a seat,” Hoffman said. “I was hoping for an update on the reunion murder.”

  Ian sat in a side chair and brought his supervisor up to speed. He followed by explaining about how Malone’s parents died and that this could be why Junior was killed. He ended with a request to let Veritas handle the DNA. “They’ll eat the costs.”

  “I don’t know.” Hoffman leaned back in his chair. “I know they’re top-notch professionals. Even used them before. And I like the idea of having a state DNA expert working as a witness to the process.”

  “If there’s any DNA to be had, Emory Jenkins is the one to find it,” Ian added, hoping to seal the deal.

  “You’re probably right.” Hoffman tapped his finger on the arm of his chair. “Go ahead, but keep me in the loop. And what about other forensics on the vehicle?”

  “I’ll ask the state lab to provide someone for that too.”

  “Good. Good. Now what about forensics from the hotel? Anything?”

  “Nothing we didn’t know about. GSR and the weapon, analyzed for prints and sent off to the state crime lab.” Ian knew it would be handled a lot faster if Grady could process the gun, but Ian would take his win on the DNA and not push his luck. “Also, Sierra Rice did her own analysis after we released the scene, and she found mulch she believes was carried in on the suspect’s boots. She can match it to other mulch if we locate his home.”

  “I want play-by-play updates on the DNA and any forensics located on the car.” Hoffman snapped his chair forward. “And don’t make me look like a fool for agreeing to this.”

  “I won’t.” Ian left the office before Hoffman could change his mind.

  Ian glanced across the bullpen to Malone and found her still looking at photos on Londyn’s computer, Londyn leaning over her. A lead from those pictures would be great, considering they didn’t have a lot to go on.

  At his desk, he found the phone number for the state forensic lab and asked to speak to the DNA supervisor. Thankfully, she said working with Emory was an honor that anyone in her department would relish, and she immediately agreed to monitor the tests whenever Ian needed her. As a bonus, she also agreed to bring criminalists to process the car.

  Stunned at the easy cooperation after he’d prepared for a battle, he dialed Blake Jenkins from the card he’d handed to him at the earlier meeting. Ian would call Emory directly but it was after Veritas’s closing hours and he didn’t have her number. He shared his need with Blake.

  “She’s right here,” Blake said. “I’ll give her the phone.”

  Ian heard a child babbling in the background, and Blake quickly explained Ian’s request.

  “Name the time, and I’m there,” Emory said.

  “How about tomorrow at noon?” he asked, thinking that would give him time in the morning to follow up on other items, attend an update meeting with the Veritas team, and meet with Londyn too.

  “Text me the address, and I’ll be there.” She shared her phone number. “Will I see you there?”

  “Yes and also the DNA supervisor from the state lab will be observing.”

  “I love Deborah, so that’ll work.”

  Ian thanked Emory again and disconnected the call, then dialed Peck and arranged for the team to work on the car. The man grumbled at first about having so many people on his property again but finally agreed.

  Everything arranged, Ian took a long breath as he opened PPB’s investigation program on his computer and started an active case for the death of Joanna and Lewis Rice. It took nearly an hour to record the basics. By the time he finished, Malone was turned away from Londyn’s screen, and the two were talking. Had she finished all the pictures or had she found their suspect?

  Eager to know, he started for Londyn’s desk, his mind switching to Malone—and not in a professional capacity. He liked seeing her. Maybe not in a detectives’ bullpen. It would be better elsewhere, but he just plain liked having her around. He needed to change his focus. To pin it to the case. To find her parents’ killer and Junior’s too. That was his job. Not falling for Malone Rice.

  When he reached them, she smiled up at him, and his heart responded with a leap. He managed to curtail the size of the smile he sent back her way. Not only because he didn’t want to encourage her, but Londyn was appraising them too, and he didn’t want her to see his interest in Malone.

  “Any luck with the pictures?” he asked.

  “No.” Malone got up and rolled her head.

  “Which means I’m heading out to the hotel again.” Londyn stood. “And then I’ll be calling to arrange interviews with the people who attended the reunion but didn’t stay at the hotel.”

  “We’ll review additional videos. If you email the photos you take, Malone can look at those too.”

  “Will do.” Londyn pocketed her phone and notepad. “I’ll walk out with you.”

  Ian gestured for the women to go first, and in the lobby, they found Clay, who caught sight of Malone and used his comm device to ask his brothers to join him.

  Clay nodded at Londyn. “Long time no see.”

  “Not since your wedding. I’m assuming you’re still blissfully happy.”

  Clay’s broad smile said it all. “Best four months of my life.”

  “You’re like the poster child for marriage,” Londyn said, her tone more serious than the comment deserved.

  “You should try it.”

  Londyn frowned. Ian, remembering she’d just gone through a breakup, stepped forward. “We should get moving. Lots to do.”

  Londyn flashed him a thankful look. “I’ll call you later.”

  She exited and paused only long enough to say hello to Brendan, who stood on the sidewalk out front.

  Clay turned to Malone. “Straight into the vehicle.”

  Malone nodded, and Clay took lead, Malone in the middle, Ian last. He didn’t expect any trouble, but he kept his head on a swivel until he was seated in the back seat with Malone and the door was closed tight. Clay climbed in on her other side.

  Brendan hopped into the front, and Aiden wasted no time getting them moving. On the short drive, Ian updated the guys on their progress on the investigation. While he spoke, he couldn’t miss Malone twisting her hands together. She was nervous, but she’d done a great job at hiding it with only moments, like now, when she revealed her inner turmoil.

  Aiden pulled into her driveway and parked next to her Mustang. Ian really didn’t like her driving an unsafe vehicle. She wanted to be close to her parents. He understood that. But he didn’t want to lose her in a crash the way she’d lost them.

  She leaned forward and rested her palms on her knees, her fingers relaxed for the first time since she’d gotten into the SUV. Maybe arriving home brought her comfort. Being there could calm residual issues from her childhood, he supposed. His parents were still alive, and he would like some solace from growing up with them. Losing parents as a child would do an irreversible number on the child, especially when they were fabulous parents, as hers apparently had been.

  Finding her parents’ killer could help her find peace. And in the time they had together, Ian could also do his best to help her get over any residual loss she might be feeling. For some reason, that was as important to him as bringing in a killer who’d been free for far too long, and that was a new experience for him. One he didn’t altogether hate.

  Malone locked her front door, wanting to get straight to work looking at the other videos with Ian, but she couldn’t ignore her business. Her clients often had emergencies so she didn’t like to stay out of touch. She looked at Ian and found him watching her with an odd collection of interest and pity. She liked the interest, but why the pity? She would ask, but she needed to stay on a professional footing with him.

  Especially after seeing him in his own environment at work. She’d thought it could help her peg him, but it didn’t. One minute, she’d thought she knew what he was like, and the next he changed things up. He’d come across as vulnerable and dangerous at the same time, a combination that seemed impossible. A combination that was very intriguing. And beguiling. Something she needed to guard against.

  She took a breath. “I need to check my emails and return any messages I might have gotten today.”

  “I could stand to review mine too,” he said. “I’m juggling several investigations.”

  “Let’s use the kitchen counter again.”

  He held up his computer. “Lead the way.”

  She did and had to admit, even if she wanted to remain professional, she liked having Ian at her side while she worked. They were comfortable with each other, the silence not strained at all.

  It took nearly an hour to handle the most urgent things, but when she finished, she closed her laptop. Ian was focused on his computer screen but must have felt her eyes on him because he looked at her.

  A slow smile spread across his mouth, and his happiness sparked a warm, languid feeling inside. One she could easily get used to.

  Despite digging deep for her usual willpower, she could barely resist tracing his full bottom lip with her finger. She swallowed and pushed off her stool. “I’ll get the leftovers out.”

  “I thought we could look at the videos while we eat. That would still give us some time to finish reviewing the boxes in the garage for any other information that might give us a lead on their crash.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” she said, though she didn’t know if her appetite would hold up while watching videos, looking for a potential killer.

  She got the food out and heated it in the microwave, the tangy spices soon filling the air. They plated their food, moving comfortably around each other in the kitchen. The time together felt easy, as if they were on a date rather than trying to clear her name as a murder suspect.

  She set her plate on the counter. “I didn’t ask what time you’ll be going out to Peck’s place tomorrow.”

  “Noon.”

  She climbed onto a stool. “Can I come with you?”

  He sat beside her and placed his loaded plate next to his computer. “Why would you want to? It’ll just be Emory and a criminologist processing the vehicle with the state lab expert overseeing it all.”