Page 10 of Night Prey
Ian flipped on a blinker and turned the corner, memories coming back from one Friday night in high school. He’d recently moved to town and had been invited to a party at one of the football player’s houses. He’d gone on a whim, even though he’d had no intention of trying to fit in with the crowd Chad Williams ran with. Shoot, Ian had no intention of fitting in with any of the crowds at that school. He’d planned to do his time and move on.
At the party, he’d seen Junior hitting on many of the girls, and they laughed at him. But when he hit on Malone, she’d been kinder. She made it clear that she had no interest in him, but she’d done so in a softer way. Problem was, Junior didn’t take it too well. He got all sullen and brooding and started drinking up a storm. Ian saw the guy escort a very tipsy Malone away from the house.
They were a few blocks from the high school, and Ian trailed Junior and Malone as they made their way to the school. Junior had taken her out back to the darkened football field and started pawing all over her. She tried to fight and begged him to leave her alone, but she soon became silent and dropped to the ground.
Ian waited for Junior to back off, but instead, Junior had taken her limp body as his cue to fall on her and take advantage. Ian couldn’t let that happen. He jerked Junior to his feet and pummeled him, telling him that if he ever saw Junior near a girl again, he’d report him to the police.
Once Ian dispatched Junior, he helped Malone up and took her back to the party and left her in the hands of her older brother, Reed, who escorted her home. Ian figured Reed told her that Ian had brought her home, because that Monday at school she introduced herself and offered her thanks. That was when she formed a crush on him. If he’d had any interest in dating, he might’ve pursued her.
Even back in school, Malone had a way of looking at him that resonated with him. As if she saw right through the façade he’d created, the one that said he didn’t care. He thought he’d imagined it all those years ago, but, dang if he wasn’t surprised tonight to see that same look.
And what did he do about it? He put her in jail, and now that he’d put her behind bars, he doubted she’d ever look at him the same way.
3
Ian settled in the chair in his supervisor’s small office, surprised he could find a place to sit in the room filled with stacks of case files and boxes holding more, all containing information about an ongoing murder investigation that the department had been working for six months. Lieutenant Zane Hoffman stared at Ian across the desk, searching and appraising, as Detective Londyn Steele came into the room behind Ian. After Ian texted Hoffman about the murder, he’d come in to work.
“Have a seat, Steele,” Hoffman said.
Dressed in a black suit and a white button-down blouse, she dropped into the chair beside him and crossed her legs. Ian had always thought she had a strong cop demeanor, including her muscular build and her tough, rugged vibe. Still, she challenged that appearance with feminine blouses and manicured fingernails, often painting them in the pale pink she sported today. A big contradiction that kept people off guard—her intention, he was sure.
“Now that you’re both here,” Hoffman said, his gaze pinned to Ian, “I’d like you to update me and read Steele in on the reunion murder.”
Only two reasons Ian’s boss could want this information. He planned to give the investigation to Londyn, or he planned to have her partner with Ian. Either way, Ian didn’t like it. Not when they rarely partnered on investigations. Like Malone had said, he was kind of a loner. But he would have no choice in the matter, so he provided succinct details about what transpired earlier that evening.
“I notified Junior’s parents,” Ian said, “but neither of them had any thoughts on why someone might want to kill him. The father was stoic, the mother fell apart. Not unusual. But I got the feeling that they weren’t very involved in his life.”
Hoffman narrowed his eyes. “I was hoping you had more evidence than you do. And a solid motive.”
“If Malone shot him, it could have to do with what he told her about her parents,” Londyn said.
Ian shook his head. “He never got a chance to tell her anything other than that their crash wasn’t an accident.”
“Or so she says.” Londyn raised one eyebrow, giving him a pointed look.
“Yeah, you’re right. She could be withholding information, but my gut says she was being forthcoming. Initially, when I asked her, she was in shock and not thinking clearly, so I doubt she was trying to blow smoke my way.” At least he prayed she wasn’t.
“And what’s your gut tell you about the shooting?” Hoffman asked. “Did she do it?”
“I doubt it, but only the forensic evidence will confirm that,” Ian said.
“Exactly,” Hoffman said.
“The supposed shooter took Junior’s phone, so I had it pinged, but no luck,” Ian said. “Shooter must’ve destroyed the phone or he took the battery out.”
“You knew Malone in high school, right?” Hoffman steepled his fingers.
“We weren’t friends or anything, but I knew her and her brother, Reed.” Ian left it at that for now. If more was needed later, he would share it.
“You’re not going to like this,” Hoffman said, “but I just got off the phone with the DA. He’s choosing not to file charges at this point.”
“He what?” Ian shot up in his chair. He might not think Malone was guilty, but there had been sufficient evidence to arrest and charge her, and the DA was ignoring the department’s recommendation.
Hoffman held up his hand. “He’s not ruling it out in the future, but he doesn’t think we have enough to hold Rice on.”
Hoffman leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head. “Honestly, I think she has friends in high places who advocated for her release. She’s well-respected in the community. A former federal prosecutor too. Means the investigation will get a lot of press and attention from up top, and we need to make sure we don’t drop the ball. Which is why I’m assigning the pair of you to the case. It’s still your investigation, Blair, but Steele will assist.” He snapped his chair forward and ran his gaze between them. “Any questions?”
Ian shook his head and glanced at Londyn. She followed suit, her shoulder-length auburn hair swinging over her shoulders.
