The First Time I Fell by Jo Macgregor

Author:Jo Macgregor [Macgregor, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780639810966
Published: 2019-08-22T16:00:00+00:00

– 22 –

Ryan led the way up the path to the old stone works.

“Did you know that Laini was interested in taking a self-defense class?” I asked.

He glanced back at me, surprised. “How do you know that?”

“Hugo told me she took a flyer from his shop counter.” My feet slipped on the mulchy pulp of leaves underfoot, and I grabbed a branch to steady myself. “I think you should check Carl Mendez out — see if he has a history of violence.” Seeing the slight tightening of Ryan’s shoulders, I said, “You already have, haven’t you?”

“Yeah,” he admitted.

“Does he have a criminal record?”

“No comment.”

“I’ll bet he has. And, psychologically speaking, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.”

“You don’t say.”

“And I’m sure I don’t have to tell a police officer that almost sixty percent of murders on women are committed by their intimate partners.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You could check at local doctors and hospitals to see if Laini was ever treated for injuries following an assault.”

“You teach your grandmother to suck eggs, too?”

“Just trying to be helpful.”

“Hmmm.”

“I need to speak to him. Mendez, I mean. Can you get me in there?”

“In case I never made it plain before, you’re a civilian, Garnet.”

“Kennick Carter told Mendez I was a ‘special consultant in victim analysis’ who was assisting with the investigation.”

“Did he now?”

“Special consultant — I thought it had a nice ring to it.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Mendez seemed to buy it, too. Didn’t ask any inconvenient questions. I reckon I could just tag along with you.”

“If you stop nagging me, I’ll see what I can do. Just don’t, for God’s sake, let Ronnie find out.”

We were nearing the quarry. In one narrow section of the trail, a tree had fallen across the path. Ryan lent me a hand to clamber over it. It was a nice hand, too — firm, warm, despite the chill of the air, and steady as I leaned down on it.

No!

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