LITMIR.BIZ

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with you.”

      His shoulders stiffened. “Why?”

      “Just in case I need some more details, you know, about Mr. Donovan’s reputation around town, or to answer any other questions that arise.”

      “I’d be happy to help,” Gideon said.

      A satisfied gleam entered his eyes, and she knew she’d played her cards right. She had to make him think she needed his help to railroad Cole, which Gideon seemed intent on doing. But the defensive flicker of mistruth she’d glimpsed on his face during the interview refused to leave her mind. He’d lied to her about something.

      And she was determined to find out what he was hiding.

       Chapter 4

      As Jamie drove away from Gideon’s property, she switched on the Bluetooth nestled in her ear and instructed it to call Finn. He came on the line a second later, with an eager “Well?”

      She steered the car onto the road that led back to town and said, “He didn’t budge.”

      Finn sounded oddly triumphant. “I told you he wouldn’t change his story. I guess Donovan made it all up then.”

      Her lips tightened. “I said Gideon didn’t budge, not that he was telling the truth.”

      “What does that mean?”

      “It means he’s lying,” she said with a sigh. “I think he saw Cole that night, and he’s lying about it because he believes this will give him some misguided revenge. He really hates Cole.”

      There was a long silence, and then Finn spoke again, annoyance in his voice. “Why are you so certain Donovan isn’t the killer? How can you ignore all the evidence against him?”

      “What evidence?” she returned. “An alibi that I think is real. An argument with his ex-wife. An upcoming court case regarding a prenuptial agreement. It’s all circumstantial, Finn. Give me hard facts. Give me the murder weapon with his fingerprints on it. Give me premeditation.” She let out a breath. “You don’t have a solid case against him—any lawyer will get this thrown out of court.”

      Finn’s heavy sigh echoed in her ear. “You’re right. It’s not enough.”

      A familiar cluster of trees came into view. Jamie involuntarily eased up on the gas pedal, realizing that the turnoff onto Cole’s property was up ahead. Her gaze flitted to the upcoming fork, then back on the road. Maybe she ought to stop by Cole’s, just to tell him the bad news about Gideon sticking to his story.

      Phones exist for a reason.

      She ignored the snarky voice and found herself slowing down even more.

      “Jamie, you there?”

      “What? Sorry, I’m here,” she said. “What did you say?”

      “I said that maybe we should reinterview some of the witnesses who were at Sully’s bar the night of the argument.”

      “Sounds like a good idea,” she answered absently.

      Fine, so maybe she could just call him, but wasn’t this the kind of news someone would want to hear in person? She was already in the area. Wouldn’t be a hassle to pop in and—

      She yanked on the steering wheel at the last second, turning onto the dirt road that led to Cole’s house.

      “Let me give you a call later and we can talk more about the case,” she chirped to Finn. “Gotta go. I’m getting another call.”

      She flicked off the Bluetooth before he could object, ignoring the sliver of guilt that pierced into her skin. She shouldn’t have lied to Finn, but she hadn’t wanted to tell him she was going to see Cole. Finn’s feelings about the millionaire were no secret. He probably wouldn’t even think to update Cole about any developments—or lack of—in the case.

      Right, because that’s why you’re here, to give him an update.

      She reached the tall front gate and stopped the car, trying valiantly not to question her own actions. This was a courtesy call. She was being courteous.

      Coming here had nothing to do with the fact that her heart had done those funny little flips whenever Cole was around.

      And fine, so maybe his deep voice sent shivers up her spine and his mouth fascinated her a little too much. Wasn’t like she would get involved with the man. He was still a person of interest in this case, which meant that she couldn’t—

      A clap of thunder snapped her right out of her inner debate, making her jump. The loud boom was followed by the sound of rain slapping against the windshield.

      Jamie stared out in shock. She’d been so wrapped up in thinking of reasons why she shouldn’t like Cole Donovan that she’d been completely oblivious to the fact that the sky had turned an ominous shade of gray. Thick black clouds rolled in from the distance, releasing sharp drops of rain that tapped against the roof of the car.

      Looked like the storm Cole had predicted was making an appearance.

      Biting her bottom lip, she sat in the car and glanced over at the rustic house beyond the steel gate. The shutters were rattling, and the wind chimes hanging from the porch roof swung in the breeze. Okay, she definitely needed to leave, before the storm got worse and driving became dangerous.

      She was just reaching for the gearshift when another crash of thunder echoed from outside, a streak of white lit up the dark sky and the rain began to fall in earnest. It looked like a waterfall cascading over her car, and Jamie realized in growing dismay that there was no way she could outdrive this thing.

      Cursing softly, she took a breath, rolled down the window, and pressed the intercom button on the electronic panel on the gate.

      Cole’s voice crackled through a moment later. “Jamie?”

      She was startled for a moment, then noticed the security camera mounted on the gate and realized he was probably in front of a screen looking right at her. She winced when a blast of wind blew rain through the open car window and soaked her face.

      Before she could plead for him to let her in, the gate buzzed loudly, then parted.

      As she drove through it, she saw a blur of motion from the corner of her eye as something dark and furry scurried through the open gate into Cole’s driveway. With the windshield wipers working furiously, it was hard to tell what it was, and then the animal darted behind a patch of trees, and she decided it was probably a squirrel. Shifting her gaze, she steered the car up the circular driveway in front of Cole’s house. As the wind rocked the car, she gritted her teeth, threw open the door, then ran toward the covered porch. While she waited by the door, she stared out at the incredible display of nature with wide eyes. She had never seen anything like it. Suddenly the entire sky was almost black, while the wind shrieked like police sirens.

      The door swung open to reveal Cole, a look of concern on his handsome face. “What the hell are you doing here?” he yelled over the wind.

      She decided to lie rather than admit the embarrassing truth. “I was coming back from Gideon’s and the storm just hit!”

      She barely had a chance to finish her sentence before chaos broke out. The rain suddenly fell harder, accompanied by another crack of lightning. As the wind howled, the trees lining the driveway swayed wildly. Several branches crashed to the ground from the force of the wind, nearly falling onto her SUV.

      Jamie turned around with a look of horror, and then she was being propelled backward into Cole by a forceful gust bringing with it rain that drenched them both. Cole caught her as she stumbled, planting his hand on her hip to steady her.

      “Come inside,” he shouted over the din.

      Another boom of thunder rolled through the sky, then a bolt of lightning that split one of the larger tree branches with a sickly crack. The heavy branch broke, crashing to the

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