Mallory Kane - Double-Edged Detective

About the Author

Mallory loves romantic suspense with dangerous heroes and dauntless heroines, and enjoys tossing in a bit of her medical knowledge for an extra dose of intrigue. Mallory lives in Mississippi with her computer-genius husband and three exceptionally intelligent cats.

She enjoys hearing from readers. You can write her at mallory@mallorykane.com

Double-Edged Detective

Mallory Kane

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Table of Contents

About the Author

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Copyright

To my mother, who only ever wished the best for me.

Chapter One

Christmas Leigh a nd Autumn Lynn, each named for the time of year they were born. Moser slid his fingers along the edge of the pages. The first half of the album was about his daughters lives. Hed devoted the last half of the book to something else entirely.

He looked up at the calendar hed hung on the wall next to his TV so he could watch the months, the weeks, the days go by. And they had. Somehow, hed made it through another year. Somehow, it was October

again.

He flipped over to the back of the album, where hed pasted newspaper clippings, notes and baby photos. Behind them, stuck between two pages, was a small stack of insurance forms. Four years ago, the stack had seemed huge. During his career, hed sold a lot of life insurance policies to parents for their newborns. Then, when Rudolfo Gomez had retired, Albert had taken over his customers, too.

Once hed culled out the males and the people who had moved away or died, the stack had dwindled to ten. He counted. Only six were left. Six policies taken out at birth on six baby girls. Now they were grown. Young women with their lives ahead of them, just like his Autumn.

And like his daughter, they had no idea that one of them had only a few days to live.

Albert Moser sighed. He didnt want to do it. The weight of the womens lives was heavy on his shoulders. He wasnt sure he could stand under the weight of another one. It had been four years.

For a brief moment, he considered turning himself in and begging them to find his daughters killer. Hed tried begging. But the police had dismissed Autumns murder as a mugging. He knew it wasnt. He just knew it.

The telephone rang. Albert started and almost dropped the album. He didnt have to wonder who was calling. It was Christy. His older daughter was the only one who ever called him. He picked up the handset.

Dad? Hi. How are you?

Im okay. Howre you doing? Is it cold in Boston?

Always, she said with a laugh. Her low, slightly husky voice reminded him of her mother. So how are you doing? Are you eating? Taking care of yourself?

Im doing okay.

Dad, you need to get out. Why dont you call some of your buddies and play some golf?

Albert didnt answer. Christy had been pushing him ever since Autumns death to get out, get some exercise, see some of his old friends.

Well, I just wanted to call and see how you are, and

Autumns birthdays in six days, Albert interjected. Shed be twenty-six now, you know.

I know. Christy sighed. Dad, I called tonight because Im leaving for Germany tomorrow. Ill be gone for a week. Im speaking at the Childrens Health Issues Summit in Munich.

Okay.

Think about coming to Boston for Christmas, Dad. I cant get time off. Christmas is always a busy time for pediatricians. But we could sightsee, go to some good restaurants.

Ill see, Albert said. He shuffled the insurance forms he held, looking at the birth dates on the policies. You know, Christy, the police still arent doing anything about Autumns murder.

Dad

She was murdered. You know how scared she was of that man she was seeing. He killed her. Im sure of it.

Dad, please stop trying to figure out who it was. Its eating you up inside.

Youre right there. It is.

Think about coming up here for Christmas.

Ill think about it.

Christy said goodbye and hung up, leaving Albert feeling more lonely than he had before she called. Her voice echoed through the empty house.

Its eating you up inside.

Yes, it was. And there was only one thing that would stop the gnawing pain.

He had to continue his crusade. Eventually, the police would look back and know hed been right all along. Autumn Moser was murdered. Then theyd realize that these young women wouldnt have had to die if theyd paid attention to him. Theyd be sorry theyd dismissed him.

DETECTIVE RYKER DELANCEY polished off the last bite of Coquilles St. Jacques and took a final sip of wine. He sat back and glanced at his watch. Almost eleven oclock. Closing time. Only a few late diners were still lingering over coffee or dessert at LOrage.

It hadnt been easy to adapt to eating dinner so late, but with the anniversary date about to roll around, Ryker wasnt taking any chances with his only living victim.

Speaking ofa familiar figure in a white coat emerged from the kitchen. Nicole Beckham. She smiled as she greeted a couple a few tables away. Ryker had no trouble hearing their conversation in the subdued, intimate atmosphere of the upscale continental restaurant. The two were regulars, and they always asked to speak to the chef. Nicole always responded the same way.