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“She was hit from behind.” As Lee positioned the hammer to show her, it fit so perfectly that Cody could almost hear the shattering of the skull.

She winced. “How many times?”

“Once would have been enough. You can see from all the missing bone that he hit, then pulled sharply to get the hammer out.”

“He used the claw side.”

“That’s correct. The blow would have been devastating.”

“Do you think she knew it was coming?”

“What I can say for certain is that she had her back to him when he struck her. Either because she trusted the guy or didn’t see him coming, I don’t know.”

“Could she have been running away from him?”

“Perhaps.” Lee considered. “But probably not, as I haven’t found any defensive injuries on her. She was not fighting at the time she was struck.”

“Okay. You think the attacker was male?”

“From the angle of the wound, I’d say so, yes. Over six feet in height and very strong. Either male or a WNBA player. Draw your own conclusions.”

“Oh, I am,” Cody murmured.

“Got a suspect in line?”

“The victim’s husband is a 6”4 bricklayer who used to slap her around badly. She was planning her escape. Sadly, it looks like she ran out of time.”

Lee’s feline dark eyes flashed in genuine anger, a rare show of emotion for her.

“I think you should go and see if he’s got a bloody hammer, Detective. Or missing one from his toolbox.”

“My next stop,” Cody confirmed. “Thanks, doc.”

She drove straight to Winters’ place of work and spoke with a frustrated manager who told her that he was three hours late and had not bothered to call. He was not answering his phone either. Cody went to his apartment, but she already suspected that the man would not be there. It was a good guess. She called O’Neill, who promptly arrived with an eager smile on his face.

“We’ve got probable cause to enter,” Cody told him. “Open this door for us, will you?”

“Be my pleasure.”

The search revealed a bunch of clothes apparently missing from the man’s closet. He’d left the door open as if he’d been in a hurry when packing. A hanger was on the floor. All consistent with a hasty departure.

“No Carhartt boots in the closet,” O’Neill stated. “But we’ve got Nike running shoes, size 15. Dress shoes, same size. And two pairs of Carhartt work trousers. So…”

“Maybe he’s wearing the boots.”

“Maybe.”

Cody issued an arrest order for Winters as soon as she got back to the station. She wrote her report, sent a copy to Wilson as per Quinn’s orders, and one to her as well. The lieutenant was still not back on official duty but wanted to be kept in the loop. Then, Cody headed back out to dig into Jack Winters’ personal life. She interviewed some of his friends and co-workers. No one seemed overly surprised to hear that he was the prime suspect in his wife’s murder. The general consensus about the man was that he had a short fuse and a nasty temper and that there had been issues in the marriage. The sad truth of it was that no onecared enough about Cassie to get involved and try to help her.Except for one lawyer...

chapter 15

Kim had a shower, changed, and went straight to her office after Cody left. There, she spent the rest of the day with her head buried in work. Voluntarily. Gratefully, as she did not want to be able to dwell on the morning’s events. The first part of the day had been dark and terrifying. The other part felt like a slice of sublime cut out of a real-life nightmare. Kim kept it close at the back of her mind as she worked, the memory of that incredible kiss never too far should she want to revisit. She did, frequently, without guilt. Such a wild thing to happen, in the best possible way. The fact that she was attracted to the handsome, bright-eyed detective was not lost on her. But Kim had never planned to kiss her. Didn’t even know she would do it until her lips were pressed against hers. She had felt Cody’s shock. Registered her hesitation. Both were quickly washed out by a rush of brilliant heat, replaced by need and desire to match her own. She would never forget Cody’s smile then, so open and alluring. And Cody had kissed her back.Such a soulful kiss.

“God, Kim…” She groaned and shook her head at her own self.

Soulful kiss?Whatever next?Slushy descriptions were really not her style. She would not call herself a romantic. At the same time, she would admit it had been absolutely that sort of kiss. She told herself to focus and concentrate on work.Just before seven, she went home. At seven-fifteen, her phone beeped.

‘On my way to you now.’