Page 72 of Ace of Spades

Nate glanced at Taylor. “Are you feeling the buzz?” It was a question they asked each other when instinct said they were on to something.

“Oh, yeah.”

Well, at least she was still talking to him, even if she didn’t want him touching her. And that thought put the scowl right back on his face.

She grabbed the pages Court was holding. “Who was their suspect? Doug Emmitt?”

Court nodded. “The one and only. He disappeared the same day, never to be seen again. Her son witnessed the murder. Said it was Emmitt.”

“So this ex-cop is going around all these years later killing prostitutes?” Alex said.

Taylor grabbed on to Alex’s arm. “Or the son. How old would he be now?” She scanned the report. “Forty-two. That fits with what Pauline’s told us.”

Nate narrowed his eyes at the hand she had on Alex, wanting to yank it away. “We need to find out the whole story. Why did he kill her? What happened to the boy?”

“Bert Archer’s retired now, living in the same house that he did when he was a cop,” Court said.

“That makes it easy.” Nate nodded at Alex. “Tomorrow, take a ride over to Glade and interview him. Take Josh with you.”

Alex nodded. “I’ll call him when we finish and let him know.”

When Nate’s phone buzzed, he answered, saying, “Was it there?”

“No,” Rand said. “I tracked down the apartment’s manager, and he didn’t see a plastic angel in the box or who might have taken it.”

“Okay, head this way. We’re leaving for the bar soon, but the girls are having a pizza party.” It was Rand’s night to keep watch over Taylor.

“Be there in ten.”

“The angel’s not there,” Nate said when he hung up.

“Maybe someone did drop it and reclaimed it,” Taylor said.

“Possible.” He didn’t believe in coincidences, though.

Alex stretched, then stood. “If we’re done here, I’ll head on over to Aces and Eights. Taylor’s going to hang with the girls tonight. They’re going to eat pizza, drink wine, and talk about us.” He winked at Taylor.

“I’ll head over with you,” Court said.

“I’ll be there soon.” After his brothers left, Nate tried to think of something to say that would fix things between him and Taylor. He had nothing.

Taylor held up the report Court had given her. “I meant to ask Court if I could keep this.”

“Sure. He’ll have extra copies. Since you don’t have your car here, Rand will be waiting downstairs when you’re ready to go home. He’s got the watch tonight.”

“Okay.” She edged toward the door. “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Nate put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her. “We need to talk. If not tonight, then have lunch with me tomorrow.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Text me when I’m supposed to meet with the sketch artist.”

“Dammit, Taylor, I said I was sorry.”

“Apology accepted. Good night.”

He wanted to tackle her, keep her from leaving before he had his say, but he let her go. She’d turned into an ice queen, and he hated the frost coming off her. Why couldn’t she understand that he hadn’t meant what he’d said the way it had sounded? He kicked Court’s chair back under the desk.

He clenched his jaw.This isn’t over, tiger.