Page 13 of Last Seen Alive

“If it’s not that one, it may be the one we found in her purse,” Natalie said, though she didn’t sound committed to her words. She added, “I’m sorry.”

“The one that you… There was a gun found in her purse?”

“That’s right.”

“So two guns on scene?” Her heart was pounding.

“Uh-huh,” Fred responded, as if she was some sort of idiot for not knowing. But why would she?

“What caliber of bullet in it?” she countered.

“Nine mil, but don’t make too much out of it.”

“Don’t make—” She snapped her mouth shut, took a few calming breaths. “So both Hunter’s gun and one found on the vic were loaded with nine mil ammo. How can you be so certain the bullet that killed her came from Hunter’s gun? No autopsy, no ballistics,” she repeated. “Wow, Detective Hudson, you must be some sort of all-powerful, all-knowing being.”

“No bullets were missing from her gun,” Fred said coolly.

“Huh, so case closed then. You really don’t find it strange that there were two guns, and Hunter’s was left in the open for us to find. Down one bullet, no less.” She didn’t even know what she saw in that, but it raised questions. If the woman had a gun, why hadn’t she returned fire? Did she not have a chance to defend herself?

“Oh, Amanda,” Natalie murmured, but Amanda ignored her and continued.

“You have a dead woman who is ID’d by sight as Claire Hunter, but by license, Deb Smith.”

“Yes, I think we’ve been through this.” Fred sighed.

“Was the gun in her purse registered? If it is, that could confirm her ID.”

“Nope.”

“All right, and you don’t see an issue with any of this? It’s not raising any flags?”

“None. And we’re done here.” Fred stood and left the room.

Natalie stayed put, and Amanda leveled her gaze at her. “You see it, right? Something more complex took place?”

Natalie pursed her painted lips and tugged on the gold chain she always wore around her neck, sliding her fingers along it. “Sergeant Graves is pushing us to press murder charges against Logan Hunter. I’m not sure what else you expect Fred and I to do.”

“I expect you to do your job, Natalie. For frick’s sake.” Amanda jumped up and pushed her chair into the table so hard it tipped back.

SIX

Amanda went straight to Malone’s office—at least that’s how she’d always see it. These days it had been invaded by Graves. She was in, as Amanda had expected, probably there to make sure her minions were playing their part and doing her bidding. And Graves had said last night she wanted to speak with her this morning.

Amanda rapped her knuckles on the window in the door, and Graves signaled for her to enter.

“Go ahead and sit.” Graves gestured toward the chair opposite her desk.

Good morning to you too…Amanda wanted to steamroll ahead, but she’d learned a long time ago to let the superiors talk first.

“I take it you’ve finished giving your statement to Hudson and Ryan?”

“Yep.”

“They may have told you”—Graves clasped her hands on her desk, leaning slightly forward—“but murder charges are going to be brought against Mr. Hunter.”

The fact they were going ahead with charges was news—and ludicrous. “Without factual evidence,” she muttered, unable to bite her tongue. If this was how Graves ran her department, Amanda wasn’t sure she even wanted to be a part of it.

A small smile, more predatory in style. “Really? I would have expected more of you.”