Page 33 of The Creekside Murder (Pacific Northwest Forensics #1)
Jessica stretched her wiggling toes toward the bay as she reclined on a chaise longue on Finn’s deck, scratching Bodhi behind the ear. “I’m just glad I didn’t put my career in jeopardy by tainting the DNA sample.”
Finn walked barefoot onto the deck and handed her a glass of wine before nudging Bodhi out of the chair next to Jessica. “I don’t understand why the initial test didn’t show that the DNA on the red fiber was male DNA. That would’ve ruled you out immediately.”
“Remember, it was just a trace, and they didn’t know if they had enough of it to run a full test. There are different types of DNA tests, and that initial one they ran wasn’t the mtDNA test for mitochondrial. That showed up in the subsequent test.”
“I’m glad they didn’t stop the testing. When I knew that DNA belonged to your brother and that you had just gone out to meet him that day, I went into panic mode.” He reached over and ran his hand down her arm, giving her goose bumps. “I didn’t want to lose you so soon after rediscovering you.”
“If that’s your panic mode, your focused mode must be intense.
You had it together enough to contact Celine and to remember the name of the restaurant where I was meeting David…
Dermott.” She slid her hand in his, lacing her fingers with his.
“How did you know where to find us? You never told me that. I know I took you there once, but how did you figure out we’d be at the house? ”
“I have a confession to make.” He swirled the beer in his bottle and took a sip as he squinted at the sun dipping into the bay. “I contacted an expert.”
“An expert?” She hung her leg over the side of the chaise and ran her foot over the soft fur on Bodhi’s back.
“I called Avery Plank.” He squeezed her hand.
“And I don’t regret it. He pointed out the obvious, but I wasn’t thinking straight.
When he said Dermott would go back to the beginning, where it all started for him, I knew he’d take you to the house.
And why not? Nobody suspected your brother yet.
Why would anyone think the Kitsap Killer would take you to your childhood home? ”
She wrinkled her nose. “Ugh, Plank must’ve reveled in that.”
“I didn’t give him a chance, but I’m sure he’ll remind me at our next meeting.”
Finn asked, “Are you going to visit Dermott in prison? At least he confessed to all the slayings, and he’s working with the authorities in Europe and Asia to solve some of those cases.”
Disentangling her fingers from his, Jessica put her feet on the deck and stroked Bodhi’s back.
There was a reason people used dogs for therapy.
Petting Bodhi calmed her nerves enough to answer.
“I don’t know if I can ever forgive him for taking Tiffany from me and killing all those other women.
It makes me ill to think we have the same mother. ”
“But different fathers. Sounds like Dermott’s bio dad was a piece of work. Sometimes nature is stronger than nurture.”
She rubbed her tingling nose. “I’m not sure his adoptive family was all that nurturing.”
Finn snorted. “If you believe Dermott. He’s just like Plank, blaming everything on his upbringing for sympathy and understanding.”
She glanced up, her hand still on Bodhi’s back. “You’re still writing the book, even though your link to Plank, finding Tiffany’s body, has been blown out of the water?”
“That was an important hook, for sure. That’s how I got my agent interested in the book, but I’ve got an even better hook now—how I saved Tiffany’s sister from the Kitsap Killer who let Plank confess to his crime.
” He laced his fingers together. “The stories are linked. My agent is happy—if you can be happy about murder.”
She drilled a knuckle into his biceps. “Oh, is that why you’re dating me?
“Dating?” He placed his bottle on the deck and shifted his chair to face her. “Is that all we’re doing?”
A smile played over her lips. “Well, we keep getting interrupted. I think we’re destined to circle the flame.”
“Come over here.” Leaning forward, he lightly clasped her wrists and tugged her toward him. “I think I’m ready to jump into the fire.”
She stepped over Bodhi, who barely lifted his head, and sat in Finn’s lap, her legs swinging over the side of his chair. As he pulled her close and kissed her mouth, she felt that spark she’d always felt for him. But this time there was nothing between them.
She murmured against his lips. “Let the inferno begin.”
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Secrets She Hid by Amanda Stevens