Page 100 of The Grave Artist

Selina knew they needed to meet with Nando soon. Word could spread that Judd had talked to the police and the bartender might take a permanent vacation from his job.

Or, worse, warn Sweeney that he was a suspect in the Roberto Sanchez murder.

Which might make the hit man decide to vanish too.

Or to pay her a visit.

She looked at her phone impatiently. Ryan had said he could take some personal time today to get to the bar, but he had a heavy caseload.

Selina wasn’t going to complain, though. At least Ryan, unlike her sister, was making an effort to help her.

But please, she thought, hurry back.

And who the hell was this Sweeney? A hired killer who specialized in making murders look like suicides.

Another thought arose. Her sister would—eventually—want to find evidence to arrest and prosecute him. But Selina had fantasized about a quicker and more satisfying resolution.

Sweeney dead.

Followed by whoever had hired him to kill Roberto.

Of course, this was the product of anger and imagination.

Could she kill two people—even if they deserved to die?

No.

Probablynot.

Caliber jumped into her lap. Then launched himself off and walked to the food bowl. She remembered Ryan had fed him that morning, but it seemed he wanted more.

Why not?

She opened another of the small cans and dished out the pungent contents. Caliber dug in. As she threw the empty away, motion caught her eye.

She glanced out and it seemed to her that a vehicle was just slipping from view, as if it had been outside, or near, Ryan’s house.

Black.

And it might have been an SUV, like the one she’d seen last night.

She was going to step outside to see if she could get a glimpse when her phone hummed.

“Hey,” she said to Ryan.

“I called the bar. Nando’s there. And I’ve finagled a few hours off.”

She nearly said she loved him. But this was not the time. There’d be a transactional quality to saying it now. So, no.

“We’ll be here.”

“‘We’? You have a secret lover over at my place?” Ryan asked coyly.

“I’m busted. I can’t resist a man who wears a collar and chases a laser beam around the floor.”

“You’d be surprised what I’m capable of. See you in a half hour.”

Selina disconnected and glanced outside. No vehicles of any shade at the moment.