Page 43 of The Lost Bones

“They’re that prepared, huh,” she said glumly. “They know which streets and areas to avoid.”

“Planned everything to a T.”

Mackenzie felt a heavy weight on her chest. She’d never been interested in participating in that documentary, facing a camera and giving strangers a glimpse into her psyche. But her bosses had pressured her, desperate to rehabilitate Lakemore’s problematic image and hitch their wagon to the female-empowerment movement that was sweeping the Western world. Never had Mackenzie imagined that the attention would be more than an inconvenience. That somewhere out there someone was watching a little too closely.

“I haven’t been to that neighborhood in a very long time,” Nick said, cutting the silence in the room. “Have you?”

“Not since I attacked you.” She snorted. “When were you there last?”

“When Luna was four.” He leaned against the wall and crossed his ankles. “She was refusing to sleep, and I’d tried everything. Thought of this crazy idea that I’d drive around Tombstone close to sunset and freak her into submission.”

“What happened?”

“She loved it and asked to go back every day for weeks.” He flattened his mouth. “I should have known then.”

She chuckled. “Sounds about right. Nothing fazes her.”

“You have something under your eye.” Before Mackenzie could react, he reached out with his thumb and swiped something off her skin. She lurched back in reflex. His eyes widened. “What?”

“Nothing.”

There was a knock on the door. Their heads turned in that direction, and Mackenzie’s heart galloped again.

“Sterling?” She frowned.

Dressed in a dark blue suit, Sterling looked all business. He was tall, with broad shoulders, a muscular frame, and hair in tight curls. His eyes were icy blue—a sharp contrast against his dark skin. “Did I interrupt something?”

“No.” Mackenzie moved away from Nick. “What are you doing here?”

He arched an eyebrow. “Need to prep you for your testimony. Your blackmail chain case is going to trial in a couple of weeks.”

Mackenzie had completely forgotten about it. Sterling had contacted her two weeks ago, informing her that he was the prosecutor.

“You can take the room.” Nick picked up his stuff and walked past Sterling without sparing him a glance. It had been over a year, but the tension between them was still as visceral as ever.

It was Nick who had discovered that Sterling was cheating on Mackenzie. Sterling had promised he’d come clean to her within a week, but he hadn’t. When Nick discovered that he had lied—again—he’d punched him in the face for good measure.

“How’ve you been?” Sterling asked, setting his briefcase on the table. “I can imagine Debbie going missing has made things complicated.”

Mackenzie sat on the farthest chair. “When are they not complicated? How are things in Olympia?”

“Complicated.” His lips twitched in a smile. “I heard.”

“About what?”

“That these disappearances are related to you.” He paused. “Is it true?”

“How did you know?” Concern coated her voice.

“People talk.”

How long was it going to be before this news was made public? It could hinder the investigation, and she would become the town pariah, Courtney and Debbie’s loved ones coming at with her pitchforks. Even Austin couldn’t hide his contempt when he looked at her. It was a grudge that was never going to die.

She straightened. “I think we should focus on work.”

Sterling smiled fondly. “Remember the first time I questioned you on the stand? It was then I realized that I needed to coach you beforehand.”

Mackenzie’s directness and fierce responses had thrown him off guard and made him stammer and fumble his words. But it hadn’t stopped him from asking her out later.