Save Your Breath (Morgan Dane #6) - Melinda Leigh Page 0,46

into Morgan’s office and called out, “How do you work this coffee machine?”

Lance appeared in the doorway, looking shocked. “When was the last time you drank coffee?”

“I don’t know.” Sharp took a clean mug from Morgan’s shelf. “Sometime in the nineties, I think. But I’m desperate. I can hardly think straight, and I really need to be on my game.”

“Lift the handle, insert a pod, and press the flashing blue button.”

“These plastic pods are terrible for the environment.” But Sharp followed his instructions. In less than a minute, he had a cup of coffee. He took a tentative sip. It didn’t taste as good as he remembered, but he’d drink it anyway.

“What you really need is more sleep,” Lance said.

“That’s not going to happen. Not until we find her.” Sharp turned, panic scrambling for a toehold in his chest. “What if we don’t?”

With every minute that passed, the chances of Olivia returning alive and well decreased.

“You can’t think that way. Not yet. It’s only been a day and a half.” Despite his words, Lance’s mouth was set in a grim line. “Let’s see what Stella has to say.”

“You’re right.” Sharp carried the coffee back to his office. The caffeine wasn’t helping. He opened his laptop and tried to remember what he’d been reading when he’d almost fallen asleep on the keyboard. His office door was open, giving him a view of the foyer.

Morgan walked in. “Stella’s here.”

Following her sister, Stella entered Sharp’s office and unbuttoned her jacket. Physically, the sisters looked similar. Both were tall, with long black hair and blue eyes. But Stella dressed like a cop. Plain black pants, flat black boots, and a black jacket over her gun and handcuffs. She’d contained her hair in a utilitarian bun. Morgan dressed like the successful trial attorney she was. She wore a feminine, fitted gray suit; white blouse; and heels. She’d left her hair down, and it waved just past her shoulders.

“Jenny Kruger called this morning,” Morgan said. “She hasn’t found a ’71 Nova, but Joe Franklin lives on a secluded property where Cliff used to restore antique cars.”

“We need to pay Joe a visit.” Stella tossed her jacket on a chair. “Let me give you a quick update on my end. As I told Morgan, the fingerprints taken from Olivia’s house didn’t have any matches in AFIS.” The Automated Fingerprint Identification System was a national database of fingerprints maintained by the FBI. “Also, the heating and air company that was on Olivia’s calendar for Wednesday checks out. They do background checks on all of their employees. None have criminal records, and the technician who serviced Olivia’s heater has an alibi. He was at a bachelor party at a strip club until three a.m.”

“Then it’s unlikely he’s involved.” Sharp leaned back in his chair.

“Right. The chief has called a press conference.” Stella checked her watch. “He’ll put out a tip line and ask for the community’s help.”

“He didn’t want you to talk to the press?” Sharp knew the current asshat of a police chief liked to trot out Scarlet Falls’ only female detective for the press. The chief was all about politics.

Stella sighed. “I told him I had to run down a lead. Thankfully, the chief likes to be in front of the camera.”

Sharp rubbed the top of his scalp. “It’ll generate a hundred calls about everyone’s suspicious neighbor and at least one false confession.”

“There’s nothing we can do about it now,” Stella said. “It’s going to happen. The story was all over the news last night.”

“And the chief wants a piece of the press coverage.” Sharp’s phone went off, and he glanced at the screen. “It’s Olivia’s sister. I should have called her already.” How could he feel any shittier? He answered the call. “Valerie. I’m sorry. I should have called you with an update.”

“That’s not why I’m calling.” She sounded upset. “We trust you to update us when you know something.”

“Then what’s wrong?” he asked.

“There is a crowd of reporters outside,” Valerie said. “The street is full of them. They’re broadcasting from the sidewalk in front of the house.”

“Can you see any particular news stations?”

“Yes. JBT News.”

Sharp covered the phone mic and turned to Morgan. “See if there’s some live coverage on the website for JBT News.”

Morgan turned her laptop around and typed on the keyboard. “There is. I can see vans from other stations as well. They’re all in front of the Cruz house.”

Sharp lowered his hand and spoke into the phone. “Do you want us