Drained (Edgars Family #6) - Suzanne Ferrell Page 0,23
of his arm like a running back with a football. “It’s why we’ve kept him in here. Didn’t want the vermin taking any more evidence than they already have.”
Ramos lifted her hand palm up to Stanley, letting him sniff her. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you?” The pup picked that moment to nuzzle into her hand. With a soft snort, she scratched him behind the ears. “You’re a flirt, but it doesn’t matter, you’re going to have to leave the scene.”
“I’ll take him,” Brianna offered. She shut down the flashlight on her phone and slipped it into the top of her purse, reaching for Stanley. “I’m just going to be in the way in here, anyways.”
Aaron kept his hold on the dog for a moment, until Brianna met his intense gaze. He leaned in closer to whisper just for her to hear. “Stay just in the next room.”
She got it. He needed to be here to do his job, but he didn’t want to worry about her outside by herself in this neighborhood late at night.
“Stanley and I’ll find a spot to stay out of the way. I’ll let Kirk F know he can stop harassing the hospital ERs around town,” she said with a wink.
That got her a half smile from Aaron as he released Stanley into her arms. He turned, reassured she’d be close by and took the blue gloves Anita Ramos was holding. The threesome moved towards Art’s body.
Feeling dismissed, Brianna stroked one hand over the trembling pup in her arms and exited the small space, dodging more technicians carrying in three large lamps. Curious as to what really went on in a crime scene investigation—besides what she’d seen on television shows, fiction and reality—she moved to one of the outside windows that still let her look into the small office room where all the action was taking place. Luckily, the windowsills of this old building were built of solid stone slabs, about eighteen inches wide. Just big enough for her to wiggle herself up onto one and put Stanley in her lap while they waited.
Blinding light came from inside the room and it took a moment for her eyesight to adjust to the scene before her. The techs all wore white suits, masks and blue gloves. One had a camera and was snapping pictures. Aaron and Jaylon stood a few feet back from Art’s body, talking to Ramos as she studied his still form.
With Stanley snuggled in and sleeping in her lap, Brianna pulled out her phone and dialed Kirk F’s number. She’d had it in her contact list since he’d been her chauffer/guard/roommate three years earlier. It rang three times before he answered.
“What’s up, boss lady?”
She grinned. From day one she’d tried to get him to call her Brianna or even Bri. But he said, he couldn’t call her by her name, his Nana would have his head. When he’d called her ma’am, Brianna told her that was a name for old women, and she wasn’t old. So, they’d compromised on him calling her boss lady.
“You can stop harassing the ER nurses now,” she said.
“I wasn’t harassing them. None of them would give me any information about Art being a patient or not. Said something about HIPAA laws wouldn’t let them confirm or deny. But that didn’t stop one or two giving me their phone numbers,” he said, but she could hear the cocky pride in his voice. “You found him then?”
“Actually, Stanley ended up leading us to him.” She scratched the dog’s head affectionately.
“He okay?”
Brianna inhaled deeply then exhaled. “No. I’m afraid Art is dead.”
“Damn, that fucking…er, uhm, that sucks.” There was a long pause. “Uhm, you want me to tell your friend when I go pick up Nana?”
“No, I’ll do that,” she said and could hear his sigh of relief. She didn’t like the idea of telling Paula any more than he did. “Your nana is planning to spend the night at the hospital. You’re to pick her up in the morning. By the way, she said to be careful with her car.”
A warm laugh sounded in her ear. “Yeah, sometimes I think she loves her Caddy more than she does me.”
Brianna smiled, then sobered. “I’ve told you before, you’re very lucky to have someone like her in your life. Now that I’ve met her, I’d say you’re very, very lucky and don’t you forget it.”
What she would’ve given to have had someone like Nana in her corner when she’d been young. Even