was picked over by a female forensic specialist. Once pictures had been taken and her clothes and other evidence from her person had been collected, she’d been given the go-ahead to shower.
For that, Mike was thankful, but there was still the issue of Juliet’s entire home being marked off as a crime scene. That meant she could no longer stay there.
“Where am I supposed to go?” Juliet looked at the detective, who’d arrived shortly after they’d both given their initial statements.
Mike rested his hand on her lower back, the damp tips of her long, black hair brushing against his fingers. “You can stay with me.”
“You live here, Mr...Reynolds?” Detective Morales gave him a knowing stare.
Okay, so he’s been filled in on the situation and is playing along. Thank you, Jake.
“Dallas,” Mike answered truthfully.
Surprise filled Juliet’s blue eyes.
“Unfortunately, that won’t work for us,” Morales commented. When Mike opened his mouth to argue, the man said, “I understand it’s a lot to ask, but we’ll need you both to remain in the city of Houston until the medical examiner has completed the autopsy. As long everything else checks out there, you’ll be free to leave. Until then, you’ll both need to stay in town.”
Juliet shook her head. “But—”
“It’s okay.” Mike smiled down at her. “We’ll get a hotel room for the night. Surely, the medical examiner will be finished sometime tomorrow.”
He could probably press the issue, given his connection with Jake and the CIA, but he needed these guys on their side.
The detective’s expression was unreadable, but he gave Mike a slight nod. “I’ve already told Dr. Kidwell to push this case to the top of her list.”
“Appreciate that.”
Juliet’s eyes bounced back and forth between his and the other man’s. “Am I missing something?”
“Nah, baby. He just understands that you’re the victim, here. This is obviously a clear-cut case of self-defense, and the Houston Police Department cares about its citizens. They want to ensure you’re not inconvenienced any more than is absolutely necessary. Isn’t that right, Detective?”
Putting his notepad and pen in his blazer’s inner pocket, Morales cleared his throat. “That’s correct. You’ve been through enough, Miss Farrow. We’ll do everything we can to help you put this horrible event behind you as quickly as possible.”
“Thank you.” Juliet shook the man’s hand.
“I’m assuming she’s free to pack a bag and her necessities for the hotel?”
“Of course. My people have looked around, and it’s obvious this was where the intruder entered Miss Farrow’s residence.”
The scratches on the French door’s outer lock were a dead giveaway.
“Thanks again, Detective.” Mike also shared a handshake with the guy.
“Mr. Reynolds.”
Mike followed Juliet into her bedroom and helped her gather some things to get her through the night and the following day. She was acting a little strange, but given everything she’d been through, it wasn’t a huge shock.
“Is this everything?” He zipped the small suitcase closed.
Biting her bottom lip, “Almost.”
When she didn’t make a move to grab anything else, Mike got a funny feeling in his gut. “What is it?”
Her gaze slid behind him to the activity still taking place on her veranda. “I have other guns,” she whispered. “And knives.”
“Okay...”
“They’re hidden around the townhouse.”
“Oh.” Ignoring, for the moment, the fact that she’d felt the need to hide weapons around her home, Mike thought for a moment. “Well, the knives certainly aren’t an issue. And this is Texas. Owning multiple guns isn’t illegal.” Most would say it was encouraged.
With an even more hushed tone, she gave him a hardened stare. “What if the guns weren’t bought...legally?”
“If they weren’t...” Mike swung his head around and looked outside. Morales was speaking to Officer Lane, and neither man was paying them any attention. He slid his gaze back to Juliet. “What the hell do you mean they weren’t bought legally?”
“I mean, I bought them from a less than savory individual. You know, the kind that doesn’t ask for I.D.”
The smartass comment, along with the look she was giving him, made Mike want to turn her over his knee and smack her perky ass pink.
“Christ, Jules.” He ran a hand over his jaw. “Those guns could be connected to other crimes. What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking I needed to protect myself in case someone from my dad’s past decided to take their revenge out on me.” She glanced over his shoulder, her eyes filling with a sadness that broke his heart. “Turns out it wasn’t his enemies I needed to worry about.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head