Courting Disaster by Carol Stephenson

behind Sam and focused on the important bit of information Sam had given out. “You’re treating Drew’s death as a homicide?”
    Hanging was not a common murder method. Drew’s despondency over losing Borys and the tossing of the office and bedroom could be viewed as his last gesture of rage. However, I knew Drew hadn’t killed himself.
    “All I know is what you called in.” Sam patted my shoulder as he moved past me. “Hang around, will you? I may have a few questions.”
    “Sure.”
    He left me staring at the polished black wingtips of the Lexus owner. “Chasing crime scenes now? Don’t they have enough work for you at the prosecutor’s office?”
    Jared crouched so that his face came into my line of vision. “Are you all right?”
    “Oh, I’m fine.” I managed a weak wave with my hand. “I only found a man hanging on his deck. No flying bullets this time.” Despite the air having the consistency of a warm, wet blanket, I shivered.
    Rising, Jared shrugged off his jacket and draped it around my shoulders. Not really what I needed, but the knot of tension in my stomach eased a bit. Then he sat next to me on the step and put his arm around me, tucking me into his side.
    Now that’s what I needed. Somehow my face found its way to the sweet spot of his shoulder. Solid. Safe. A sense of security rose in me, replacing the lingering sense of horror.
    “What am I going to do with you, Carling?” Jared’s voice was half groan, half sigh.
    “Hmm, for the moment you have the right idea. I promise I won’t count it against you if you continue to hold me. I’ll give you a clean bill of no further relationship obligations.”
    Jared’s body shook—was he laughing?—as he lowered his head and pressed a light kiss on my temple. “Want to tell me why you were here?”
    Not really. I’d rather enjoy his warm male scent and the yummy feel of his chest under my cheek. However, I was only putting off the inevitable. Reluctantly, I raised my head. His blue eyes were intent. I must not forget that the prosecutor and the man were one and the same.
    “Did you know Drew and Borys were more than just business partners?” I expected him to look startled, since the dead lovers had concealed their relationship. Jared’s expression didn’t change.
    “Yes.” With his free hand, he stroked a damp strand of hair from my forehead.
    “Oh.” I mulled that over. “Was Drew working as an informant for you?” It would explain why he wasted no time getting here.
    Jared’s hand didn’t pause and his breathing didn’t miss a beat. “Did he call you about Borys’s death?”
    So he wasn’t going to give out any information. Two could play the circling game. “In a manner of speaking.”
    His arm tightened around me. “Carling.”
    “I ran into him at Rocket Fertilizer.”
    Jared’s mouth thinned. “Are you still working for them?”
    “Not anymore. I severed our business arrangement today.”
    Some of the tension I’d felt coming from him eased. “Any reason why today?” he asked.
    I gave him a nudge in the ribcage with my elbow. “Remember the concept of attorney-client privilege?”
    He grunted. “So what did Drew have to say? Did he have information about Borys’s death?”
    I debated how much I should say. I only had suspicions about Rocket’s connection to drug trafficking. On the other hand I was a material witness at a crime scene.
    “Umm…” I wiggled but Jared’s arm kept me tight to his side. Not that I minded.
    If I ignored the police, the bystanders and the fact a violent death had occurred in the house behind me, I could pretend we were a couple simply enjoying an early summer evening. But reality bites. The medical examiner’s van arrived at the curb, and I knew that they would shortly be removing Drew’s body.
    “Carling, you have that devious look.”
    “Sorry. I can’t say anything beyond what I found here and that Drew asked me to meet him, until I consult an attorney.”
    He withdrew