First Do No Evil: Blood Secrets, Book 1 by Carey Baldwin Page A

high on his chest. “But I have heard it. Benson went to his captain with that paranoid conspiracy theory of his, and the captain went straight to Bernard.”
    “So the mayor knows about Danny’s hypothesis.”
    “Yes, and he agrees with me that there’s not one iota of hard evidence or sound logic behind it—just a bunch of rambling about empty cash registers and illogical hostage taking. Crime in and of itself is illogical, so that argument doesn’t compute.”
    “Okay. Forget the empty cash register. The fact that the robber took a hostage for no apparent reason. How do you explain the other thing?”
    “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
    Damn Garth for making her say the word out loud. “Halloween,” she whispered, as if keeping her voice low would somehow hold her demons at bay.
    His complexion darkened. His lips pressed together in a line, and he touched his forehead pensively. Then he began prowling the room. After a few seconds, he returned to her side. “I don’t want you making yourself nervous for no reason. Time to calm down.”
    “I am calm.”
    He placed his palms under hers and lifted both their hands. Glancing down, she realized she’d shredded her cuticles. They were bleeding.
    Garth led her to the loveseat, then placed one hand on her shoulder and nudged her down. “Sit tight. I’m going to make that chocolate I promised you. Petrified marshmallows and all.”
    “Okay.” Right now, hot chocolate didn’t appeal to her nearly so much as a Pepto-Bismol tablet might’ve, but she didn’t want to reject his thoughtful offer. Garth disappeared into the kitchen, and she fell back onto the cushions. Lulled by the sounds of cabinets closing and pots clanging, she placed her hand on her abdomen, focused on her breathing. Her hands rose and fell with each deep breath, and by the time Garth returned with her cocoa, her pulse had slowed from a gallop to a manageable trot.
    Pressing a warm cup into her chilled hands, he sat beside her and smoothed her hair. She tested the temperature of the liquid with her tongue and took a swallow of rich chocolate.
    “Good?”
    The cocoa was over-sweetened, but the silken liquid soothed and warmed as it slid down her throat. She took another swallow, and a strange after-taste made her tongue tingle. “Good. Thank you. But maybe the marshmallows weren’t such a great addition after all.”
    “Then I’ll make you another cup.”
    A little stale marshmallow never hurt anyone. “That’s too much trouble. This is just fine.”
    “If you want me to believe that, you better drink up.”
    A few more sips and Sky barely noticed the aftertaste. The cup began to feel heavy, and her hands began to feel hot. She drained the contents, and set the cup on the coffee table. Her body sank deeper into the couch cushions of its own accord. She really was tired. But he hadn’t addressed her question. “Halloween. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.”
    “Sky, I want you to make an appointment with Dr. Greene.” Garth watched her intently.
    Touched by the concern she read in his eyes, she asked, “Why?”
    “He helped you before, and I think—”
    “No. I don’t want tranquilizers. I barely remember the year after Papa died. I’ve got a clinic to run now. I need to be able to think clearly.”
    “But that’s just it. You’re not thinking clearly.”
    True, her thoughts were jumbled, but that was just fatigue. “You think it’s a coincidence that my father and my fiancé were murdered on the same day?”
    “Not the same day, Sky. Your father died fifteen years ago.”
    “Stop pretending to be dense. We both know you’re not. Papa and Edmond were both killed on Halloween…during a robbery. That has to mean something. There has to be a connection between the two crimes.” Her throat constricted, and she could hardly get the words out. “What if I’m the connection? What if Papa and Edmond are both dead because of me?”
    Garth