Innocent Next Door (Military Men Book 1) by Shelley Munro

drubbing of her heart and Nikolai’s slow, controlled breathing.
    A fist hammered on the door.
    Nikolai dropped the arm from her shoulder. “I’ll get it.”
    “No. Let me. You’re not going to do anything stupid?”
    “No point. The cops know it’s here.”
    “How? I don’t understand. This is a bad movie.”
    A bark of laughter sounded seconds before a fist pounded the door again. “Somehow, sweetheart, I think it’s gonna get worse.”
    How? Her mother would have a cow if she heard, and the news would reach her family by bush telegraph. It always did. Masculine voices discussed forcing an entrance. “I’m coming.” She yanked the door open before they took further action. “Yes?”
    Blue and red lights flashed on top of the unmarked police vehicle. Two plain clothes cops stood on the doorstep, their identifications held aloft for her to inspect. She should’ve felt intimidated, but Nikolai’s presence boosted her confidence. “Can I help you?”
    “Police,” one said unnecessarily.
    “Can I do something to help you?” she repeated, standing in the middle of the doorway. “It is rather late.”
    “We’ve had a tip-off about one of our investigations. Can we come in?”
    She scowled as the older of the two policemen advanced. She stood her ground. “Don’t you need a warrant or something?”
    Nikolai appeared behind her. “Let them in, Summer.”
    Wordlessly, she stepped back to allow the officers to enter.
    “I think you’ll find what you’re looking for in the study,” Nikolai said.
    “Who are you?” the younger policeman asked.
    “Nikolai Tarei.” As he spoke, he moved closer and curved his arm around her waist, drawing her against his side. When she opened her mouth to speak, he tightened his grip, and she slammed her mouth shut. Inwardly, she fumed. Once again, he was taking charge.
    “We have a few questions.”
    “Come through to the kitchen,” Nikolai said.
    Summer wanted to protest his highhandedness. She glared her annoyance, but he merely shook his head and propelled her into the kitchen. One of the policemen followed while the other stepped into her uncle’s study.
    “Can you tell us what this is about please?” she asked after subsiding into a chair. Her voice held clear impatience.
    The policeman ignored her prompting. “Your name?”
    “Summer Williams.”
    “Do you own this house, Mr. Tarei?”
    “My uncle owns this house. Nikolai lives next door.”
    The second policeman entered the kitchen. He held the packets of white powder in his right hand. He wore gloves and held the packets by the corners.
    “Do these belong to you, Miss Williams?”
    “No.”
    “Do you have any idea how they came to be on the desk then?”
    She glanced at Nikolai, and at his imperceptible nod, she answered the question. “Nikolai and I have been out all day. We returned fifteen minutes ago. The front door was unlocked, and when we came inside we both heard noises. By the time we investigated whoever was inside had left via the study window. If you look, you’ll see a footprint on the windowsill.”
    “Hmm.” The older policeman scratched the stubble on his chin. “I’d like you to accompany us to the station.”
    * * * * *
    “I didn’t expect them to keep us there all night,” Summer muttered. “For a while there, I thought they were going to lock us up.”
    Nikolai shrugged as an unmarked blue sedan pulled up beside them. “This looks like our ride home.”
    He spoke to the driver and opened the back door for Summer. Nikolai slid in beside her and the car pulled away. On the short drive home, neither of them spoke.
    “Looks like you have company, Summer.”
    Summer jerked upright, flushing at the realization she’d gone to sleep and used Nikolai as a pillow. Good grief. Had she dribbled on his shirt? She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands and surreptitiously checked her mouth and chin for dampness. “Sorry?”
    “Martin’s here.”
    Summer’s head jerked up. She