Landon: Justice Series ― Erotica Paranormal Romance by Kathi S. Barton

Kari nodded, too overwhelmed with emotion to speak. “They’re going to be back about her being almost naked. You know that, right?”
    “Yes. And I’m ready for her now. Thank you.” Dillon waved her off. “I’m like a basket case of emotions right now. I feel mean one second and all mushy the next. I hope you know how to deal with that like you did with my daughter.”
    “Hormones.” Kari nodded and held Aster closer to her heart. When she was like this, it was easy to think she could be a good mom. “I have a question. Well, a few of them. It’s about the house that Landon has. I have...you know what I can do, right?”
    “Yes. Landon told Steele, who told me. I hope you don’t mind.” She said that she didn’t. “So have you found something there that you think is lost? Or someone attached to it?”
    “Yes.” Kari had only been kidding, but she could see now that whatever she’d found, it was upsetting her too. “Landon said that there were a lot of things left by the previous owner, Vinnie’s grandmother, right?”
    “Yes. A great many pieces, I think. He didn’t keep much on the upper floors, but most of the living room and the two parlors are what she left for him. Is it one of those pieces?” She said that she didn’t think so. “Maybe you should just tell me what it is you found.”
    “In the kitchen there is a new—or what looks like its new—coffee maker. It’s one of those kind that nearly drinks it for you.” Kari nodded. And even though none of the men drank coffee, she knew that a couple of them had coffee makers in their homes for guests. “Someone used it to commit a murder.”
    Kari didn’t say anything. She wasn’t even sure what to say. Not that she didn’t believe her, but Kari was still sort of shocked by it. Well, that wasn’t right, she was shocked all the way to her swollen feet. Steele came in then, and he was smiling until he looked at the two of them.
    “What’s happened? You all right?” Kari nodded. “The baby? Is she all right? I can call the doctor in if you want. I knew that I shouldn’t have left the two of you right now, but it was—”
    “No. It’s...Dillon found something. At their house. I think...we should hear what she has to say, then call the police. I don’t.... I guess we can figure that out as we go.” Kari looked at Dillon and smiled. “Tell us what you know.”
    “Just like that. You’re not going to accuse me of making it up? Not going to say that I.... I understand that you guys are different, but I just told you that someone used a coffee maker that I took to Landon’s home to kill someone, and you’re ready to jump in with both feet.” Steele nodded and so did Kari. The woman had saved her ass as far as she was concerned. Right now she could tell them she had two heads and Kari would believe her. “All right then. I was in the kitchen making some tea. I’m not sure how you guys brew yours, but I like to use the coffee maker. It’s stronger. Bracing, I guess. So while I was out, I got myself one at a second hand place. I picked it up when it didn’t seem to be working. As soon as I touched it, I knew what had happened.”
    “Did you tell Landon yet?” Dillon told Steele she wasn’t sure how to do that over the phone. “Good point. I just spoke to him and the rest of the team. They’re going to be another day. Tell me what happened and I’ll figure out who we can call to help us.”
    Kari listened to Dillon telling them what she’d seen. Then Steele pulled out his cell phone to make a call. In ten minutes, there were two officers there, as well as a retired agent that Ray had used before. The police were helpful to a point when they did things like this, but Steele had said he wanted more backup than just cops. Dillon told the story again.
    “There is a middle aged man in a suit standing in the middle of the living room. He’s just standing there talking. In front of him is an elderly woman and a younger man, about