Taste of Grief (Just One Bite #3) by Kay Glass Page A

swamped Diandra, pushing her grief back for
the moment. She shook Adrian off and rushed to Lizbeth's side, kneeling at her
feet. "Oh, baby, I'm sorry," she started to say, but Lizbeth shook
her head.
    "No, you were right. I never even considered calling
you. The precinct is in an uproar, I ended up being a damned witness instead of
the investigating officer, and I never even gave a thought to you sitting
here." Lizbeth gripped Diandra's hands where they rested lightly on her
knees. "I should have called. All I thought was that we had a wrap on it-
the news didn't have names or details. I should've known in a high-profile case
like this that it would make the news. Someone leaked," she said, her eyes
going hard for a moment, the severity ruined by the glint of tears in her sky
blue eyes.
    Diandra shook her head. "The reasons don't matter,
love. How did he get caught up in this, and why him? I don't understand,"
Dia said miserably.
    "He dodged protocol," Lizbeth whispered, thinking
out loud. When she realized she had everyone's attention she cleared her throat
and spoke louder. "He dodged protocol. He had all calls about dead bodies
near businesses routed directly to him, and called me in. This call was just a
ruse to lure him out. Someone knew he made that request. This was personal, not
a crime of opportunity. He was lured to his death," she finished, voice
going soft once more.
    No one spoke right away. Eamon, as usual, got to the heart
of the matter. "What did Alexar do that drew a target on his back?"
he asked simply.
    Adrian spoke up, startling everyone. "Lizbeth has a
theory that this Carson guy is the culprit. Did Alexar do anything in
particular to rile him up?"
    Lizbeth just looked at him, eyes full of misery. "I
don't know. I can't think of anything, but I don't see what's to be gained from
his death."
    "Don't you?" Eamon asked her, fixing his steely blue
eyes on hers. "I sure see it. Look at yourself. You're a wreck."
    "Aren’t I entitled to be?" Lizbeth yelled.
    "No," he said simply. "If you fall apart, who
gets justice for Alexar?"
    Lizbeth settled down and pondered that. "Carson wants
me to fall apart. He wants me to be too distracted by my grief to pursue him.
As District Attorney, he has access to the case files. Knowing Alexar, there
are forms, in triplicate, stating that he was to be the first call to the
scene." Her eyes hardened once more, and this time the tears were gone.
"There will be justice. I know Carson's behind this. I know he's a
vampire, but I just don't give a shit. I will get justice, and if I have my
way, there will be blood- and this time it won't be my own."

 
Chapter
Fifteen
    The phone woke Lizbeth once again, and she cursed even as a
spike of pure fear turned her blood to ice. It was just after 2 a.m. and she was
terrified to answer her phone. Finally, turning her anger inward towards
herself, she flipped the phone open. "Snyder," she said gruffly.
    "Lizbeth, my dear," a very unwelcome voice said.
The number had showed up blocked on her caller I.D. but she knew that unctuous
voice anywhere.
    "Carson- how did you get my fucking number?" she
asked, her anger overwhelming the fear at last. Instead of ice, fire ran
through her veins and the contrast was almost painful.
    He laughed at her, a teasing note in his tone. "Why
Lizbeth, you know what I do for a living- of course I have your number. I have
the private numbers of all the local cops."
    "Fine then- I suppose the better question is why did
you call me?" She made her tone as harsh and cold as she could in hopes
that she'd piss him off. She didn't know what would be gained from it, but
damnit, she was angry so she wanted him angry, too.
    Carson merely laughed again. Who knew she was so funny at 2
a.m.? "I just called to find out if you liked my present. I left that
useless bag of nothingness for you and you alone," he mocked her.
    "You sick, twisted, blood-sucking son of a bitch,"
she shouted into her phone. She knew he was baiting her