Mystery/Suspense

249

Undercover detective Julie Taylor finds murder, mayhem and possibly the love of her life while investigating Paul Martin, estranged husband of a missing Richmond architect.

 While she unpacked, Julie thought of Paul Martin next door. She had to admit he was the best looking man she had met in a long time. Get a grip on yourself. He's a good-looking hunk, but you've seen handsome men before this. Finding a suspect attractive is just another sign you need to get out of law enforcement.But as she hung her clothes in the large double closet, she remembered her neighbor's light blue eyes, reserved smile, and the cleft in his chin.   

Excerpt
"My wife agreed to give me a divorce right after we moved here."
"Do you see her often?"
"No, the last time we spoke was a few weeks ago. Shelia called, wanting to come by for some personal items."
"The last time. Do you mean she didn't come?"
Paul nodded and a muscle twitched in his cheek. "She never showed up. I guess I better tell you what happened before you hear it from one of the neighbors. Sheila's vanished and I may have been the last person to hear from her. But I swear I don't have any idea where she's gone. Dorothy, my mother-in-law suspects the worst." His expression was dead serious.
"The worst?" Julie wrinkled her brow.
"Dorothy thinks I killed her stepdaughter Sheila."
"And did you?" Though her lips curved in a slight smile to show she wasn't serious. Julie's nerves tensed. In her four years with Alexandria Police Department, she had never experienced a conversation like this.
Paul reached across the table and touched her hand. His blue eyes glistened as he asked in a cool voice, "What do you think?"