But it was Morgan who spoke up. “She said it happened in the Weatherly Laboratories parking lot, across the street from their pharmaceutical building.”
Sean looked intrigued. “What were you doing there at that hour?” he asked Krys.
“I was interviewing one of the research scientists who had worked on that new ‘wonder’ drug that’s being released on the market next month,” she answered.
“And someone took a shot at you out there?” Sean questioned.
“Apparently,” she confirmed.
Sean nodded. “I’ll send some people over there to see if they can find any shell casings, as well as broken glass. Would you have any idea how many shots were fired?” he asked Krys, knowing very well that she probably didn’t. Most targets, if they were even aware of the shots being fired, usually heard just a wall of noise, but he thought it was worth a chance asking anyway.
“The shooter got off three shots. I have no idea if the shell casings are still there, or if the shooter came and picked them up. I just took off as fast as I could.”
“Good thing you did,” Sean agreed, “or this conversation might not even be taking place.”
“All right, given how early it is,” he went on to tell her, “I’m pretty sure the glass is probably still just where you left it. We’ll get right on it.” He stopped for a moment, wondering if this newly discovered member of the family was fully aware of what was about to happen. “You do realize that you’re going to have to get a ride back to your place. For the time being, until we finish going over it, your car is regarded as an active crime scene.”
It was an inconvenience, but not one she hadn’t anticipated. “For how long?”
“We’ll process it as quickly as possible,” Sean told her. “But you have to understand that some of the tests we run take time to get the results.”
She nodded, resigned. “Do whatever you have to,” she told Sean. “Just get me the name of whoever did this.” She saw Sean exchange looks with Morgan and knew what that probably meant. “I realize that you keep all information in-house and that I’m just the victim here, which means I get kept in the dark, but for everyone’s safety, I need to know as soon as you do.”
“Everyone’s safety?” Sean repeated, puzzled by her phrasing.
“She’s afraid that since she and Nikki look so much alike, whoever is out to get her might mistake Nik for her once Nik and Finn get back from their honeymoon,” Morgan explained before Krys had the opportunity to answer Sean’s question.
The older man nodded. “So the clock is really ticking on this one,” he concluded.
“More than usual,” Morgan agreed.
Sean saw two of his people emerging through the rear doors. “Then we’d better get right to work,” he told both Morgan and Krys.
“Thank you,” Krys said, smiling at Sean.
Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she was about to start dialing when Morgan asked her, “Who are you calling?”
“A car service to take me to the hotel so I can check out,” she told him.
“I can take you to the hotel,” he volunteered, surprising her. “It’ll give me a chance to ask you more questions.”
“Can’t argue with that,” she replied, slipping her phone back in her pocket.
He sincerely doubted that. The woman would probably find a way, Morgan thought.
Chapter 4
Krys looked over her shoulder as she watched Sean and the CSI day team diligently going over every inch of her vehicle.
Though she tried not to dwell on it, she couldn’t help her eyes being drawn to the shattered driver’s side window.
“The people at the insurance company aren’t going to be very happy with me,” she commented as she followed Morgan over toward where he had his car parked. “I doubt if they get very many claims in Aurora for windows that need to be replaced because someone had shot bullets through the glass.” Circling Morgan’s vehicle, she got in on the passenger side. “When was the last time someone from your police department filed a claim like that?”
“To the best of my recollection?” he asked Krys as he started up his vehicle.
“Yes,” she answered.
“Never.”
She laughed softly, shaking her head as she contemplated the way her claim would be viewed once the paperwork was sent in. “I guess that puts me in a class by myself.”
It did that, Morgan thought as he slanted a glance at the woman on his right, but not because of a window that had been shot out by some drive-by shooter gunning for her. She didn’t sound scared, but something in the way she had said it had him thinking that she was.
“Don’t worry,” Morgan told her. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Krys drew her shoulders back. She had temporarily let her guard down, a clear sign that she was rattled. She didn’t want him knowing that. Krys pressed her lips together.
“I wasn’t hinting that I needed protection,” she informed him defensively.
“I didn’t say you were ‘hinting.’ I was just stating a fact.” As he drove by his uncle, Morgan lowered his window and slowed down for a moment. “Keep me in the loop, Chief. I’d appreciate it if you gave me a call when you find something.”
“I always do,” Sean answered without looking up. He was far too intent on what he was currently examining to look away.
“So,” Morgan said, turning back to Krys as he began to drive again, “you said that when this gunman missed you, you fled to the Aurora Hilton and checked in?”
He knew this, Krys thought. Morgan Cavanaugh seemed far too sharp not to remember every single detail she had told him. But for argument’s sake, she played along, “Right. On Main and MacArthur,” she said. Then, in case he felt the need to continue with this charade, she told him, “That’s right by the—”
“Freeway
