“I’ll need to hear if she has any idea who might have done this.” Jane put her pen away and fixed her penetrating hazel gaze on him. “This happened in the county, but you called me. More problems with Greene?”
“I knew he’d dismiss it like he has everything else. And there was an earlier incident, one more serious, that falls under your jurisdiction. I had you come here first so I could clean up the mess and deliver the car to Paradise.”
“More serious? What happened?”
“Someone broke into her apartment over the vet office.” He told her about the phone calls withThePhantom of the Operamusic and the note with the quotation. “So we checked the camera under the eaves looking onto the exterior stairs and found a person breaking in. He or she wore a dark hoodie, and we couldn’t make out any facial features, unfortunately.”
A worry line settled on Jane’s brow. “I don’t like the sound of that. Is she staying there tonight?”
“I’m going to change the locks and install some other cameras.”
Jane’s expression didn’t clear. “You and I both know someone determined to get in won’t let a lock stop them.”
“She’s armed.” He didn’t mention it was only with a tranquilizer gun.
“That’s good at least. But I still don’t like it.”
“Me neither, but she’s stubborn.”
“I tend to be that way myself.” Jane’s lips slid into a half smile.
Sirens blared behind him, and he turned to see four police vehicles, lights flashing, barreling toward the parking lot. His gut clenched so hard he fought a wave of nausea. This was bad, very bad. What was happening?
The first car whipped into a parking spot beside Blake. Greene. A forensic van parked nearby and two more vehicles, orange dust billowing from under their wheels, parked as well.
“Steady,” Jane said under her breath. “Show no emotion, Blake. The autopsy report came back early this morning.”
He swallowed back the questions and stood waiting for someone to tell him what this was all about. The driver’s door on the first car flew open, and Creed Greene exited. His frown was directed at Blake, and he approached with quick steps.
When he saw Jane, his stern expression faltered for two seconds before he grunted her way. “What are you doing here, Chief Dixon? This is our jurisdiction.”
“I’m here about a breaking-and-entering incident in town.” Her even tone seemed to take the heat in Greene’s manner down a degree or two.
“I see.” Creed’s green eyes were accusatory, but he said nothing at first as the other officers and forensic techs exited their vehicles and fanned out toward the park. “Where do you keep the tranquilizer?”
Blake folded his arms over his chest. “What’s going on?”
“Answer the question,” Greene snapped.
Blake started to refuse to answer, but he caught a faint shake of Jane’s head. Raising the level of antagonism probably wasn’t a wise move. “In the medical facility. It’s locked in a safe with the other medicines.”
“I’ll need to see it.”
“Do you have a warrant or something? Why are the forensic techs back?”
Jane shifted on her feet and took a step toward Greene. “I suggest you tell Mr. Lawson what’s going on, Detective Greene.”
Greene’s nostrils flared, and he shot her a glare. “This is my investigation, Chief Dixon.”
“But there are other investigations running that may be related to ones undermyoversight. Don’t make me call the sheriff about your behavior. It’s hostile and uncalled for.”
Greene’s expression stayed belligerent, but he swung his attention back to Blake. “Ivy Cook’s autopsy came back. She was murdered, and we’re here to collect more evidence.”
Murdered?Blake gave a slight shake to his head. “Raj attacked her.”
“Nice try, Lawson.Someonetried to cover their tracks with the big cat.”
“How do you know it was murder?”
