Not being able to rescue the innocent.
“There’s no telling. Not that it’s an excuse, but the people of the neighborhood hear gunshots every day. Who knows what they were thinking.” Ash laid a hand on Myles’s shoulder.
Zain and Iker came to stand next to them. Their faces revealed they felt the same as Myles.
“Offer still stands tonight. Drinks on me,” Iker announced somberly. He took his helmet off and ran his hand through his short hair. “This shit is fucked up. A person can’t even go to bed without a crazed maniac running in and shooting up the fucking place.”
Silence filled the air. Myles glanced over at the house. A chill snaked its way down Myles’s spine. It never got any better. No matter how many times he’d seen a dead body at the scene of a crime, it didn’t make it any easier.
Death wasn’t something one could become numb to.
Not Myles.
His entire life, he’d been trained to protect and serve.
“Looks like we have company.” Zain tipped his head toward something behind them.
They glanced in the direction where he was staring.
A silver sedan pulled up and parked next to a few patrol cars. Myles knew before he saw her that it was Roxxy.
He greedily took her form in once she stepped from the car. Her feet were encased in heels, and she had on a business suit with a skirt that stopped appropriately at her knees.
But it didn’t matter.
Myles knew what those thighs looked like straddling his face.
An older man about late forties exited the driver’s side and walked around to her side. She smiled at him, and Myles instantly didn’t care for the man.
She should only smile at him like that.
“Shit, the auditors are here.” Declan came to stand next to Myles.
“What’s the word from the medical examiner?” Myles tore his gaze away from Roxxy.
Mac joined them. His infamous scowl was in place. “Doc said from the dried blood and the bodies’ temperatures, that it would appear the women have been dead at least twenty-four to thirty-six hours.”
Curses went around.
“So that fucker has been going in and out the house while they lay dying?” Brodie exclaimed.
“That will tell you how sick he is.” Zain shook his head.
“Heads up,” Iker murmured.
“Hello, gentlemen,” a familiar southern accent sounded behind him.
Myles turned and found Roxxy standing with the other auditor. Myles had met him once, and his name evaded him.
Not that he wanted to remember the man who he wanted to punch in the face.
“Ms. Sutton.” Mac stepped forward and took her hand in a shake. “This isn’t really a good time right now.”
“Oh?” She held a binder to her chest and glanced around at the scene.
Myles knew when her gaze landed on the medical examiner’s vans. Her body stiffened, and the smile faded from her face.
“I see. No one from the team—”
“We’re all here and fine,” Myles interrupted her.
She spun to face him, and Myles had to fight stepping toward her. The gentle breeze that blew slid her hair across her eyes. She lifted her hand and tucked the offending strands behind her ear.
“Well, be that as it may, we still have a job to do. This gives us another scenario to write up.” She glanced over at her partner. “I believe you all have met, Phil.”
Greetings went around. The men shifted their stances. Myles detected that none of them wanted to go through this.
Not even Mac or Declan.
“This may seem like an odd time, but there are some questions we just need to ask. Nothing that will impede on the reports that will be due to your captain,” Phil assured them.
“I just need to speak to who was in charge.” Roxxy turned toward Mac and Declan.
“I took control.” Mac raised a hand.
“Was there a need for a negotiator?” Phil asked.
Ash raised his hand. Phil waved for him to follow him. Ash blew out a deep breath and left with the auditor.
