Dead Don't Lie. Lynell Nicolello

nodded. “Fair enough. Marcus it is. Start talking.”

      “It’s deductive reasoning, really. Anyone with half a brain and access to a computer can do a search and find the names of the SPD detectives.”

      Evelyn snapped her fingers. She smiled at Marcus, picking up on his train of thought, and cut in. “Then all they’d have to do is call in an anonymous tip and ask to speak to the lead detective.”

      “Exactly,” Marcus agreed. “The poor shmuck on the other end of the line—no offense—”

      “None taken.” Ryan shrugged, the fire in his eyes tapering.

      “—gives Evelyn’s name out, and bam. The bastard knows who the lead detective is.”

      “Holy shit.” Ryan rubbed the back of his neck. “It can’t be that easy.”

      Marcus smirked. “It is. I called in to check my theory myself.”

      A laugh erupted from Evelyn before she could swallow it. “You didn’t.”

      “I did.” Marcus winked and got up from the edge of her desk. He walked to the old desk they’d dug up for him and sat.

      “But why?” He looked at Evelyn pointedly. “Why go through all that trouble to single you out?”

      Evelyn shuddered. The thought of this psychopath zeroing in on her made her blood run cold. “I have no idea.”

      * * *

      LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Evelyn left the station, having volunteered to do the Starbucks run. The moment she disappeared down the stairs, Ryan turned to Marcus. “Why are you really here?”

      He looked at Ryan, deliberating how to respond. Someone didn’t ask that type of question unless they already knew the answer. It annoyed Marcus, but he got it. He’d done the same thing many times over. So why was Ryan asking? Marcus watched him closely. Unless Ryan was trying to vet him to see how up-front and honest he’d be—which again, Marcus understood perfectly.