Page 26 of Trap ’N’ Trace

“The dogs are fine,” she reassured them.

“Did they take anything?” Fiona’s blue eyes widened. “Did they break into the drug cabinet?”

“No.” Kat rested her hands flat on the counter. “They didn’t take anything. But—” There simply was no protocol for what she had to say. “Amy was murdered.”

“What?” Emily and Kevin cried, their mouths falling open and their expressions one of disbelief.

“Oh my goodness.” Francine’s hand flew to her mouth.

“I don’t believe it.” Fiona began shaking her head.

Kevin opened his mouth then closed it. His face went pale.

“What in God’s name happened?” Walter fisted his grizzled hand on the counter.

“We don’t know. She may simply have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Kat,” Walter said quietly, “were you there, too?”

Unable to speak due to that lump of grief in her throat getting bigger by the second, she nodded.

Francine’s eyes widened as she pointed. “Are those fingerprints on your neck?”

Again, she nodded. “I interrupted whoever killed Amy, and they tried to kill me, too.”

Collective gasps went around the table.

“Are you all right?” Emily clasped one of Kat’s hands. Francine grabbed the other, squeezing it.

“I’m fine.” Tears burned the backs of her eyes. Not really. Not at all.

“Have you spoken with Amy’s husband?” Kevin asked. “Is there anything we can do?”

“Not right now.” She shook her head. “Emily, would you please cancel all my appointments for the week?”

Emily nodded, sniffing back a sob. “Of course.”

“Thank you. I’m going to Amy’s house today. I’ll let everyone know when the wake is, and I’ll close the Haven that day so we can all attend.”

The kitchen was deathly quiet as her friends absorbed and processed the horrible news. Only the sound of Angus chewing on his squeaky toy interrupted the morbid silence.

“So now she has twenty-four seven protection,” Dayne said as he joined them in the kitchen, fully dressed. Remy trailed him to the counter. “I’ll be with Kat around the clock. Kat will hire security guards to supplement outside the castle and at the Haven. Two other agents will be arriving this morning to install a new alarm system.”

“What?” She smacked her hand on the counter. “This is my home, not yours, and you agreed… No. More. Cameras.” On this, she had no intention of budging.

He loomed over her, stepping into her personal space. “I agreed to no more cameras, but not to keeping a system that can be disarmed from the outside with a paper clip and a plastic straw. And I can see you care about these people. It isn’t just you who needs to be protected.”

A paper clip? Is it really that easy? What if it was?

Trust him, the rational side of her brain said. If nothing else, he really did have her—and her friends’— safety at heart. “Fine.”

“Young man.” Walter focused on Dayne. “What do you need from us? We’ll do anything to help.”

“What I need,” Dayne said, “is for you all to be vigilant. Report anything or anyone that seems out of place. Don’t take any chances. The killer was looking for something, but we don’t know what.”

“Honey, what happened to Amy was…” Francine squeezed her hand again. “We’re just glad you’re okay.”

Dayne tugged a cell phone from his belt. “Excuse me.” He started for the door, as did his K-9. “Remy, blieb,” he said over his shoulder, eliciting a disappointed snort from the dog who now stood motionless.