Page 30 of Trap ’N’ Trace

“Not much better than I am. We’re all in shock.” Michael looked at his boys. “I’m sure they’d like to talk with you.”

“I’d be happy to.” She squeezed his shoulder once more before joining the boys.

Michael nodded to Kat as she hugged first one boy then the other, each clinging to her as if she were close family. “The first time Amy brought Luke and Tommy to the Haven, Kat took them on a personal tour. When they got home, they couldn’t stop talking about the dogs or her. I think they’re secretly in love with her.”

Dayne grunted. What teenage boy wouldn’t be?

While he couldn’t hear what Kat was saying, Luke and Tommy listened with rapt attention.

“Can we speak privately?” Dayne indicated a corner of the kitchen that was currently unoccupied, and where he could still keep Kat in sight.

“Of course.” Michael led the way to a table loaded with aluminum trays of food. Someone had gone all-out making sure the family wouldn’t have to cook for the next month.

“Has Detective Paulson been by to ask you any questions?”

“Yes.” Michael nodded. “Late last night, but I don’t think I was able to help much. I was in shock—hell, I still am.”

“Would you mind if I asked a few questions?” He glanced at Kat where she now sat on the sofa, with Luke and Tommy on either side of her.

The other man took a deep breath. “I’ll do anything I can to help.”

“Thank you.” As an FBI K-9 agent, he didn’t normally take point on homicide investigations—except to locate a body. But this was an exception. Timing was everything, and he had a bad feeling time was not on their side. “Did you or your wife know Rebecca Garman?”

“No.” Michael shook his head. “The only reason I know the name is because it was all over the news yesterday that she was murdered, and that Kat discovered the body.”

“Did you or Amy ever retain the services of a private investigator?”

Again, he shook his head. “No.”

“Is it possible Amy ran into Rebecca Garman and you weren’t aware of it?”

“I don’t think so. We had no secrets from each other. We talked about everything, including our friends. Amy was always excited when she met someone new, especially someone who had an interesting job, like a private investigator. I’m sure she would have told me if she’d ever met Rebecca Garman.” He paused to swipe at his watery eyes. “Were they after drugs or money?”

“Possibly.” But he still doubted it.

Kat managed to wring wan smiles from the boys. Whatever they’d been discussing, she’d found a way to make them feel just a little better. She always seemed to know just what to say. A skill he didn’t have and wished he did.

“Did anyone hold a grudge against your wife, or was she threatened lately?” Given the fact that the killer had demanded to know where it was, he didn’t really think Amy was killed because of something in her past, but he had to ask.

“No, everyone loved her.” Michael pressed a hand to his forehead then dragged it down his face. “She was a sweetheart who wouldn’t hurt or offend a soul.”

Not wanting to upset the man more, Dayne abandoned his line of questioning. Truth was, he believed it was a waste of time. “If you think of anything else, please give me or Detective Paulson a call right away.” He tugged a business card from his pocket.

“I will.” Michael accepted the card then clutched it tightly in his fist. “Agent Andrews, please find who did this and-and”—his voice shook—“make them pay.”

As if sensing their father’s distress, Luke and Tommy came to his side.

Dayne wanted nothing more at that moment than to plow his fist into the face of the homicidal motherfucker that had torn Amy’s family apart. A renewed shot of determination ripped through him, and he clasped the other man’s shoulder. “I will. You have my word.”

Kat joined them, casting a sympathetic look at Michael and his sons. “We should give you some privacy.” She hooked her arm around Dayne’s. The look in her eyes was soft and gentle, her brows slightly raised in question.

Shit. He hadn’t realized he’d been wearing his emotions on his sleeve.

Michael hugged Kat one last time. “Thank you for coming,” he whispered.

“If there’s anything you need, or anything you think of that I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Michael sniffled. “I won’t. Thank you for all the food and the beautiful flowers. Amy would have loved them. How did you know orchids were her favorite?”