Dangerous Waters. Sandra Robbins

took a step back and shook her head. “You seem like you’re a nice lady, but you need to let it go. Don’t go looking for answers because you’re only going to find trouble.”

      Brad and Laura both climbed out of the booth. “What kind of trouble, Sylvia?” Laura asked.

      Wild fear shone in Sylvia’s eyes, and she jerked her head around to glance behind her. “You can’t win with these people, Miss Webber. They’ll kill you without thinking twice about it, like they did your parents and my Johnny.”

      Brad shook his head. “If you’re afraid, we can protect you.”

      She held out her hands to keep him from stepping closer and shook her head. “You can’t protect me. They’re everywhere. They probably already know you’ve come here today.” She cast a nervous glance over her shoulder. “If you want to help me, stay away from me.”

      Brad reached in his pocket, pulled out his business card and held it out. “Here’s my card in case you change your mind about talking to me. It has my cell phone number on it. I’ll meet you anywhere you say.”

      Sylvia stared at the card for a moment before she jerked it from his hand and stuffed it in her pocket. “I’ll take it, but don’t expect me to call.”

      Brad nodded. “I understand you’re scared, but think about Johnny. You believe he was innocent. Help us prove it if he was.”

      Tears filled her eyes, and she opened her mouth as if to speak. Then she clamped her lips together, turned and ran through the door that led into the kitchen. Brad raked his hand through his hair and grimaced. “That didn’t go too well.”

      Laura couldn’t quit staring at the swinging door where Sylvia had entered. “Do you think we’ve caused her trouble because we came down here today?”

      Brad shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes doing this job can prove upsetting. I don’t want to put anyone at risk for talking to me, but I have to do my job.”

      “Maybe she’ll call.”

      “I doubt it. She looked like she was too scared. That makes me think she has information that will help solve your parents’ case. If I don’t hear from her, I’ll follow up with her in a few days.”

      “Will you come back here?”

      He nodded. “No, I’ll call her and have her come to the station. Sometimes it helps to get information from a subject if the interview is being done on our turf in an interrogation room. Maybe that would make her want to talk.”

      “And if it doesn’t? What will you do then?”

      He reached for the check the waitress had left and picked it up. When he straightened, a chill rippled down her spine. The muscle in his jaw twitched, and his cold eyes bore into her. “I don’t know what I’ll do, Laura. I warned you that sometimes cold cases take years to solve, if they’re ever solved at all. Don’t expect to look at the evidence one time and find a solution.”

      “I know that. I didn’t mean...”

      “When I became a cop, I thought I could help victims of crime, but it doesn’t always work that way.” He hesitated and took a deep breath. “Then when you left, I believed you would come back, but you didn’t. I guess I stopped believing in miracles a long time ago.”

      Before she could reply, he pushed past her and headed to the cash register. She turned and studied him as he strode across the floor. His words had hit her like he’d shot a handful of arrows at her.

      She’d known Brad had been hurt when she broke their engagement, but she hadn’t understood the depth of his hurt until now. If he detested being around her, she would have to remove herself from his presence some way. Maybe she needed to leave the police alone about her parents’ case for the time being.

      Brad and his partners might find something in the future, but Brad’s attitude told her he didn’t want her around. Maybe she’d better back off and spend her time concentrating on helping her clients learn to live with their tragedies. She only hoped that one day she could do the same.