1

After another grueling weekend spent wrapping up a homicide, Detective Avery North was not about to let anything get in the way of her one nonnegotiable indulgence on her first day off in two weeks. She pulled into the parking lot of Glam Day Spa and stepped into the sultry Atlanta morning. The rest of her Monday might end up being a marathon, but she didn’t care as long as she had the next hour to look forward to being pampered.

The petite, dark-haired manicurist greeted her at the front counter. “Morning, Miss North. You’re right on time.”

“Morning, Riza.”

“You’re off today?”

“Thankfully.” Avery finished the rest of her iced tea while following Riza back to an open chair. “I managed not to cancel my appointment a third time. Crazy weekend.”

“Then you need to sit down and relax completely. We could add a manicure? I have a new color that would look stunning with your red hair.”

Avery melted into the padded chair, kicked off her sandals, then dipped her feet into the hot, bubbly water, feeling herself relax for the first time in days. “Maybe next time.”

Her feet tingled. One whole hour to forget about the leaky kitchen sink, her father’s retirement party, and her mother’s relentless questions about it. She closed her eyes. One whole hour to completely unwind and indulge her thoughts in something beside caterers, plumbers, and homicide cases.

Something pleasurable like . . . Jackson Bryant. Her first date with Jackson had started off with a severe case of rattled nerves that left her realizing she’d rather confront an armed murder suspect than jump back into the dating scene. By the end of the second date, she’d somehow managed to lose a corner of her heart to the handsome heartthrob, but even that hadn’t been enough to lessen her surprise over the fact that there was now a third date planned for tonight.

At thirtysomething, with a somewhat moody tween and a mother whose own emotional stability was currently in question, Avery wasn’t exactly Atlanta’s perfect catch for a rising professional like the associate medical examiner. She wondered how many dates it would take before he started reconsidering his options—or she got cold feet.

Her shoulders relaxed. Dreaming of Jackson might be dangerous, but it might also prove to be the perfect escape. Gorgeous brown eyes that seemed to peer right through her. Dark hair, solid muscles, and an illegal amount of charm for one person—

Avery’s phone rang in her front pocket. She opened her eyes and rubbed the back of her neck. She wasn’t going to answer. It was probably her mother again, with more nagging questions about her father’s upcoming retirement party.

Or it could be Tess. But she’d just dropped off her daughter at the middle school, so she should already be in her first-hour class.

A glance at the number told her it wasn’t either of them. “Detective North speaking.”

“This is Simons. 911 just received a call about a homicide. We’ve got an officer securing the crime scene, but Captain Peterson wants you there ASAP.”

Not today, Lord. Please, not today. You know how badly I need a day off . . .

Avery glanced at her watch. She deserved this day off. Having to reschedule the eleven o’clock lunch with her mother was one thing, but missing an hour of pure relaxation was an entirely different story.

Avery pressed her fingers against her now throbbing temple. “It’s my day off—”

“There’s a tattoo of a small magnolia on the victim’s right shoulder.”

Avery’s chest contracted. The recent crime scene flashed before her. A young girl. Asian. Body discarded next to a Dumpster. And a small magnolia tattooed on her right shoulder.

They’d never found the murderer.

“Where?”

Simons passed on the address.

“I’m on my way.” She flipped the phone shut and turned to Riza. “I’m sorry . . . I’ve got to go.”

“Do you want to reschedule?”

Riza patted Avery’s feet with a white fluffy towel, but Avery was already reaching for her sandals, ready to slide them on her still damp feet. “Yes . . . no. I’ll have to call.”

She left a generous tip on the chair, then slipped out the front door, back into the sultry Georgia morning.