A few minutes later, Trent was pulling in front of a palatial two-story house with black trim that stood out in sharp contrast to the white stucco. The driveway was three car widths wide and long enough to fit four sedans. There was also a two-car garage, but two luxury vehicles sat in the driveway.
Amanda admired the sleek lines of the neon-green Lamborghini as she walked past it to the front door. It would seem her brother’s love of cars had infected her. But she was also grasping for whatever would ease her nerves.
They walked under a double-story archway to reach a set of massive mahogany doors.
Amanda glanced at Trent, but he wasn’t looking at her. She pressed the doorbell, shaking off his mood. She couldn’t afford to let it affect her. Not now.
One door opened, and a man stood there with an assault rifle strapped across his chest.Not trying to hide the fact he’s armed and ready for war. Check.
“We’re looking to speak with Lucas Hernandez.” Shegrounded her posture, being careful not to come across as combative.
“Good for you.” The man nudged his head toward the road, encouraging them to turn around and leave.
“We’re just looking to have a nice, friendly conversation.” She pushed that out with the trace of a smile while sweeping her jacket back to expose her badge clipped to her waistband.
The man lifted his gun an inch or two.
Trent flinched, but she stepped forward. If she was going to earn an audience with Hernandez, she needed to prove herself worthy. “It will take five minutes, and we’ll be out of his hair.”
“In five minutes, you’ll be dead,” the man hissed as he lowered his face to the height of hers.
Her insides were trembling, but she did what she could to prevent it from showing. It involved a lot of coaching herself to keep it together. “I’ll need less than that.”
The man stared her down while Amanda’s heart pounded.
“Bruno, just let the fine lady and her friend in,” a man called out.
The soldier stiffened, leaving Amanda to guess the directive came from Hernandez himself.
“Bruno!” the man barked and clapped his hands. This had the soldier backing up and leading them to a central seating area.
Crystals dripped from chandeliers overhead, and the expanse of the home swallowed them.
“Please, tell me who you are.” Hernandez was seated on a long white sectional and patted the cushion next to him.
“We’re both fine over here,” Trent said.
“Oh, he speaks.” Hernandez threw one of his arms over the back of the couch as an arrogant smile curved his lips.
“We’re Detectives Steele and Stenson,” Amanda said firmly.
“I thought I smelled pork.” A slight womanentered the area, and Trent did a double take. Amanda couldn’t be sure if it was because she looked like the woman he pursued or if it was her apparel. She was wearing a black leather pantsuit that clung to her tight frame.
“Now, now, Nina, that’s no way to talk about our guests.”
Nina perched behind her master and stared at Amanda. She tried not to let it get to her as she dropped into a chair across from Hernandez while Trent stood at her side.
“We heard that you’re searching for a new lawyer.” Amanda started with neutral territory.
“I was expecting you might come by here. I heard someone was murdered in her home. It wasn’t her though. How is Dom?”
“She’s fine. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for her real estate agent. But we believe she was killed in a case of mistaken identity.”
“How was she killed?” Nina asked.
“Three gunshots.” Amanda relayed the facts without feeling.
“I prefer something a little more intimate myself.” Nina pulled out a long blade from a sheath on her back. She stuck her fingertip against the point of the knife.
