The Dying Breath: A Forensic Mystery

and you and I can have a nice little visit after they throw your butt in prison.”
    “Still, it might be kinda fun, messing with the government—”
    “Don’t even joke around about this stuff. These people are deadly serious. It’s the FBI.”
    “Well, no matter what, I think Justin’s going to protect you even better. With him it’s personal.”
    Down below, Cameryn heard the chime of her door-bell followed by the notes of her grandmother’s soft Irish lilt. Lyric, in the meantime, wasted no time pulling on her coat. She grabbed her backpack and slung it over her shoulder. Leaning close, she whispered, “Before you guys start yelling I want you both to remember that Valentine’s Day is tomorrow—”
    “Go!” Cameryn hissed, shoving her friend between her shoulder blades just as she heard her grandmother say, “Yes, Justin, she’s in her room.”
    And then, as she heard her friend and Justin greet each other on the steps, Cameryn smoothed her hair and prepared herself for whatever was about to come.

Chapter Nine

    “BEFORE YOU GET your back up, I’m asking that you listen to what I have to say,” was the first thing Justin said. “I’m asking that you hear me out until I’m finished before you say no,” was the second.
    He stopped in the doorway of her room, his lanky body propped against the frame with one leg straight and the other bent. She couldn’t tell from the expression on his face whether he was upset, relieved to see her, or some sort of mix in between. One thing was clear—it looked as though Justin meant business.
    “Well, hi, Justin,” she answered pointedly. “How are you? Me? Oh, I’m fine. I’m a little tired since I was up all night, but thanks for asking.”
    “Sorry I didn’t begin with the usual pleasantries. So how are you?”
    “Edgy.”
    “Don’t look so scared, Cammie.” He pushed the hair back from his wide-set eyes.
    “I’m not,” she said. “Just tense. You look tense, too.”
    “There’s a lot to be tense about.”
    “Yeah.” She shrugged. “Lyric’s convinced you’re going to try to pressure me to get off the case but I told her you wouldn’t do that. She thinks we’re going to have a fight.”
    “Shhh.” With one hand he held up his finger to his lips and pointed downstairs to where Cameryn’s grandmother bustled about. Now that her door was open Cameryn could hear the sound of glasses clinking in the sink and the soft notes of humming.
    “Your mammaw can hear every word. I want to talk to you privately. Can we shut your door?”
    She shook her head. “Sorry. House rules—no guys allowed in my room with the door closed. My dad’s kind of a stickler that way. He’s going to be home any minute now. . . .” Again she realized how young her words sounded. Well, she’d be eighteen in a week. Maybe then she could renegotiate.
    If Justin minded what she said he didn’t let it show. Instead he just smiled his slow smile that made Cameryn guess he actually approved of her father’s strictness. “Okay, then can we go anywhere that’s a bit more, let’s say, confidential?”
    Cameryn bit the edge of her lip. “Andrew told me I’m not supposed to leave the premises.”
    “Then how about that glider?” Justin asked. “I saw your pop left it up. I can brush off the snow and we can talk there. It’s still”—he made air quotes—“ ‘on the premises.’ And just in case you’re still worried about leaving the safety of these four walls . . .” Justin pulled back his jacket to reveal the metal handle of a Glock pistol. “Actually, I hope Kyle comes around. It will make everything a lot easier.”
    Cameryn looked over at her desk and her computer, deciding. “Okay,” she said. “Let me grab my BlackBerry.”
    Shoving the BlackBerry into the back pocket of her jeans, she followed him, her hand reaching for his as they descended the steps. Justin’s palm, always calloused, felt warm in hers, and for a moment she was tempted to let down her guard. But his smile belied a sort of uneasiness—she could sense it in him. Well, he could do his worst and she wouldn’t change her mind. Long ago she’d learned to stand up for herself and she wasn’t about to change now.
    “I’ve got to get my coat,” she said. “It’s in the closet. You get to tell Mammaw we’re going outside.”
    “Oh, so you want me to break the news so that I can take the bullet.”
    “Yep.” Cameryn grinned. “Don’t worry, you’ve already charmed