Coming toward Alyssa, Cord, and Grace was Officer Falwin who offered up a warm smile and a good morning before continuing on her way. Alyssa absently nodded her greeting, but before she could usher Grace much farther past the conference room door, a booming voice demanding to speak to the persons in charge of the Kensington case came from near Ruby’s desk.

Beside her, cheeks flushed with color, Grace’s steps faltered, confirming Alyssa’s suspicions.

When the man bellowed, ‘Do you have any idea who I am?’ she decided she should go rescue Ruby, though the precinct secretary would likely skin her alive if she knew Alyssa had thought she needed rescuing.

Mack Kensington. Even if he hadn’t resembled his older brother, she would’ve recognized the wildly unpopular criminal defense attorney from the southern part of the state. In recent years, his ruthless reputation had grown exponentially – as had his already overflowing coffers – by his decisions to defend some very controversial, very high-profile cases. In fact, he was currently representing a prominent, wealthy senator accused of selling and obtaining child pornography on the black market.

Now, here he was, dressed in a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, towering his frame over both Ruby and Hal, who had wheeled out to see what the commotion was. Neither seemed the least bit fazed at the man’s brutish behavior. Ruby had her arms crossed over her chest with one eyebrow arched in a way that could’ve meant she was irritated, amused, or bored. With her, it was often difficult to tell.

‘If you’re quite through with your temper tantrum, young man, I’ll be glad to direct your attention behind you,’ Ruby said drily.

Mack swung around, his eyes narrowed into snake-eyed slits as his gaze slid past Alyssa and slithered onto Grace.

‘Why didn’t you answer any of my calls last night?’ Grace demanded before her brother had a chance to speak.

‘I was busy, and my world doesn’t revolve around you.’ Before Grace could lob any more questions at him, Mack moved his stormy expression onto Alyssa. ‘I assume you’re in charge. If you don’t mind, I prefer to talk somewhere there’s not an audience.’

Alyssa had her doubts as to the veracity of that statement since wherever the man stood seemed to be his stage as was evidenced through his well-documented showboating ways. Still, in order to stop this collision course of hostile sibling discord from spiraling out of control, she turned on her heel with a barked, ‘Follow me,’ expecting everyone would follow. Except for the heavy exhales from Grace and the no-nonsense treads of a man used to being in charge, their short trek to an open interrogation room was silent.