For a woman like Leah, who had thought she was doing the right thing, the guilt and remorse would be something that she might never recover from. There was no doubt that Salma Owen would forever grip Leah’s conscience in her fragile, death-pocked hands, even if Kate and Eddie were able to get Leah off the hook from her criminal charges.

As Kate knew too well, the only way back for Leah was personal redemption.

And right now, it didn’t look like that was going too well for Leah.

Fatigue had set in. Kate’s body clock was still on Italy time and had been delightfully lulled by a full stomach after their meal. She cupped the tea mug in her good hand, letting the other rest on top of Alaska’s head. He had become her shadow since she returned home last night. “How’s your new place, Eddie?”

Eddie settled back in his chair, mug in hand, Foo Dog on his lap. The pug had had spent the entire meal sitting on his foot, until Eddie relented and allowed him on his lap. “My place is very comfortable. It’s been re-done, like most of the houses in that neighborhood, and my neighbors seem pretty relaxed.” He idly scratched the pug’s ears. Foo Dog snorted with pleasure.

“Maybe you should get a dog,” Kate said. “You’ve been looking after Charlie for the past year.”

Eddie shrugged, scratching the sweet spot by Foo Dog’s ear. “Maybe.” He cleared his throat. “Elaine’s coming for a visit next week.”

Elaine was Eddie’s ex-wife. Kate knew that Eddie still loved her. But Elaine had made it clear that she could no longer live with his struggles with alcoholism.

“You’ll have to bring her over for dinner.”

Eddie must have seen the hope spark in Kate’s eyes. He raised a cautioning hand. “Don’t get too excited. She’s staying at a hotel.”

But Kate saw her excitement reflected in his gaze. “Still. Bring her over for supper. I’d love to meet her.”

Maybe redemption for Leah was a long shot, but she hoped with all of her heart that Eddie Bent would finally get his.

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

6:58 p.m.

“We’ve got a name.” Cooper slid his phone back into his pocket.

“How?” Lamond looked up from his desk.

“Hillcroft just called. He’s negotiating an immunity deal with Leah Roberts. She said her boyfriend broke into the Owen house with her. His name is Aiden Boyne.”

Cooper loaded the system that ran criminal record checks. “Let’s see if we can run his prints. Maybe he had a key she didn’t know about.”

Record not found. Cooper exhaled. No Aiden Boyne in the criminal records registry. He tried a few variations on the name: Aidan, Alden, Boyle, Bone, Bowen, with different combinations. But he kept getting the same result.