"What?" Inara tugged the soggy print from under Rose's purse. "That's something I gotta see."
She flattened the center fold beside Bingo's carrier, leaned in and set her chin on her knuckles. "Nikko Sanna, the co-owner of Critter Sitters, brought a human bone into the police station yesterday afternoon. Huh."
Inara glanced at the photo and did a double-take.
"Hey, that's the same guy from the Quicksilver."
She jumped, slowly turned, and shook her head at the way Seth was hovering by her shoulder.
"Wait. The tall hunka-hunka?" Rose came forward and joined them at the table, hip-checking Inara out of the way.
"Please." She stole the paper from her sister, but Seth snatched it from Inara's hand and brought it to his nose.
"I cannot believe this is the same Nik Sanna. I haven't seen him in years."
Right. "And while you're checking him out, be sure to take as much time as you need. I'll just wait for my turn whenever."
"No, you won't." Seth lowered the top edge to near his lips and locked onto Inara with a cocked brow. "This isn't the guy you should be dating, Freckles. You'd be ditching a stalker only to leap straight into the arms of a killer."
Oh, good grief. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"It's true, what he said." Crossing her arms, Rose nodded at their cousin. "Read the rest of the article, Seth."
A flick of his wrist, and he straightened the paper, loudly clearing his throat. "According to Deputy Chief Leo Johnson, a dog in Sanna's custody uncovered the bone. The remains are under investigation by Linda Esposito, the new Forensic Pathologist who recently joined the Woodward Hill PD. 'Weather conditions and where the bone was found play too much into the identification of the body,' said Esposito. 'I'm sorry, but I can't make any official statements until the test results provide more information.' Alexander Sanna, Nik's father, was once a suspect in an old murder investigation. Eighteen years ago, a female hiker was found dead near the cliffs bordering the old Woodward Hill Motel. Her death was consistent with injuries sustained by a fall, and witnesses confirm Alexander Sanna was seen arguing with the woman prior to her demise. His alibi, however, put him at home with his family during the time of her death. The Woodward Hill Motel has since been torn down and the case remains unsolved to this day. Watch the WH Chronicle to publish further updates as they come in."
"See?" Seth folded the paper and handed it to Inara. "I told you he was a complete psycho. Horrible shame, since he's really cute but, then again, I thought the same of Ted Bundy."
"Like father, like son, I guess." Rose dropped her arms and rounded the table to swing her purse onto her shoulder.
"Now, that is completely unfair." Though why Inara had to defend a total stranger, she didn't have the first clue. Sliding the newspaper from Seth's fingers, she tucked it underneath her arm. Maybe it was because they'd all been judged too many times to know better. "If he was a psycho who killed someone, why would he turn in the bone at the station?"
"I don't know." Rose lifted the back of her hoodie and pushed in her hair on either side of her neck. "His mother died about a month ago, and rumor has it she committed suicide. The Sanna family has a really dark history. I'd steer clear of him if I were you."
Inara sputtered. "People have said plenty about us over the years and none of it's been true."
"All I'm saying is be careful. That kinda baggage might be more trouble than it's worth." Rose started toward the hall, blowing air kisses along the way. "I've got a Recreation Committee meeting in twenty minutes. Guess I'll catch you two later and, who knows? Maybe I'll meet someone to take to the party."
"Be safe." The thundering beat of pouring rain echoed from the supply room. The door closed, and Inara frowned at her hands, tapping the paper against her palm.
"Oh, God." Seth stepped over to the sink and opened the cabinets to fill a surgery tray with supplies. "You just went from this brilliant emerald green, to a terrifying lemony yellow."
She squinted and searched his face.
"It means you're conflicted in the area of relationships and are struggling with a deep-seated fear."
"Oh, really." Her tone was dry though it made perfect sense. She was bothered by this whole Sanna situation. "I don't like how people always jump to conclusions. The poor guy was just doing the right thing."
"I don't know what to tell ya." Her cousin held his hands in the air. "Other than how you've been gifted with the most forgiving heart of any person that I've ever met."
Seth opened the drawers and checked under the counter before finally giving up on his search. "We're out of gauze. I'll be back in a second and we can get started on Bingo."
She tracked his long stride out the door. Keys jingled. The hinges on the supply cabinet whined. Walking the paper over to the counter, she smoothed out the middle crease.
The picture of Nik Sanna was grainy and appeared to be taken some time ago. Or at least it did based on the man she'd briefly met at the Quicksilver that night.
His dark wavy hair was a little bit longer in the photo. He had less worry lines around his eyes. But none of that stopped the same flutter in her stomach when she'd talked to him face to face.
It was his lips—damn. The determination in his gaze and the thick scruff that lined his square jaw.
Glancing toward the hallway, she plucked a scalpel off the tray. The paper split under the press of the blade as she carefully outlined the frame.
Seth entered the exam room with an armful of gauze and she snuck Nik's picture into her pocket. The rest of the paper she threw into the trash before tugging on a pair of blue gloves.
"We need a new scalpel. I accidently dropped that one on the floor."
"'Kay." Seth refilled the tray and brought it to the table as she removed Rose's cat from the carrier. "Ready?"
"Yep." She eased Bingo's anxiety down to zero and smiled as he purred against her chest. Nik Sanna's picture was coming home with her.
She'd find good use for it later tonight.
"He found what?" Wide-eyed and kneeling beside the Lab-mix, Henry Janowski paused his examination.
"You heard right." Nik nodded. "A human femur bone. I turned it in, but all I got for my efforts was my name plastered across the front page."
"Bah, I wouldn't let that bother you too much. People will move on to the next headline in a few days." The elderly veterinarian resumed probing the mutt's joints and the underside of his ribs. "Where in the hell did he find it?"
"The woods, I guess." Nik shrugged and paced around the exam room, arms crossed as he watched his feet. "It was sun bleached and worn by the elements, so it must have been out there for quite a while."
"Will you sit down?" Henry frowned. "You're agitating both me and him."
"Sorry." Nik pivoted and plopped to the wooden bench affixed to the bare brick wall. "I just wish Sutton would've held off on the article until she had all the facts."
"Well, ya don't find a human bone every day." Janowski lifted his chin to peer through the narrow spectacles perched on the end of his nose. Pushing up the dog's lips, he checked both sides of the animal's teeth and gums. "I suppose she thought she was doing everyone a service, keeping us in the loop."