The thought had occurred to her, too, just recently, since business had picked up so radically. Dinner For Two had been intended as a means to an end. But then, shed never really expected it to take off the way it had.
She wouldnt give him the satisfaction of agreeing with him.
Kate turned off the light in the kitchen, then went and sat on the sofa near the pile of blankets and pillows shed put out for him earlier. He sat beside her. Not too close, she noticed with that achy stirring in the area of her chest again. Well, she was used to that.
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye in the thin darkness. His eyes made something curl in the pit of her stomach. He was gazing thoughtfully at nothing, seeming to see only his own thoughts. But they were good eyes, she thought grudgingly, even when they hardened, like now.
Kate pulled her gaze away. Just tell the press I didnt see anything. Then it wont be necessary for you to watch over me. Thesethese mobsters will read about it in the paper, then you can go on your way and Ill go mine.
Raphael laughed. Sure. Thatll work.
She drew herself up indignantly. I fail to see why not. Its the truth.
You think these guys are of a mind to say, well, if the cops say its so, then it must be so?
Put that way, it sounded ridiculous. I dont want you here! I dont want you underfoot. Youre going toto complicate everything!
Thats me, honey, one big complication. Raphael got to his feet again, feeling absurdly burned, just as hed begun to feel sorry for her again. All right, let me tell you how this is going to be. In five hours, youre going to call the diner. Youre going to tell them youre not going to be in for a while, days at least. Take an unplanned vacation.
Kate opened her mouth to argue, then she closed it again prudently.
Then youre going to stay figuratively handcuffed to me while I work this case, while I figure this out. Because thats about the only way youre going to get your precious life back. At the moment, Im the only prayer youve got.
It made her stomach roll over queasily. But Kate rallied. Your job is to watch over me, correct? Isnt that what Mr. Plattsmier said? That means you follow me. So I suggest you get some sleep so youll be on your toes in order to do that. Im a busy woman.
Kate stood from the sofa and walked toward the hallway. She tried not to hurry, as if she wanted to escape his reaction. As she passed the sideboard and the little lamp, she reached and flicked it out, plunging him into darkness.
Good night. Then she went to her bedroom and slammed the door shut behind her. Purely for the satisfaction of it, she threw the lock just as hard.
Chapter 4
He bunked down on the sofa to find that there was a popped spring in the middle of her center cushion. In the thin darkness, it took on the proportions of the tire of a truck. The darkness was incomplete because a yellow neon sign pulsed right outside her living room window and wouldnt let shadows gather. Raphael considered closing the blinds but the August breeze was like the breath of an aging dowagerwarm, fitful and without substance. Scant as it was, if he blocked it, he would suffocate.
Kate Mulhern didnt seem to own an air conditioner. Or if
she did, she was hogging it for herself in her ramparted bedroom.
Raphael rolled, putting his back to the window, and punched his fist into the pillow. Then his cell phone rang. He sat up, grabbed it from the coffee table and snarled into it.
Are we having fun yet? his partner asked.
Shes a lunatic! Raphael considered adding a string of adjectives but his mind went blank. He felt that overwhelmed by his situation.
And here Id thought shed be just your type, Fox drawled.
Yeah? What types that?
Breathing. It was a low blow. They both knew the reason behind Raphaels somewhat frenetic dating patterns this past month. It wasnt your fault, Fox said a silent moment later.
Raphaels tone turned caustic. You taunt a killer, you cant expect him to strike back, is that it?
You didnt taunt him. We were closing in on him. Damn it, Rafe, youre smarter than this. What are you going to do, spend the rest of your life never going out with a lady more than once because some scumbag might decide to make her pay for her association with you?
That was pretty much exactly what he had decided. There was no doubt in Raphaels heart that Anna Lombardos blood was on his hands. Gregg Miller had targeted her, had chosen her, had strangled that calm, cool light right out of her eyes because of him. To warn him off. But Raphael was damned tired of talking about Anna tonight.
What did Allegra have to say? he asked.
Fox sighed, but he changed the subject. Not a word worth repeating. She saw nothing, heard nothing, smelled nothing. She says she was in the bathroom and when she came back, Phil was dead.
It was pretty much what Kate had said. Raphael got up from the sofa. His stomach was rumbling. He headed for her kitchen.
How about why McGaffney opted to dine at home tonight? he asked finally. Did Allegra have any insight on that?