Im not leaving them a cold case. Locke turned to me, almost apologetically. You have an incredible amount of raw talent, Cass, but youve spent too much time in the real world and not enough in ours. Not yet.
She can handle anything you throw at her.
I looked at Dean, surprised. He was the last person I expected to be making this argument on my behalf.
Thank you for that glowing endorsement, Dean, Locke said, but Im not going to rush this. Not with her. She paused. Library, she told me. Third shelf from the left. Theres a series of blue binders. Prison interviews. Make your way through those, and well talk about getting you started on cold cases when I get back.
I dont think thats a good idea. Deans voice was curiously flat. Locke shrugged.
Youre the one who said she was ready.
CHAPTER 18
I would have pegged you for a no-nonsense one-piece, Michael said as I came up for air after swimming laps. He dangled his legs over the side of the pool. Something sporty.
I was wearing a two-piece bathing suithalfway between sporty and a bikini.
Should I be insulted?
I asked, swimming to the opposite side of the pool and pulling myself up onto the ledge.
No, Michael replied. But you are.
He was right, of course. In the dim light of the moon, I wondered how he could even see my face, let alone read an emotion I was trying to hide.
You like it here. Michael lowered himself into the pool, and for the first time, I registered the fact that his chest was bare. You like Agent Locke. You like all of her little lessons. And you like the idea of helping out with real cases even more.
I didnt say anything. Clearly, Michael was capable of having this conversation all by himself.
What? You arent even going to try to profile me? Michael flicked water at my knees. Wheres the girl from the diner? he asked me. Tit for tat.
You dont want to be profiled, I told him. You dont want people to know you. I paused. You dont want me to know you.
He was silent for one second, two, threeand then, Truth.
Yeah, I said wryly. I speak the truth.
No, Michael replied. Truth . Isnt that what you wanted me to say last night, instead of dare ?
I dont know, I told him, grinning. I wouldnt trade the memory of your ballet man-dance for anything.
Michael pushed off from the ledge and started treading water. I also excel at synchronized swimming. I laughed, and he made his way over to my ledge. I mean it, Cassie. Truth. He paused, two feet away from me. You ask. Ill tell you. Anything.
I waited for the catch, but there wasnt one.
Fine, I said, considering my questions carefully. Why dont you want to be profiled? What is it youre so afraid that people are going to find out?
I got into a fight once, Michael said, sounding oddly at ease. Right before I came here. Put the other guy in the hospital. I just kept hitting him, over and over again, even once he was down. I dont lose it often, but when I do, its bad. I take after the old man in that. We Townsends dont do anything halfway. Michael paused. Hed answered my second question, but not my first. Maybe I dont want to be profiled because I dont want to know what youd see. What little box I fit in. Who I really am.
Theres nothing wrong with you, I said.
He gave me a lazy smile. Thats a matter of some debate.
Id been planning on asking about his father, but now I couldnt bring myself to ask if the old man had ever lost it with him. Your familys wealthy?
As sin, Michael replied. My past is a long string of boarding schools, excess, and the finest fill-in-the-blank that money can buy.
Does your family know youre here?
Michael pushed off the side and started treading water again. I couldnt make out the expression on his face, but I didnt need to see him to know that his trademark smirk held more than a hint of self-loathing. A better question might be if they care.
Three questions. Three honest answers. Just because hed offered to show me his scars didnt mean I had to tear them open. You and Lia? I asked, changing the subject.
Yes, Michael replied, catching me off guard, because I hadnt considered it a yes-or-no question. On again, off again. Never for very long, and it was never a good callfor either of us.
If I didnt want to know the answer, I shouldnt have asked. I stood up and cannonballed back into the pool, sending a small tsunami of water Michaels way. The moment I came back up, he flicked water at my face.
You know, of course, he said solemnly, that this means war.
One second, there was a good three feet of space between us, and the next, we were wrestling, each trying to outdunk and outsplash the other, neither of us fully aware of just how close together our bodies were.
I got a mouthful of water. I sputtered. Michael dunked me, and I came up gasping for airand saw Dean standing on the patio. He was standing perfectly, horribly still.
Michael dunked me again before he realized Id stopped fighting. He turned around and saw Dean.
You got a problem, Redding? Michael asked.
No, Dean replied. No problem.