Ginny hurried after him in quicker, shorter strides. What do you mean?
He shrugged his shoulders. I mean Im hungry. Im going to go eat.
Now?
He pushed the door and held it open for her, amused by the incredulity of her question. Once she was outside, he closed and locked it behind him. Thats the general idea.
He heard a rapid rush of air behind him. Im just getting started. Theres more I need to ask.
I figured youd come with me.
He swept his arm out, indicating she precede him down the stairs. Instead, she took a step back against the iron railing. Maybe it was a trick of the overhead light, but her already fair skin blanched to an unhealthy shade of pale.
Brett reached out and touched her shoulder. You all right?
For an instant, time suspended itself between them. But before he could question her jumpy reaction, Ginny shrugged away his fingers and bolted down the steps. He could tell by her hushed tones that shed dropped him from the conversation. Ill look up the names of some of the longtime residents of this part of the city. Maybe I can get them to talk. Forensics alone wont tell me why that man was buried alive.
Time out. He caught up to her in three long strides, and coiled his hand around her upper arm, holding on when she would have pulled away again. I didnt say anything about not talking. You stirred up some ghosts when you mentioned Mark and Alvin Bishop. I want to be sure Im thinking clearly. I dont want to make a mistake about either death.
Beneath the coiled tension of sleek muscles, he felttrembling. He glanced from his hand up into the smooth perfection of her face. Cool and rock-solid as always, she revealed no emotion. But the fine tremors didnt lie. Something made her nervous. Had he startled her? Or was it the fact that he refused to let go?
He was torn between putting her at ease and demanding to know why shed so easily dismiss his help. Conscience beat curiosity.
Look, my uncle was a cop. My cousin Mitch, your boss, is captain of the local precinct. I have three brothers who are in law enforcement or criminal investigation. A fourth who used to be. Itd be suicide at family reunions if I didnt help a cop when she asked me.
No laugh.
Shrugging off his inability to coax even a smile from her, he released her. She backed off a step and buried her hands in the pockets of her blazer.
The older a case is, the harder it is to solve, she said, as if explaining her aversion to his touch. If I dont have your full cooperation, then this is pointless.
Well find out the truth. Together.
With the challenge hanging in the air, he dared her to retreat a third time. Her gaze darted from the sidewalk to her car and back to the middle of his chest. All right. Well eat.
He rewarded her hard-won agreement with a smile, overlooking the bothersome observation that she hadnt looked him in the eye. Theres a diner on the next block. Since the rain stopped, we can walk. Keeping a comfortable distance between them, Brett headed for the corner, shortening his stride so Ginny didnt have to pump her legs in double time to keep up.
I suppose it makes good sense. She seemed intent on reasoning this out. I need background. You need to eat. We can combine both and save some time.
See? Its a good plan all round. Not bad for an arrogant bozo like me, huh?
I didnt say
He sensed the snap of her head as she looked up at him. He came to an abrupt stop and turned. Whatever she was about to say died on her lips when their gazes met. She didnt know hed been teasing! She would have defended him against the self-mocking insult.
Big bad Brett Taylor, neighborhood hero and resident handyman, had always taken care of himself and those around him. To know this dainty bit of curves and confidence had been willing to do the same for him warmed a chilly place inside he hadnt acknowledged for a long time. Ginny Rafferty wasnt quite the all-business woman who fascinated him. She was human. The woman was as much of a mystery as the cases she worked to solve.
Reaching an unspoken truce of sorts, he checked for traffic, took her by the elbow and crossed the street with her. He released her as soon as they were safely across. If we can prove that old man Bishop finally got what he deserved, Ill answer any question you have, as many times as you want to hear it. There are plenty of folks around here who would love to know the truth.
One thing Ive learned, working homicide He glanced down to see the wry wisdom in her voice reflected in the expression on her pretty face. Theres always one person who doesnt want you to find out the truth.