The two men exchanged a glance. Wed still like to talk to him. Could you arrange that? Connallys words may have been couched as a request, but they were delivered in a voice accustomed to giving orders. And having them obeyed.
No. Her voice was flat. The detective wasnt the only one who could be indomitable. That wont be
The doorbell rang then, interrupting her. Frustration surged. Just five more minutes. Thats all it would have taken to get rid of the men. The detectives were watching her expectantly. Mentally cursing the cosmic timing, she went to the door.
Trying to pretend you arent home wont save you. Callies laughing words sounded above Dannys exuberant greeting. Remember, I have a Her sentence trailed off when she saw the two men with Meghan.
Hi, Aunt Meggie. I gotta go! With a five-year-olds sense of urgency, Danny made a beeline for the bathroom.
AhIll catch you later. Were still on for tonight, right? At Meghans nod, Callie placed a hand on her son Alexs back to guide him toward their apartment. Tell Danny Ill see him later. Meghan closed the door after them.
A compelling need to speak to Danny warred with an equally strong reluctance to leave the detectives alone in her living room, even for a few minutes. She didnt trust them. The last few months had destroyed any unquestioning faith she might have once had in the police. And Connally, especially, saw too much.
She didnt know which made her more uncomfortablewhen his gaze raked over her home, her belongings, or when it fixed on her. Something about him caused a disconcerting awareness that was as unusual as it was unwelcome. Meghan flicked a glance at the two detectives. If youll excuse me for a moment, I need to check on my nephew.
Gabe watched her hurry down a hallway with a gait guaranteed to snag a mans attention and hold it. It sure held his.
Youre a card-carrying pervert, you know that?
The words were pitched low. Gabe turned to his partner and lifted a brow. What are you talking about?
Cal made a sound of disgust. You stared hard enough. Trying to get a complete description of her lingerie?
Shes not wearing any, at least not on top. And noticing that doesnt make me a pervert. He crossed a few steps to the coffee table, which had some books stacked neatly on it. He picked them up one at a time, reading the titles.
Whats it make you then?
A typical red-blooded male. He gestured toward the books. Look at these. Together the two men silently read the titles.
Your Extra Senses. Growing up Telepathic. Extra-Sensory Perception: Myth and Magic.
Cal lifted his gaze to Gabes and shrugged. So shes got an interest. You know, you should try reading more yourself. Ive got a great book Id like you to look at on homeopathic remedies for common ailments.
Giving a snort, he set the books down again. Fat chance.
But Cal was nothing if not dogged. That quality of his was an advantage while working an investigation, but often a pain in the ass otherwise. Theres a great chapter on ways to quit smoking that you might find helpful.
Gabe threw him a dark look. Thanks, buddy, but youve helped me in that area too much already. It had been Cal whod suggested that he wear a rubber band around his wrist, and snap himself anytime he thought about taking a smoke. Called it aversion therapy or some damn thing. Gabe had given it an enthusiastic try once and discovered that the resulting sting hadnt appreciably lessened his desire for a cigarette. It had, however, given him a bone to pick with his partner. He was just waiting for the right time to pay the man back for his lousy advice.
Cal stiffened slightly, alerting Gabe that Meghan Patterson had reentered the room behind him. Not that he needed the warning. His instincts were excellent, and in her case they seemed to be unusually heightened. Turning, he found her standing with her nephew before her. Her hands were resting lightly on his shoulders, her stance protective. He wondered what it was she thought she was protecting the boy from.
Cal smiled at the boy, going down on one knee before him. Gabe made no move to follow suit. His partner was the natural one to put the kid at ease. Children and dogs liked him. And although Gabe didnt have anything against dogs, hed be the first to admit that he didnt know squat about kids.
Hi, Im Detective Madison. He jerked a thumb in Gabes direction. Thats Detective Connally. We want to ask you a couple of questions. Is that okay?
The boy looked up at his aunt before giving an almost imperceptible nod.
Cals voice was reassuring. This wont take long. We just want you to tell us about your trip to the toy store last night.
Dannys words were hesitant. I saw some dinosaurs. Electronic ones.
Cal gave a long whistle. Dinosaurs, huh? That sounds exciting. The clerk said you took them to the patio in the alley to try them out. Howd they work?
In his enthusiasm the boy was more forthcoming. They were cool. They can roar and fight and everything. Aunt Meggie said maybe I can get two for my birthday.
Gabe entered the conversation. While you were outside, did you hear anything, Danny? See anything? The boy exchanged another look with his aunt. His answer was slow in coming.
Iheard something. And then a man jumped out of the sky and ran to get in a car.
A car. Gabe thought quickly. Having a car waiting suggested that Lenny had been planning a quick exit from his apartment. What could have had him running so scared? Scared enough to shoot at them first?
He waited with barely restrained impatience while Cal smoothly extracted bits of information from the boy. DBrusco must have jumped over the railing of the fire escape at the landing. The car hed run to was black, according to the kid. Yes, the boy agreed, with Cals coaching, the same color as the detectives belt.
And he was real scared, too. Gabe noted the way Meghans fingers tightened on the boys shoulders, and Danny turned to look up at her. He was, Aunt Meggie. Maybe cuz that other man was chasing him. Then they both got in the car and drove away.
Gabe squatted before the boy. There was another man? Did they say anything? Could you hear them talking to each other?
Danny seemed to get tongue-tied then. Or perhaps he was reacting to the death grip his aunt had on his shoulders. It took minutes of prying to elicit that the boy hadnt heard either man speak. Gabe visualized the dimensions of the alley and calculated that the boy wouldnt have heard anything below a shout, at any rate. The way the kid described the scene, he doubted whether there had been a chase in progress. More likely both of them had been in DBruscos apartment when he and Cal had knocked. He doubted the men had noticed the boy. If hed been seated on the concrete patio, the wrought iron fence around it would have likely hidden him from view. With a bit more coaxing Cal was able to elicit a description that matched DBrusco. Hed give a months pay to know who the other one was.
Thats all the information my nephew can give you, Detectives. Meghans voice was firm. Now, if you dont mind, its dinnertime, and were on a schedule tonight.
Cal looked at Gabe, who nodded slightly. As they rose, he said, Wed sure like to get an idea about the identity of the second man, maam. Could you bring your nephew in to look at some pictures?