Bailey nodded. Ill talk to you then.
Call me if you need an escort to the ball. Bailey stiffened when Harper leaned in to press a kiss to her temple and Spencer felt a protective urge make him stand straighter. And even though she managed a smile before Pierce followed Loretta and Jackson Mayweather down the hallway, it didnt last.
I apologize for my family and... she thumbed over her shoulder ...my attorney.
Theyre understandably protective of you.
Smothering is more like it. She unfolded the coat she carried and flipped it around her shoulders. Happy holidays, Detective. I hope youre well.
What?
Her mouth relaxed with a soft giggle, probably at catching him off guard with the friendly chitchat. Its customary when someone issues you a greeting like that for you say something similar in return.
Oh. Right. When she juggled her keys and purse to shrug into her coat, Spencer decided to test his no-touch theory. He pointed, alerting her to his intent before moving behind her to hold her coat. She paused for a moment before thanking him and sliding her arms into the sleeves. After settling the collar up around her neck, he smoothed his hands across her shoulders and patted her arms. It was Pierces touch she hadnt liked. Or maybe being touched without being asked first. She wasnt skittish with him standing behind her. She hadnt frozen up. Maybe she was going to make a calmer, more reliable witness than Chief Taylor thought. Happy holidays, Bailey.
What the heck? Spencer popped his grip open and stepped back when he realized he was still holding her shoulders, still breathing in the faint citrusy scent of her hair, still feeling her warmth.
And did she just shiver when he pulled away? Was that a soft gasp he heard? Shed liked his touch. Or, at the very least, she hadnt minded his hands lingering on her.
There were times when possessing his finely honed eye for detail sucked. Think job, Montgomery. Forget the woman. Forget the attraction.
You know what hell that will lead you to.
How are you holding up? he asked, his tone more brusque than hed intended.
Are you worried Im going to screw up all your hard work? Bailey slipped her purse onto her shoulder, inhaling a deep breath before turning to face him. They stood close enough now that she had to tilt her face up to see his. Good grief, her eyes were blue.
A pair of pretty brown eyes, buried deep within his memory, suddenly surfaced in his mind, blurring his vision. Spencer blinked away the vision before the pain could follow. He slipped his hands into the pockets of his slacks and strolled a few steps toward the main room at the end of the hall, pretending he was still on his game. Chief Taylor wanted me to run through some safety precautions with youmake sure youre all ready to go for Monday, or whenever you get called to the stand.
So you are worried. You dont think Ill go through with this, either, do you?
The accusation stopped him in his tracks and Spencer turned. This is an important case, Bailey.
Its important to me, too. She shoved her keys into her pocket and faced off against him. Everyone thinks Im going to freak out on the stand or run away and hide somewhere. But I have to do this. There has to be a reason why this happened to me.
Spencers eyes narrowed at the emotion staining her cheeks. If she got worked up arguing with him, how was she going to handle it if Kenna Parker tried to rattle her on the witness stand? Thats a lot of pressure to put on yourself.
Yes. But I can handle it.
He pulled his hand from his pocket and tapped the fingers fisted around the strap of her purse, silently arguing her cool-under-fire argument. Have you ever done anything like this before? Have you ever bared your fears and soul and worst nightmare in front of the man who made you afraid?
No. Of course not, but...
He let the reality of what they were asking of her set in, and watched her cheeks pale and her gaze drop to the center of his chest. This is going to get messy before it gets done. Are you sure youre up for this?
Youd think Id have at least one person cheering me on and bucking up my confidence instead of telling me all the reasons why I cant or shouldnt do it. She tilted her chin up, venting a mixture of temper and frustration. Since youve been so obsessed with catching this guy, I would have thought youd be in my corner. But youre as much of a doubting Thomas as anybody else.
Im not the kind of man to give pep talks, Bailey. As Baileys voice grew louder and more animated, Spencers hushed, articulating every word as he dipped his head closer to hers. Theres a lot that can happen between now and when youre called up to that witness stand. Besides you freaking out and deciding not to testify, theres a possibility Brian Elliotts accomplice may do something to try to stop you.
Youre talking about The Cleaner, arent you?
Yes, Im talking about The Cleanerand shes nobody you want to mess with. You need to lock your doors and windows. Dont go out by yourself at night. Have someone walk you to your car. Hang with people you know and trust. And if something does happen, call me or 911 before its too late to do anything about it.
With every sentence, her eyes widened and her skin cooled to a pale porcelain color. Too late...?
Im not here to sugarcoat anything. Im just stating the facts.
After an endless moment of silence she tore her gaze from his and focused her attention on buttoning her coat. Dont worry, detective. No one would ever mistake you for a warm and fuzzy kind of guy. She tied her orange belt with equal fervor. Now, was that the lecture you were supposed to give me? Watch my back and dont be stupid? Or do you have some more doom and gloom youd like to share? Lets get it over with because I really do need to get home and hide away in my little ivory tower of naïveté and incompetence.
I didnt call you stupid.
No, youre just intimating that I cant take care of myself.
Really? This defiant little show of sarcasm was supposed to convince him to trust her to close his case? Was this an attempt to show her strength? By butting heads with him? And since when did he get in anyones face and argue back?
Spencers blood was still pumping hard through his veins when he heard a door open in the hallway behind him. He saw the shock register on Baileys face and instinctively went on guard against the unseen threat as he spun around.
Two uniformed officers led Brian Elliott out of the nearby interview room. Hed changed into an expensively tailored suit and a smug untouchability that made him look more like a Forbes 500 mogul than the prisoner wearing a pair of handcuffs and ankle-band tracking device he truly was. An entourage of his attorney, Kenna Parker, and Elliotts ex-wife, Mara Boyd-Elliott, followed behind. One a dark blonde, the other, platinum, both women wore business suits and carried winter coats and attaché cases, looking like theyd all just finished a business meeting instead of a legal debriefing.
Spencers arm went out to push Bailey behind him as the group came closer. He felt her fingers curling into the back of his jacket and something inside him shifted, grew wary. When Elliott spotted Spencer, the bastard grinned in recognition. The other man slowed his stride and the soft gasp at Spencers back made him reach down to fold his hand around Baileys wrist beside him.