tumbling out of the sky from some sort of opening. I never thought I’d say this, but you may have been telling the truth about the…what was it called again?”
“The Nexus. How did someone record me coming out of the Gateway? I don’t understand, are recorders that commonplace?”
“Almost everyone has a cell phone equipped with a camera.” At her blank look, Connor’s lips twitched. “I’ll explain later. An officer is out getting you some clothes and essentials then we’re going to take you to a hotel. Your face is plastered across all the news stations and the video is going viral online. It’s not safe for you to be out on your own, so for now you’ll be under our protection until we can sort everything out.”
“I assume I have no say in the matter?” Sha wasn’t sure if she should be happy or annoyed at the arrangement. She didn’t need a nursemaid, but it did mean spending more time with the detective, and that might not be so bad.
“Ma’am, it’s for your protection,” Ian said.
“Fine. Oh, I have information. Since you’ve been so kind as to leave me in solitude for much of today, it gave me time to sift through my memories of this morning. I think I can confirm your killer used magic during the crime. After someone wields power, for a short period of time it leaves a signature of sorts that I’m able to pick up. I can’t describe the sensation, but it’s distinctive.”
Their twin expressions of discomfort were priceless, sparking the sudden desire to tease them about it. She knew they wanted to toss aside the implication that someone else could work with magic, but at least they were trying to keep an open mind.
A knock sounded on the door before she could continue. “Don’t worry, Detective. We’ll talk about it later,” she promised.
A wave of relief washed over Connor’s face. “Uh, yes. Later is good.” She got the impression never would have been even better. He rose and greeted the pretty woman who handed him a medium-sized, black bag. “Thanks for doing this, Officer,” he said.
Sha noted with amusement the look of disappointment in the woman’s eyes. She probably wished Connor had kissed her judging by the infatuation Sha sensed. Jealousy swept through her at the mental image. Nobody was going to kiss him. Her fierce reaction wasn’t a total surprise; she was resigning herself to wanting him, and she was a possessive woman by nature.
“Here’s what’s going to happen next, Sha. A female officer with a build and coloring similar to yours will be escorted through the main entrance by Ian. Meanwhile, I’m going to take you out through an alternate route and hopefully we’ll avoid some of the media circus camped out front.”
“You think they’ll fall for the decoy?”
“Probably not for long, but we just need a minute or two to get you into the car. I’ll take you to a hotel for the night and Ian will meet up with us later. Any questions?”
She rose, stretching her stiff limbs and grateful to finally escape this dingy, depressing room. “Not that I can think of. Lead the way.”
*******
Connor stared, transfixed by the sight of Sha stretching her arms behind her, arching her back to loosen the kinks of sitting in the uncomfortable chair for hours. His mouth went dry. At the hospital, she’d been given a set of scrubs so the crime scene techs could process her clothes. The shapeless, utilitarian garb shouldn’t have been sexy, but his body tightened to the point of pain. Well, this was awkward. And they were supposed to spend the rest of the evening and night alone in a hotel suite . This was going to be a long night.
Ian coughed, the sound strange. Connor glanced over, eyes narrowing with disgust. The bastard was laughing at him, enjoying his predicament. “I’ll go get the diversion ready,” Ian said, shoulders still shaking with barely suppressed laughter.
When they were alone Connor turned back to Sha, wrestling for control over his
“The Nexus. How did someone record me coming out of the Gateway? I don’t understand, are recorders that commonplace?”
“Almost everyone has a cell phone equipped with a camera.” At her blank look, Connor’s lips twitched. “I’ll explain later. An officer is out getting you some clothes and essentials then we’re going to take you to a hotel. Your face is plastered across all the news stations and the video is going viral online. It’s not safe for you to be out on your own, so for now you’ll be under our protection until we can sort everything out.”
“I assume I have no say in the matter?” Sha wasn’t sure if she should be happy or annoyed at the arrangement. She didn’t need a nursemaid, but it did mean spending more time with the detective, and that might not be so bad.
“Ma’am, it’s for your protection,” Ian said.
“Fine. Oh, I have information. Since you’ve been so kind as to leave me in solitude for much of today, it gave me time to sift through my memories of this morning. I think I can confirm your killer used magic during the crime. After someone wields power, for a short period of time it leaves a signature of sorts that I’m able to pick up. I can’t describe the sensation, but it’s distinctive.”
Their twin expressions of discomfort were priceless, sparking the sudden desire to tease them about it. She knew they wanted to toss aside the implication that someone else could work with magic, but at least they were trying to keep an open mind.
A knock sounded on the door before she could continue. “Don’t worry, Detective. We’ll talk about it later,” she promised.
A wave of relief washed over Connor’s face. “Uh, yes. Later is good.” She got the impression never would have been even better. He rose and greeted the pretty woman who handed him a medium-sized, black bag. “Thanks for doing this, Officer,” he said.
Sha noted with amusement the look of disappointment in the woman’s eyes. She probably wished Connor had kissed her judging by the infatuation Sha sensed. Jealousy swept through her at the mental image. Nobody was going to kiss him. Her fierce reaction wasn’t a total surprise; she was resigning herself to wanting him, and she was a possessive woman by nature.
“Here’s what’s going to happen next, Sha. A female officer with a build and coloring similar to yours will be escorted through the main entrance by Ian. Meanwhile, I’m going to take you out through an alternate route and hopefully we’ll avoid some of the media circus camped out front.”
“You think they’ll fall for the decoy?”
“Probably not for long, but we just need a minute or two to get you into the car. I’ll take you to a hotel for the night and Ian will meet up with us later. Any questions?”
She rose, stretching her stiff limbs and grateful to finally escape this dingy, depressing room. “Not that I can think of. Lead the way.”
*******
Connor stared, transfixed by the sight of Sha stretching her arms behind her, arching her back to loosen the kinks of sitting in the uncomfortable chair for hours. His mouth went dry. At the hospital, she’d been given a set of scrubs so the crime scene techs could process her clothes. The shapeless, utilitarian garb shouldn’t have been sexy, but his body tightened to the point of pain. Well, this was awkward. And they were supposed to spend the rest of the evening and night alone in a hotel suite . This was going to be a long night.
Ian coughed, the sound strange. Connor glanced over, eyes narrowing with disgust. The bastard was laughing at him, enjoying his predicament. “I’ll go get the diversion ready,” Ian said, shoulders still shaking with barely suppressed laughter.
When they were alone Connor turned back to Sha, wrestling for control over his
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