Cavanaugh’s Woman by Marie Ferrarella Page B

Zale.” Her mouth curved. “A cheerleader who always brought along her own set of pom-poms.”
    Monica Zale. The name took him back. He hadn’t thought of Monica in years. The perky brunette had been the best-endowed girl in the tenth grade. Or any other grade for that matter. They’d gone together for a year and a half until he realized that looks were definitely not enough. He needed someone with a brain to talk to. That someone hadn’t turned out to be Monica.
    The light turned green. And then he remembered. “I thought you said you were homeschooled.”
    “For the most part,” she allowed. “I begged my father to let me enroll in a regular school.” When he’d finally agreed, she’d thought the wandering was behind them. “I thought that maybe he was finally going to settle down.” And for a time, he had. Until the lure of another con got the better of him. “But things got a little warm and we had to pick up stakes and go.” There’d been arguments then. Real arguments. They weren’t little kids anymore, she and her sister, willingly being led from place to place as if it was all a big adventure. She shook her head, remembering. “Carrie was really teed-off at him.”
    He turned off the main thoroughfare. “Carrie?”
    “My sister.” She stopped, trying to remember. “Did I not mention her?”
    He shrugged carelessly. “Maybe you did and I wasn’t listening.” But he knew she hadn’t. Even against his will, he took in all information that came his way and processed it. And Moira had sent a lot of information his way. “Anyone else in your family?”
    “No, just the three of us. My sister, Carrie, is a year younger than me.” Although at times, it felt as if she were a whole generation older. Carrie had been like their father, accustomed to getting her own way, never really growing up to take on the responsibilities of an adult. More than once, Moira had felt as if she were mother to both of them. “She took off for parts unknown about a year before Dad and I came to a parting of the ways.” A fond, sad smile played along her lips. “Carrie was always the stubborn one.”
    Shaw thought of Rayne, of the grief she’d given their father before finally settling down. The comment came out before he could think to stop it. “Got one of those myself.”
    He was sharing. She wondered if he realized that. “I’d like to meet her sometime.”
    Shaw nodded, but made no commitment. Besides, they were here, at the precinct. And his day, he thought with a heavy, inward sigh, was just beginning.
    As he pulled into the parking lot, he thought he saw his partner. At first, he thought something was up, but then he realized the man was just being impatient.
    Reese leaned against the hood of his car, his head moving slowly from side to side like some kind of searchlight. The moment his head turned in their direction and he saw them, Reese came to attention. He immediately made his way over to them.
    Shaw barely got a chance to pull into his parking space before Reese was opening up Moira’s door. His attention was completely focused on the celebrity.
    “Here’s your fan club,” Shaw muttered.
    “I think he’s sweet,” she told him, flashing her brilliant smile at Reese.
    Shaw pulled up the hand brake. “That’s Reese,” he growled. “Sweet.”
    “Hi.” Extending his hand, Reese helped her out of the passenger side. As far as Shaw was concerned, his partner was smiling at her like a lovesick puppy. “I was afraid that yesterday was just a wistful dream.”
    Shaw closed his own door. “No such luck,” he muttered.
    Reese continued holding her hand, obviously mesmerized by her appearance even though she’d tried to play down her looks. “Are you ready to get started, Ms. McCormick? Or would you like to go inside to freshen up first?”
    “It’s Moira,” she corrected.
    “Moira.” Reese sighed the name.
    Shaw clutched his stomach like a man trying not to throw up. “Too bad we’ve only