with a Texas twang. “How’s that red-haired hellcat partner of yours?”
I smothered a smile. For long as I’d known both Sam and Nicole, they had circled around each other like wary wrestlers waiting for the first lunge. Although they had never dated, I had no doubt I wanted to be ringside with a bag of popcorn for the fireworks if they ever did.
“Nicole’s fine.”
“And you?” Reaching out, Sam took my hand and squeezed it. “I heard about the car accident.”
“I fortunately have a hard head and nine lives.” I was down to seven, though. A shiver raced through me.
“Hey, you’re not all right.” He gave my hand a harder squeeze before releasing it. “Let me get you something.”
“I’m fine, Sam. Really. I have a few questions about the night I was shot.”
“Oh?” The homicide detective’s black eyebrows arched. Then he glanced across the room and anticipation lit his eyes. Before I could look over my shoulder, he said, “That file’s been closed.”
“What? My client was brutally murdered within the detention center and I was nearly killed.”
His gaze flicked to my temple, where I knew the black fringe of bangs didn’t quite conceal the scar. Nothing could ever hide the mark. His expression softened.
“I’m sorry, but without any leads and you with no memory…” He shrugged.
“You simply gave up?” Dismay tinged my voice. I was a cold case? But I had lived. Didn’t anyone care who had done this to me?
“Hello, Carling.” Jared’s smooth voice sent a different kind of tingle through me.
He came around me to assume a lounging pose, much like Sam’s, against the desk. Talk about testosterone bookends. Although opposites in some ways, both men possessed the edgy maleness that could make a woman’s mouth water.
Focus, Carling, I ordered. You’re about to undergo a good cop-bad cop routine. Sam probably called Jared as soon as he heard I was asking for him. Jared must have booked it to the station from his office.
I folded my arms, presenting a defensive shield. “What a surprise seeing you here.” I gave Sam a hard glare but the rat didn’t even squirm. His answering smile was pure bedevilment. It occurred to me that he was getting a ringside view of the sparring match between Jared and me. I made a point of glancing around.
Sam frowned. “What are you looking for?”
“Popcorn. And a diet soda would be lovely before the show starts.”
Sam bent over with laughter. A ghost of a smile even played about Jared’s lips before he could firm them. “Sam, don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
Straightening, Sam swiped his eyes. “Nope.”
“How about getting me a cup of the sludge that passes for coffee around here?”
Sam crossed his feet at the ankles. “Machine’s in the hallway.”
The pressure that had been building in me since I’d heard my case had been closed exploded. I knew I should remain calm but the control techniques I’d learned went straight out the window when it came to Jared. I bounded up and stabbed my finger into his chest.
“How could you, Jared Manning! You quit investigating my shooting as if I no longer mattered.”
His blue eyes blazing, Jared caught my hand before I could drill through his heart. “That’s not how it is.”
Sam pushed himself clear from the desk. “I guess I’ll go mosey up that cup of coffee after all.” Pausing beside me, he gave me a sympathetic pat on my shoulder. “Facing death’s a bitch, isn’t it? Tears a lot of good people up, changes them. Some never regain their balance. I hope you make it, Carling.”
He arched a brow at Jared. “It would do you some good to remember what she’s been through. Cut her some slack.” Then Sam tucked his hands in his pockets and strolled across the room.
I drew in a long breath. My voice was almost normal when I spoke again. “That hit was an inside job. You’re still actively investigating the Russian mob, so how can you give up on my case?”
When
I smothered a smile. For long as I’d known both Sam and Nicole, they had circled around each other like wary wrestlers waiting for the first lunge. Although they had never dated, I had no doubt I wanted to be ringside with a bag of popcorn for the fireworks if they ever did.
“Nicole’s fine.”
“And you?” Reaching out, Sam took my hand and squeezed it. “I heard about the car accident.”
“I fortunately have a hard head and nine lives.” I was down to seven, though. A shiver raced through me.
“Hey, you’re not all right.” He gave my hand a harder squeeze before releasing it. “Let me get you something.”
“I’m fine, Sam. Really. I have a few questions about the night I was shot.”
“Oh?” The homicide detective’s black eyebrows arched. Then he glanced across the room and anticipation lit his eyes. Before I could look over my shoulder, he said, “That file’s been closed.”
“What? My client was brutally murdered within the detention center and I was nearly killed.”
His gaze flicked to my temple, where I knew the black fringe of bangs didn’t quite conceal the scar. Nothing could ever hide the mark. His expression softened.
“I’m sorry, but without any leads and you with no memory…” He shrugged.
“You simply gave up?” Dismay tinged my voice. I was a cold case? But I had lived. Didn’t anyone care who had done this to me?
“Hello, Carling.” Jared’s smooth voice sent a different kind of tingle through me.
He came around me to assume a lounging pose, much like Sam’s, against the desk. Talk about testosterone bookends. Although opposites in some ways, both men possessed the edgy maleness that could make a woman’s mouth water.
Focus, Carling, I ordered. You’re about to undergo a good cop-bad cop routine. Sam probably called Jared as soon as he heard I was asking for him. Jared must have booked it to the station from his office.
I folded my arms, presenting a defensive shield. “What a surprise seeing you here.” I gave Sam a hard glare but the rat didn’t even squirm. His answering smile was pure bedevilment. It occurred to me that he was getting a ringside view of the sparring match between Jared and me. I made a point of glancing around.
Sam frowned. “What are you looking for?”
“Popcorn. And a diet soda would be lovely before the show starts.”
Sam bent over with laughter. A ghost of a smile even played about Jared’s lips before he could firm them. “Sam, don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
Straightening, Sam swiped his eyes. “Nope.”
“How about getting me a cup of the sludge that passes for coffee around here?”
Sam crossed his feet at the ankles. “Machine’s in the hallway.”
The pressure that had been building in me since I’d heard my case had been closed exploded. I knew I should remain calm but the control techniques I’d learned went straight out the window when it came to Jared. I bounded up and stabbed my finger into his chest.
“How could you, Jared Manning! You quit investigating my shooting as if I no longer mattered.”
His blue eyes blazing, Jared caught my hand before I could drill through his heart. “That’s not how it is.”
Sam pushed himself clear from the desk. “I guess I’ll go mosey up that cup of coffee after all.” Pausing beside me, he gave me a sympathetic pat on my shoulder. “Facing death’s a bitch, isn’t it? Tears a lot of good people up, changes them. Some never regain their balance. I hope you make it, Carling.”
He arched a brow at Jared. “It would do you some good to remember what she’s been through. Cut her some slack.” Then Sam tucked his hands in his pockets and strolled across the room.
I drew in a long breath. My voice was almost normal when I spoke again. “That hit was an inside job. You’re still actively investigating the Russian mob, so how can you give up on my case?”
When
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