other’s back. We butt heads sometimes, that’s all.’
‘I’m an only child,’ Lyssa said.
‘I know.’
‘Of course you do,’ she smiled and her eyes parted to sleepy slits. ‘You’ve been learning about me, watching me.’
‘I have.’
‘And what have you found out?’ She sat up in the centre of his couch, bending her knees to the side and tucking her feet by her ass.
‘That you don’t sleep well, that you toss and turn then get up to make hot milk or read, which makes you feel guilty for being awake so you go back to bed only to go through your insomnia again. Because of your restless sleep you struggle to wake up in the morning, but you always do your yoga and shower before going down to your office at eight thirty sharp.
‘You see your first patient at nine thirty, and stay in the office until one, when you either go to lunch with Suzette at the Wright Bite or have salad in your kitchen while talking to her on speaker phone. You’re back in the office by two, your last patient leaves by six and you’re upstairs immediately after a brief stint on the computer. Then you change from your work clothes, go to the gym, out with Suzette or you read, work and eat alone.’
From the silent shock written all over her face he wondered if he’d said too much. ‘You know all of that?’
‘You asked. You’ll always get the truth from me.’
‘Who is he?’ she asked. ‘That’s what I want to know.’
‘Your stalker? The man who brought us together.’
‘Stop vamping and tell me,’ she said, sliding closer and taking his hand. ‘You’re starting to really worry me.’
She and Suzette held hands regularly, or linked arms, so he took it that Lyssa was a tactile person. That knowledge didn’t lessen the effect of her delicate digits between his clumsy ones. ‘Colt?’
‘I haven’t seen a soul. Whoever he is, he’s not watching you, at least not pathologically.’
‘So he’s gone? I’ve not had any calls or flowers this week.’
‘You told the cops that he’s done this before, disappeared for a while. Maybe he works away or has other commitments.’
‘Thank you for not believing I’m just a nut.’
‘A nut who made up a stalker just to get close to me?’ he smiled, which caused her hand to squeeze his. ‘You have no reason that I’ve seen so far, to make this up.’
‘Thank you not for giving up on me either.’
‘You’re paying for a service and I intend to deliver. It might just take us longer to get results. We’ll have to wait for this guy to spring up again, and he will eventually.’
‘You’re committed,’ she said.
‘We signed a contract. I intend to do my job.’
‘This might be an everyday occurrence for you, but it’s not for me. I’ve never met anyone like you with such patience and a singular concentration.’
‘I’m focused,’ he said, grazing her jaw with the back of his fingers. ‘I won’t let you down.’
‘I believe that, Colt. I know you’re capable and I’m glad that Chavez recommended you.’
‘What did you tell Suzette?’
‘That it didn’t work out. She wants to try a different PI, but I’m holding off for now.’
‘I’d appreciate not having a dick on my tail.’
‘Most men who identify as straight wouldn’t,’ she said. ‘I don’t like lying to my best friend.’
‘Keeping my involvement a secret is the best way to assure there’s no tampering with, or pollution of, the evidence.’
‘You think that Suzette would blab? I’d trust her with my life, she would never endanger—‘
‘You would be surprised how often these situations are perpetuated by those we trust most. Even if you’re right, Suzette wouldn’t have to intentionally discuss it to harm you. This way is best.’
‘You’re the professional,’ she sighed. ‘I ask my patients to trust me every day. It’s odd to be on the other side of the advice.’
‘Once I find this guy, and I start to tail him then we’ll know what we’re up
Odette C. Bell
Ismaíl Kadaré
James A. Levine
Sally Beauman
Jane Goodger
Morgana Best
J.B. Cheaney
Amy Krouse Rosenthal
The Zen Gun (v1.1)
Craig Johnson