question,’ Darby said. ‘Either he’s working for Hale or he’s working independently for reasons we don’t understand.’
‘How are you doing?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘You look a little shaky.’
‘I’m coming off the adrenaline high. I’m going to get to work.’
‘Hold on.’ Bryson eased the closet door shut. ‘I think we got off on the wrong foot back at the morgue.’
‘Forget about it.’
‘No, I want to clear the air.’ Bryson scratched his chin. ‘Look, I was a bit of an asshole. Am I pissed about how this whole thing went down? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. But what you said about me wanting the credit, that’s bullshit. I’m not looking for the limelight. The press is up my ass, putting my name and picture in the papers. I can’t control that. If you can help me find this guy, that’s all that matters.’
‘Good, then we’re on the same page.’
‘You said Hale has a personal assistant.’
‘Marsh did. He said the woman’s name is Abigail. I’ll get the number.’
‘I can do it.’
‘Actually, I want to go and take a look at the security system.’
Bryson opened the door. ‘Nice work on the necklace,’ he said.
The master bedroom held modern-type bureaus and a beautiful canapé bed. Like the spare bedroom, the floor-to-ceiling window overlooked Arlington Street and part of the Public Garden. Darby imagined what it might have felt like to go to bed every night with this stunning view of the city. She wondered if Emma Hale took the time to appreciate the view and her good fortune. Like many rich kids, the young woman probably took it for granted.
Darby knew she harboured a grudge against the rich. The truth was she didn’t know Emma Hale. Maybe the young woman did appreciate her good fortune. Darby suspected her anger had something to do with a comment the intruder made about her mother being a coupon-clipping housewife. After Big Red died, Sheila McCormick worked double shifts at her nursing job and managed not only to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, but had saved every extra penny to help Darby pay her way through college.
Coop stood in the hallway, working a wad of chewing gum between his front teeth while someone from ID photographed the handgun, a Beretta.
‘The serial number is still on it,’ Coop said to her. ‘Hopefully the trace will lead somewhere good. You happen to check out the ammo?’
‘No.’
‘Armour piercing,’ Coop said. ‘You’re lucky the son of a bitch didn’t try and shoot.’
‘I need to go downstairs. When I come back, I want to process the closet first. Then I want to check the CSU inventory list to see if our boy took anything else besides the necklace.’
‘I’ll come with you.’
Darby saw the look of concern in Coop’s eyes. She had an idea what was coming.
Coop waited until they were alone in the hallway.
‘I’m staying with you tonight,’ he said. ‘Please, no arguments.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ Darby pressed the elevator button. ‘There’s no reason for you to –’
‘Look, Wonder Woman, why don’t you hang up the cape and give it a rest, okay?’
‘Wonder Woman doesn’t wear a cape. Besides, I’m sure you’d like to get back to Row-day-oh. Maybe you can sleep in and then watch another one of those uplifting cowboy-in-love movies.’
Coop blew a bubble, popped it.
‘I know men look at you as some, I don’t know, some wonderfully delicate, fragile bird that needs protection,’ he said. ‘I don’t look at you that way. I’ve worked out with you. I’ve seen you spar in the boxing ring and work the speed bag. Half of them don’t know you could kick their ass sideways over the course of a weekend and not break a sweat. I’m not debating your superhero status. I want to stay over because I’ll sleep better knowing you’re safe.’
Once again, Coop had managed to scale her protective walls and see into her true feelings. She was glad he made the offer. She didn’t want
‘How are you doing?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘You look a little shaky.’
‘I’m coming off the adrenaline high. I’m going to get to work.’
‘Hold on.’ Bryson eased the closet door shut. ‘I think we got off on the wrong foot back at the morgue.’
‘Forget about it.’
‘No, I want to clear the air.’ Bryson scratched his chin. ‘Look, I was a bit of an asshole. Am I pissed about how this whole thing went down? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. But what you said about me wanting the credit, that’s bullshit. I’m not looking for the limelight. The press is up my ass, putting my name and picture in the papers. I can’t control that. If you can help me find this guy, that’s all that matters.’
‘Good, then we’re on the same page.’
‘You said Hale has a personal assistant.’
‘Marsh did. He said the woman’s name is Abigail. I’ll get the number.’
‘I can do it.’
‘Actually, I want to go and take a look at the security system.’
Bryson opened the door. ‘Nice work on the necklace,’ he said.
The master bedroom held modern-type bureaus and a beautiful canapé bed. Like the spare bedroom, the floor-to-ceiling window overlooked Arlington Street and part of the Public Garden. Darby imagined what it might have felt like to go to bed every night with this stunning view of the city. She wondered if Emma Hale took the time to appreciate the view and her good fortune. Like many rich kids, the young woman probably took it for granted.
Darby knew she harboured a grudge against the rich. The truth was she didn’t know Emma Hale. Maybe the young woman did appreciate her good fortune. Darby suspected her anger had something to do with a comment the intruder made about her mother being a coupon-clipping housewife. After Big Red died, Sheila McCormick worked double shifts at her nursing job and managed not only to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, but had saved every extra penny to help Darby pay her way through college.
Coop stood in the hallway, working a wad of chewing gum between his front teeth while someone from ID photographed the handgun, a Beretta.
‘The serial number is still on it,’ Coop said to her. ‘Hopefully the trace will lead somewhere good. You happen to check out the ammo?’
‘No.’
‘Armour piercing,’ Coop said. ‘You’re lucky the son of a bitch didn’t try and shoot.’
‘I need to go downstairs. When I come back, I want to process the closet first. Then I want to check the CSU inventory list to see if our boy took anything else besides the necklace.’
‘I’ll come with you.’
Darby saw the look of concern in Coop’s eyes. She had an idea what was coming.
Coop waited until they were alone in the hallway.
‘I’m staying with you tonight,’ he said. ‘Please, no arguments.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ Darby pressed the elevator button. ‘There’s no reason for you to –’
‘Look, Wonder Woman, why don’t you hang up the cape and give it a rest, okay?’
‘Wonder Woman doesn’t wear a cape. Besides, I’m sure you’d like to get back to Row-day-oh. Maybe you can sleep in and then watch another one of those uplifting cowboy-in-love movies.’
Coop blew a bubble, popped it.
‘I know men look at you as some, I don’t know, some wonderfully delicate, fragile bird that needs protection,’ he said. ‘I don’t look at you that way. I’ve worked out with you. I’ve seen you spar in the boxing ring and work the speed bag. Half of them don’t know you could kick their ass sideways over the course of a weekend and not break a sweat. I’m not debating your superhero status. I want to stay over because I’ll sleep better knowing you’re safe.’
Once again, Coop had managed to scale her protective walls and see into her true feelings. She was glad he made the offer. She didn’t want
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