anyone I’ve slept with. When someone holds me, it’s usually for sex. But I want a friend and a lover. Maybe I’m asking too much.”
“You just haven’t met the right woman,” Pat said. “Believe me, when you do, all the loose ends will connect just fine. Meantime, don’t sell yourself short for anyone. You deserve to have exactly what you want.”
Keri nudged Pat and nodded toward the track. “Thanks. Let’s go.”
Making the turn at their halfway mark, Keri was ready for a change of focus. “So what about you, my wise friend?”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on, don’t play dumb with me. How’s your love life?”
Pat jogged several minutes before responding. “Same old, same old for me. I’m basically the opposite of you. I fall for anything in a skirt, love them as long as it lasts, and move on. They never seem to love me back anyway, so it’s just as well.”
Keri was touched by the sincerity in Pat’s voice. “What did you just tell me? You haven’t met the right woman yet, either. And when you do, she’ll see the same great person I do and she’ll love you back.”
“We’re so good for each other’s egos. Why haven’t we ever slept together?”
Racing her friend to the end of the trail, Keri called back, “Because it’s just sex to you, and I want to fall in love. What a perfect way to end a good friendship.”
*
Being summoned to the chief’s office before start of business was never a good sign. The long hallway leading from the back stairway to the executive suites lacked the usual din of the workday, but Alex heard urgent voices echoing as she approached the partially opened door. She tapped lightly and immediately understood the chief’s tense expression when he waved her in.
“You know Councilman Byron Chambers,” Lancaster said. “We’re just discussing the investigation.”
“Councilman Chambers, I’m so very sorry for your loss. Stacey was a wonderful young woman. She’ll be missed.”
The man in front of the chief’s desk shook hands with her, tears pooling in his eyes. Even with the obvious differences, Alex could have picked him out of a lineup as Stacey’s father. His reed-thin frame was more angular where hers had been curvy and soft, but they both had the same intense blue eyes. Stacey’s had always shone with laughter and promise. His mirrored the anguish so apparent in his defeated posture and pale features. He cleared his throat and said, “So, Chief Lancaster tells me you’ll be leading the investigation.”
The chief motioned for them to be seated. “Alex is heading the drug task force aspect of the case. The homicide squad is handling the death investigation, but Alex has been read into the specifics. You have my word—”
Councilman Chambers raised his hand to stop the chief. “No disrespect, Rudy, but I want someone on my daughter’s case who knew her. I don’t want this handled like any other case. I want them to care what happened to her. And she always spoke so highly of Lieutenant Troy.”
Alex started to speak, but Lancaster replied, “Byron, I can assure you that none of our death cases are considered routine.”
“I’m sure, but you’d want the same thing if she were your daughter.”
The comment stopped Rudy Lancaster. Alex knew it touched his heart as a father. After a beat, he said, “I’ll make sure everyone knows Alex has the lead.”
Seeming satisfied with the chief’s answer, Chambers returned his attention to Alex, asking, “What can you tell me?”
“At this point, the team is still being assembled that will look into the drug-related aspect of the case. It would be helpful if you could give me a list of the people Stacey associated with, professionally and personally. I know she went into counseling after graduation but we hadn’t had a chance to talk about it much.”
The knowledge that they never would saddened Alex to her core. Why hadn’t she kept in closer touch?
“I’ll give you anything
“You just haven’t met the right woman,” Pat said. “Believe me, when you do, all the loose ends will connect just fine. Meantime, don’t sell yourself short for anyone. You deserve to have exactly what you want.”
Keri nudged Pat and nodded toward the track. “Thanks. Let’s go.”
Making the turn at their halfway mark, Keri was ready for a change of focus. “So what about you, my wise friend?”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on, don’t play dumb with me. How’s your love life?”
Pat jogged several minutes before responding. “Same old, same old for me. I’m basically the opposite of you. I fall for anything in a skirt, love them as long as it lasts, and move on. They never seem to love me back anyway, so it’s just as well.”
Keri was touched by the sincerity in Pat’s voice. “What did you just tell me? You haven’t met the right woman yet, either. And when you do, she’ll see the same great person I do and she’ll love you back.”
“We’re so good for each other’s egos. Why haven’t we ever slept together?”
Racing her friend to the end of the trail, Keri called back, “Because it’s just sex to you, and I want to fall in love. What a perfect way to end a good friendship.”
*
Being summoned to the chief’s office before start of business was never a good sign. The long hallway leading from the back stairway to the executive suites lacked the usual din of the workday, but Alex heard urgent voices echoing as she approached the partially opened door. She tapped lightly and immediately understood the chief’s tense expression when he waved her in.
“You know Councilman Byron Chambers,” Lancaster said. “We’re just discussing the investigation.”
“Councilman Chambers, I’m so very sorry for your loss. Stacey was a wonderful young woman. She’ll be missed.”
The man in front of the chief’s desk shook hands with her, tears pooling in his eyes. Even with the obvious differences, Alex could have picked him out of a lineup as Stacey’s father. His reed-thin frame was more angular where hers had been curvy and soft, but they both had the same intense blue eyes. Stacey’s had always shone with laughter and promise. His mirrored the anguish so apparent in his defeated posture and pale features. He cleared his throat and said, “So, Chief Lancaster tells me you’ll be leading the investigation.”
The chief motioned for them to be seated. “Alex is heading the drug task force aspect of the case. The homicide squad is handling the death investigation, but Alex has been read into the specifics. You have my word—”
Councilman Chambers raised his hand to stop the chief. “No disrespect, Rudy, but I want someone on my daughter’s case who knew her. I don’t want this handled like any other case. I want them to care what happened to her. And she always spoke so highly of Lieutenant Troy.”
Alex started to speak, but Lancaster replied, “Byron, I can assure you that none of our death cases are considered routine.”
“I’m sure, but you’d want the same thing if she were your daughter.”
The comment stopped Rudy Lancaster. Alex knew it touched his heart as a father. After a beat, he said, “I’ll make sure everyone knows Alex has the lead.”
Seeming satisfied with the chief’s answer, Chambers returned his attention to Alex, asking, “What can you tell me?”
“At this point, the team is still being assembled that will look into the drug-related aspect of the case. It would be helpful if you could give me a list of the people Stacey associated with, professionally and personally. I know she went into counseling after graduation but we hadn’t had a chance to talk about it much.”
The knowledge that they never would saddened Alex to her core. Why hadn’t she kept in closer touch?
“I’ll give you anything
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