Page 34 of Death Raiser

“What?”

Jacobs jerked his chin in Kang’s direction. “You’re never going to guess.”

Ah. He was talking about Kang’s secret glamy identity. My brain was still stuck on the two mutilated bodies. These detectives took compartmentalizing to the next level.

“But you know,” I said. “Why don’t you tell me?”

Jacobs’ smile widened. “What would be the fun in that?”

I sighed. I should’ve known he wouldn’t be that accommodating. “That’s just mean.”

“I’ve had to spend the last six years playing referee while you two danced around each other,” Jacobs said. “It’s not mean. It’s selfish. I deserve a little entertainment.”

I wrapped my arms around my chest. “We didn’t dance around each other.”

Jacobs raised his eyebrows. “But you did dance with each other.”

I sputtered.

Had Kang bragged about turning me into a puddle of goo on Spiral’s dance floor? He didn’t seem like the kiss-and-tell type. I narrowed my eyes at Jacobs.

No. Jacobs didn’t find out from his partner. Kang wouldn’t have said a thing to anyone, not even Jacobs. So how did he find out?

The detective stepped back and held up his hands. “As part of closing the case, we both had to submit statements in the final report. Kang left out the dancing, but to provide evidence to support his written testimony and the resolution of the case, we got a warrant and secured the security footage.”

The security footage from Spiral…

Where Kang and I did our best vertical humping impression…

“Oh, god.”

He nodded.

“How many people saw it?”

“The whole precinct before Kang shut it down. Most are too scared of Kang to say anything, especially after…” He glanced over at his partner. “Anyway. No one will say anything, but that didn’t stop them from sharing the video.”

I narrowed my eyes. What had Jacobs planned to say originally? Before Kang did what? Had Kang threatened every single one of his coworkers? I wanted to know, but I also had to let it go. Jacobs was a fucking vault. “Is that why Officer Shaw gave me that weird look?”

Jacobs turned toward the path. Neither of us had a clear view of where the officer in question stood by the check-in point, but that didn’t stop either of us from trying.

“Nah,” Jacobs said. “He’s just weird.”

Fair enough.

Kang walked back to where we stood and nodded at me. “I’ll take you home.”

I ignored the fluttering sensation in my heart and lifted my chin. “I drove.”

“Then let me walk you to your car.”

I couldn’t argue with that. The sun had dipped past the treeline, creating long shadows that spread over the clearing. The quiet forest sent chills along my spine despite the heat of the day still warming my skin.

I saluted Jacobs as a goodbye, which earned me a dazzling smile and a nod.

Kang didn’t speak as we ambled up the path and past Officer Shaw. When we finally reached my vehicle, he turned to me before I had a chance to say anything, and asked, “What night works for you?”

My mind faltered. So intent on figuring out how to segue to a discussion about the flowers, I mentally fumbled to switch gears, but once I did, I didn’t have to ask what he meant. Our date. I wanted to start that date right now, but knew I’d have to wait.

---