Page 28 of Innocent Intent

“I won’t.”

After Cassidy ended the call, she lifted her wineglass and swallowed a hefty gulp while staring at the paperwork in her lap. She was notified two days ago that Niles’s body would be released from the coroner’s office. That meant she would be responsible for handling the arrangements. A plethora of mixed emotions surfaced. She was burying both her husband and a stranger. She was mourning the loss of the man she loved and angry that her life would forever be attached to a man she never knew.

Cassidy went back and forth, trying to decide which of the identities she should count on. Niles was sweet, caring, and consistent, while this Jerrod was a complex mystery. Maybe neither of them was real. The unanswered questions were what bothered her the most. Who had she fallen in love with, and why had he purposely chosen to attach himself to a life he never intended to honor? The only certainty she could rely on was that her world with Niles was over, and she was burying all the happiness she’d dreamed of with him.

10.

“Well, damn, you really showed.”

Davis shrugged, filling the spot at the bar next to Reese. “It’s hard to respect a man who doesn’t keep his word.”

Reese nodded before signaling the bartender and finishing the last of his beer while waiting for the guy to make his way to them.

“You get that warrant you needed?”

“Yeah, she had it waiting on me when I got there. Thanks for that.”

“You’re welcome. See, it’s not so bad being a part of the team.”

“Never said I had a problem with being a team player.”

“You didn’t have to. The way you shut all of us out is explanation enough. Mind if I ask what that’s about? The whole loner thing?”

Davis glanced at Reese before focusing on the bartender when he approached.

“What can I get you?”

“I’ll take a beer.” Davis pointed to the import Reese had in front of him.

“You can bring me another one with his. Put it on my tab, Lou.”

Davis wanted to decline the offer but felt accepting a few beers was the least he could do. He didn’t have any real issues with the guys he worked with. He simply didn’t care enough about building bonds to put any effort into getting to know them.

Once the bartender was gone, Reese turned to Davis to pick up the conversation again. “So, the working solo thing?”

“It’s not a thing. I just prefer to work alone.”

“You didn’t have a partner in New York?”

Davis knew that was the opening for Reese to dig a little into his background, and he decided to let him.

“No, not one designated partner. I worked with the guys when cases called for it, but I like my space and privacy.”

“Maybe I should consider giving that a try. Parker talks too damn much and always about his wife busting his balls. I swear we stop at least ten times a day so he can smoke those gotdamn cigarettes too. Working alone doesn’t sound all that bad the more I think about it.”

Davis chuckled, nodding thanks to the bartender who dropped off their beers. “Parker seems like a decent guy.”

“He is . . .” Reese shrugged. “But he does talk too much. I feel like I know way too much about this wife, and I’ve never laid eyes on the lady.”

Reese grinned. “You see my struggle?”

“Yeah, I do.” Davis smiled behind his beer after lifting it to his lips.

“So New York to Atlanta. Why’d you transfer?”

Because working alongside a district attorney who was engaged to my ex-fiancée didn’t exactly make for a peaceful work environment.

“Personal reasons,” Davis muttered, not wanting to get into it.

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