Page 15 of Close Quarters

“No, it doesn’t, which is why we need to be with her when she’s with the evidence. I know she’s your friend, but I don’t trust her. She’s up to something. I’m going to ask Seb to look into her background. See if she has a connection to this case in some way.”

He blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. “I highly doubt she’s mixed up in anything illegal. This case is just probably getting to her like it is the rest of us.”

Katie pursed her lips, staring at the door. “Maybe. But we’re not sneaking peeks in a body bag and treating our co-workers like felons.”

Alex sighed again. “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation. Can we just go get some dinner now and go home?”

She gave him a sharp look. “You want to go to dinner with me again?”

“You know we’re both headed to Boone’s, so why not?”

“Maybe I want to get mine to go.”

“Do you?”

Not if it meant missing out on sitting across from him again. But she also really just wanted to sink into her bathtub with a slice of pizza and a glass of wine.

“How about a compromise? Today calls for wine and comfort food. I really want pizza. How about we share one?”

“Where? There aren’t any sit-down pizza places in town. It’s all carry-out.”

“Um, here?”

He shook his head. “We can’t have alcohol. And I need a stiff drink.”

“Same. Okay. One of our houses, then? I think mine’s the closest.”

Alex tilted his head and stared down at her. “You sure? I mean, I know we tore down some barriers yesterday with our dinner at Boone’s, but we aren’t exactly friends.”

Katie shrugged and toyed with the ends of her hair hanging over her shoulder. “Maybe not, but I don’t want to be alone yet, and you get it.” It was the only explanation she could come up with for her sudden desire to override her common sense. Getting close to Alex Randall would not be healthy for her emotional wellbeing, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. He understood what she felt right now. She needed that to help purge the images of those tiny, skeletonized bodies in their shallow graves.

He straightened, understanding crossing his handsome face, and nodded. “Okay. I’ll pick up the pizza if you get the wine? Or beer? I’m not really picky.”

“Beer goes better with pizza.” It also didn’t go to her head as fast. She’d save the wine for later when she sank into a tub full of bubbles after he left.

“Sounds good. What do you want on your pizza?”

“Whatever you want is fine. I’ll eat just about anything.” She pointed a finger at him. “Except pineapple or anchovies.”

He grinned. “How’s pepperoni and sausage sound?”

“Perfect.”

Alex took his phone from his pocket. “I’ll call it in.”

“I’ll go get the beer and see you at my house. Do you know where I live?”

“The general area, but not the address.”

She rattled it off as she retreated to the doors. “Make sure you tell the night shift guys to keep an eye on things. Just in case Dr. Pressley decides she wants to get another head start on her autopsies.”

He frowned but nodded. “I still think you’re seeing things that aren’t there, but I’ll tell them to stay vigilant.”

“Thanks.” She waved and walked out. As the door closed behind her, she couldn’t help but wonder what she’d just done. Being with Alex in a public diner after work had tested her willpower. What would having him in her house do?

Alex tipped his bottle up, draining the last of his beer as he walked around Katie’s living room looking at all her art on display. Pencil sketches lined the walls, some of them in color, but most in black and white. They ran the gamut on themes. She’d drawn everything from an owl feather to portraits of her family to the mountain range that surrounded Silver Gap.

“Why did you go into forensics? Why not art?” He gestured to the framed drawings.

---