Page 8 of Taken by the Lawman

He dropped down a twenty and hurried out of the shop to catch up to her as she reached the sidewalk. “You don’t even care to look into the case? Watch the video? And here I thought you prided yourself in helping women who can’t speak for themselves.”

Sure, he’d gone a step too far, but he didn’t feel the wrath until she stopped and turned to face him, her clear blue eyes on him.

“Wow, is that the level you plan to sink to? That’s a bit piggish.”

“Okay, I showed a little snout, but am I wrong? She was twenty-five years old, pregnant, and found dead in her bathtub. What if this isn’t what it appears to be? What if someone did kill her and the unborn child? Wouldn’t you want to find out what really happened?”

She smiled and took a step closer to him, so close he caught her scent—not from perfume, but a natural, alluring scent. “What if your politician friend was afraid the aide was going to tell his wife and he took care of her? Have you thought of that? What will you do then since you don’t like leaving a friend in a lurch?”

He hooked his thumbs into his front pockets. “Max and I were in the Marines together. We have a brotherhood, but if I thought for a second that he was involved in the woman’s death, and her child’s, I would be the first to say so. I’m a friend, but a cop first.”

“Good night, Bronx.”

This time he didn’t go after her.

There was nothing he could do to convince her.

Why had he come anyway? He should have expected he’d tweak the evil side in her. It was no secret that she couldn’t stand him so why would she be interested in helping? No doubt he could handle the case on his own, but he admired Kiersten’s instincts and eye for detail. She had a way of getting into someone’s head—a killer’s or victim’s—which helped solve crimes faster.

From where he stood on the sidewalk, he watched her walk across the street to the front entrance of her building. She looked over her shoulder and he waved, but she didn’t respond. She disappeared inside and he cursed under his breath. He had it bad and the quicker he got over it the better. Not only was she his superior, but she hated his guts. He gave a woman multiple orgasms and this was the thanks he got.

He chuckled and reached for his phone. He had a couple of links to check out. No sleep again tonight.

*

“Ms. Cade?”

Kiersten looked up from the computer screen and dragged off her glasses. Her assistant was standing in the doorway to the office. “Yes, Petra?”

“A messenger left this for you.” The blonde laid a large yellow envelope on the desk.

“Wait…who’s it from?” There was nothing written on the front or back.

Petra shrugged. “I have no clue.”

Once her assistant was gone, Kiersten put her glasses back on and shook out the contents. Inside had been a newspaper clipping and a sticky note with, “Just a coincidence, or is there a link?” The paper headline read, “Body found in alley. No identification.” Looking at the date, it was the same day that Kline’s aide, Annie Steele, was found dead and the location was near her apartment.

She sighed. This was a long shot for Deegan. She stuffed the paper back into the envelope and tossed it with the rest of the junk on the corner of her desk. Reaching for her pen she clicked it restlessly as she tried to go back to more important work. Her gaze naturally kept going to the envelope. Working her bottom lip, she thought she couldn’t be sucked into this for anyone, not even the man she’d slept with one weak moment at a party. Deegan wasn’t her type, if she had one. She didn’t date or sleep with lawmen, no matter how sexy or charming they were. It only caused trouble when two badges dated, especially when one was the other’s boss.

Then again…he wasn’t asking her on a date. Her mind seemed to travel down that road all on its own.

Kiersten wished she could wipe away that one night. It would certainly make life easier, especially at work.

No, that wasn’t the truth. When would she learn that lying to herself didn’t make anything fact. She didn’t regret that night except how he’d made her feel and knowing there could never be more between them, which was probably why she jumped into the “thing” with Brad. Looking for someone to take her mind off Deegan.

When she couldn’t hold back any longer, she reached for the envelope and took out the clipping, then read the article while writing down anything that stuck out to her as important. When she finished, she dialed a detective friend and asked for a favor. He faxed her over details of the case. The location of the body was two blocks from where Annie Steele lived. The man was shot in the head and in the chest. Although it was at night, and on a busy street, no one saw what happened. Nothing about the killing matched a mugging. The victim didn’t have a wallet or identification on him, but he had forty dollars in cash in his pocket.

On the computer, she typed in Annie Steele. A profile picture of the pretty woman filled the screen. “What happened that night, Annie?” Kiersten whispered, tapping the pen on the desk. “Were you into drugs? Did someone need you dead to keep you from talking?”

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