Page 34 of Colorado Christmas Carol
They both nodded. Essa wanted to ask questions, but Duke’s expression deterred her.
Mellie and Essa exchanged puzzled looks, but they didn’t argue.
Mellie was left with a prearranged babysitter at the site, to her utter disgust, but Duke was firm. He also cautioned the woman, who was middle-aged and formidable, that Mellie was not to leave the premises without his express, personal consent. In person. She smiled and promised.
Duke escorted Essa to the workshop, handing her a program as he picked up one for himself.
“They have some heavy hitters here,” he murmured as they scanned the handout while participants came into the room around them. “One of these is a former FBI forensics supervisor.”
“Do you know him?” she asked.
He looked down at her, smiling. “No. I was just a case agent when he was there.”
She smiled back. He was so incredibly handsome. It made her heart sing just to look at him.
They stared at each other until a loud cough interrupted them.
They turned.
“Dean?!” Essa said, giving a good impression of absolute surprise. “What are you doing here?!”
He chuckled. “I can’t get enough of these workshops. Why are you here?”
“I didn’t get to go to the one at my hotel. Duke saw this one and offered to drive me.” She made a face. “My car won’t make it past garages. I’d be on the side of the road hoping for rescue if I’d tried to drive here.”
“Well it’s good to see you,” he replied. “Did you bring Mellie?”
“She’s with a babysitter, complaining that we shut her out of essential learning for her future.” Duke chuckled. “She wants to be a forensic anthropologist. She said you impressed her that much,” he added with an easy smile.
Dean flushed. “She really said that? About me? Gosh.” He looked odd. “Tell her thank you. That’s, well . . . that’s one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever had.”
There was a speaker at the podium, calling for quiet.
“Better get to my seat,” Dean said. “Want to get coffee at the break? They have a nice café attached to the hotel across the street.”
“Good idea,” Duke said. “We’ll wait for you at the intermission.”
“Good deal,” Dean said, smiling at them both.
They all sat down, and the program started.
* * *
The workshop went on until lunch. The first hour was a presentation by a blood spatter expert who explained the patterns and how they helped forensics examiners pinpoint the particulars of an assault in murders. The second hour was a talk by the man from the FBI forensic lab and included information about how even a grain of pollen or a fleck of paint could help solve a crime.
Then it was time for lunch.
“My head is swimming,” Essa said, shaking it as they left the auditorium. “I’ve never in my life been more fascinated with anything.”
“It really is fascinating,” Dean said. “I’ve studied it for years and it never gets old.” He had a faraway look. “It’s just . . . well, sometimes I seem to lose myself in it.”
“That’s not a bad thing when it’s your career,” Essa teased.
He chuckled self-consciously. “I suppose so.”
Mellie spotted them and jumped up leaving the babysitter behind, who quickly disappeared. “It’s you!” she exclaimed when she saw Dean. She ran to him. “I didn’t know you’d be here! I’m so happy to see you!”
He looked very strange, as if he were choking on something. He swallowed hard. “Mellie,” he replied, and smiled. “It’s good to see you, too. How are you?”
