Page 45 of Lovely Wicked Things

After a measured beat, Rana excuses her. “Keep your phone on in case there’s a new development.”

Halen nods her agreement before turning toward Hernandez past the crime-scene tape. “Would you mind bringing my gear back to the hotel later? I don’t feel like lugging it all to my rental car, and I need to get some sleep.”

At his accommodating nod, she walks off the scene.

I feel the weight of his stare on my back. “Are you going to let me in on what happened with her earlier?” The demand in my tone makes it not really a request.

Hernandez moves into my field of vision, his features stern. “Maybe she’s figuring you out.”

Despite the smile that slants my mouth, the implication digs beneath my skin. A flash of the Briar Institute on Halen’s phone rears before I tamp it down.

“You know, Gael. It’s pretty easy to get locked up in holding cells with madmen around here.”

His nostrils flare. “Is that a confession?”

“A truly smart fed would take it as a warning.”

Facing him, I reach out and take Halen’s gear from his grasp. He says nothing more as I back away, keeping my gaze hard on him as the threat lingers amid the reeds.

Right on cue, like an irritating gnat, Dr. Keller crops up in my periphery. “Professor, you’re not permitted to leave the scene.”

A growl rumbles from my chest, and it’s enough to catch Halen’s notice. She looks back with a severe glare to deliver her own warning.

I hold up a hand innocently. “I’m just helping to carry gear.”

Halen seals her eyes closed briefly before she slogs through the reeds toward the woman. “Dr. Keller, I need a moment alone with your patient.”

“It would appear the both of you spend too much time alone,” she says derisively.

Halen cocks her head, a dangerous twist angling her pretty smile. “Is that a professional assessment?”

A thrill sparks my blood at the threat edged in her tone, so close to touching that wild fury.

Dr. Keller flicks her humidity-frizzed hair from her shoulder. “Just an astute observation.”

The standoff between them stretches until Halen says, “Until your services are required as more than a babysitter on this case, you will respect all requests from every member of this task force despite your limited observations.”

Goddamn.My blood is molten watching Halen mark her territory like an apex predator.

When Keller ultimately relents, walking a distance away, Halen levels me with a knowing stare. “Do not do anything to her,” she says.

“I don’t think I’m the one Dr. Keller should be worried about. Damn, baby. Those claws are sharp.” I reach down and shamelessly adjust myself. At her unmoved expression, I say, “I have no intention of making the doctor piss herself.” Though the memory of Stoll doing so brings a crooked smile to my face. “Besides, I can’t anyway if I’m no longer here.”

“You lied back there,” Halen says, accusation heavy in her voice.

“No more than you did,” I challenge.

Her dark layers of hair escape the band at the base of her neck. She holds my gaze a moment longer before she admits, “I was just trying to make Devyn appear?—”

“Compassionate,” I say. “Remorseful. Like she’s incapable of murdering a member of law enforcement in cold blood.”

She brushes the shock of white from her eye. “And you were lying to protect me.”

“Always.”

A charged current pulses the air between us, and I chance a step closer.

“If you want Devyn vindicated, someone has to take the fall.” I roll my shoulders as I anchor the strap of her case higher.

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