Ricochet - Jessica Andersen 6 стр.


It was near 10:00 p.m. when Parry closed the meeting. Okay, people. Night shift, you know what youre doing. Day shift, go home and get some rest. His eyes slid to Alissa. You all look like you could use it.

No kidding, she thought. The aches of the day sang through her body and left her nearly limp. But she forced herself to her feet and headed for the door. Cassie and Maya stayed behind to talk to Captain Parry, but Alissa couldnt bear to wait for them. She wanted food, aspirin and her bed, not necessarily in that order.

She was so tired that she wasnt even surprised to see Tucker waiting for her out in the hallway. You want a ride home? he asked.

A ride home, a shoulder to lean on. Hell, even just a hug. Yeah, she could use all that. And because she wanted it so badly, she shook her head. Im fine. When he fell into step beside her, she slanted him a look. I said Im fine, Tucker. Shifts over. You dont have to play nice with me anymore on Chiefs orders.

They exited out to the shadowed parking lot, where the number of personal cars sitting beneath the sodium lights attested to the big case. The cop shop wouldnt sleep until the girls were homesafe, God willingand the kidnapper was in custody.

Tucker growled low in his throat. Dont be a pain. Youre all done in and I dont think you should be driving. He waved to his SUV. Get in. Ill pick you up in the morning.

She turned to face him, noting how the bare lighting threw his hard-cut features into stark relief and darkened his eyes to jet. When he stepped closertoo closeshe felt a tug of nerves. Look. I appreciate the concern, but Im fine. I dont need a babysitter, okay?

They stared at each other for a beat before he dipped his head. At first, she had the insane notion that he was going to kiss her. At the thought heat blazed through her body, a raging, unwise, uncaring inferno that recalled the flash and flame theyd created together once before.

Then she realized he was only nodding. I got it. His voice rasped on the words, as though he was restraining a curse, or something else.

He stepped back, and she felt as if theyd just ended an embrace, though they hadnt touched. Her lips were tender and swollen as though they had kissed. Her body revved and begged as though they had done even more than that.

He lifted an eyebrow. You going or not? If you fall asleep on your feet in the middle of the parking lot, Ill be obliged to drive you home.

Im going. She spun blindly and nearly tripped over her own feet as she hurried to her VW, painfully aware of her own thoughts, and painfully certain hed read them in her face. Why else had his eyes been dark, his expression cloaked with a fierceness that bordered on passion?

She fumbled for her keys and unlocked her car, only then noticing a single sheet of paper trapped beneath the wiper blade. Thinking it was a menu, or a flier for the grunge club down the street, she grabbed for it.

The block-lettered words took a moment to register.

Youre getting warmer.

She heard a click and saw a curl of plastic-coated wire beneath her wiper blade. She turned to run and scream a warning, but her feet moved in slow motion and her voice failed her.

She heard another click. A dull whump! of detonation.

Something hit her from behind, driving her to the ground and pressing her flat.

And the night erupted in searing, choking flames.

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