His tone implied that he certainly didnt expect her to object, but she did. Apart from her heavy schedule at Hillsboro, Erin had no intention of getting involved in a police department task force. She would consult on cases within the safe confines of the university, but she would not risk questions about her background. Erin had always been very careful about keeping a low profile, even on cases that had caught the attention of the media. Now that she had returned to Chicago, it was more important than ever that she adhere to those rules. If her father were to ever find out she was here
Who are you kidding? a little voice taunted Erin. Her presence in Chicago would make no difference to her father whatsoever. Hed gladly given away his rights to her when she was a baby, hadnt he? Relinquished all claims, legal and otherwise, in order to retain sole custody of the son hed cherished, the only child hed ever wanted.
She glanced up at Dawson, and it almost seemed, by the flicker in his gray eyes, that he knew what shed been thinking. Had he somehow found out her real name, her true identity? Erin doubted it. If he knew she was from an infamous Chicago crime family, he wouldnt be asking her to sit on a police task force, would he?
Ill have my secretary call you in a day or two, he advised. And I must warn you, Dr. Casey, I usually dont take no for an answer.
And I must warn you, Erin thought in annoyance, I dont take orders very well, not even from the superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
DR. CASEY, isnt it? Mary Alice Stanton. The deans wife blocked Erins path to the front door, where she had hoped to quietly slip out unnoticed. Im so happy to finally meet you. Phils been raving about your credentials ever since you accepted the position here at Hillsboro.
Erin shook hands with the woman. Thats nice to hear, she murmured, although she couldnt imagine Dean Stanton raving about anyone or anything. And after her less than sterling performance with Ed Dawson, whatever admiration Dean Stanton might have been harboring for her would have quickly evaporated.
On closer examination, the deans wife was a little older than Erin had first thought, probably around thirty. They were contemporaries, but for the life of her, Erin couldnt think of a single thing to say to the woman. Mary Alice was beautiful, sexy and glamorous, and judging by the revealing dress she wore, she knew it. There was nothing wrong in that. Erin admired confidence. But women like Mary Alice Stanton, and like Erins secretary, Gloria, always made her feel inadequate, and it wasnt a feeling she liked.
I couldnt help noticing that you were having a private conversation with Superintendent Dawson, Mary Alice observed. Hes a very interesting man, isnt he? And so attractive!
Yes, he is, Erin agreed, though not enthusiastically.
Mary Alice appeared not to notice. Her eyes glowed with admiration. He and my husband have been friends for years, and I went to college with his stepdaughter. Thats how Phil and I met.
Erin wasnt sure how she was supposed to respond to that, so she merely smiled.
Mary Alice lowered her voice intimately. You may have heard what happened to her.
The stepdaughter?
She nodded sadly, but there was a strange glow in her eyes, almost as if she relished retelling the story. Her name was Ashley Dallas. She was murdered eight years ago at a college party. Not Hillsboro, she quickly added, as if to assuage any fears the information may have generated in Erin. A man was convicted of her murder, and hes been on death row for several years. Now, however, theres a possibility he may be released.
Something akin to a premonition swept over Erin. She felt chill bumps up and down her bare arms. Why?
Mary Alice shrugged. Some unfortunate legal technicality. It was discovered a few months ago that evidence was deliberately withheld from the police investigation, and the mans lawyers have pressed for a mistrial or a new trial or something. There was a real brouhaha in the papers about it a few months ago, and some of his groupies organized a protest march at police headquarters. According to the newspaper accounts, the scene got pretty violent.
I havent heard anything about it. Erin rarely had time for reading newspapers or even watching the news on television, which quite often made her feel hopelessly out of the loop. She supposed she was the quintessential scientist, cooped up in her lab and shut off from the rest of the world.
Im surprised, given the level of publicity its received, Mary Alice said. But then, I guess you havent been in town all that long, and things have recently died down a bit. She looked as if she wanted to say more, but just then, Russell Quay, another anthropology professor and member of the FAHIL staff, hurried over and tapped her on the shoulder.
Mary Alice turned, automatically plastering a smile on her lovely face. Russell! I havent seen you all evening. Whereve you been hiding, you handsome devil, you?
The diminutive professor beamed up at her, obviously smitten, and when Mary Alice bent to say something to him, putting her attributes at his eye level, Erin thought he might faint dead away.
After a moment, Mary Alice excused herself, and her admirer turned anxiously to follow her with his gaze. Behind his thick, bottlelike glasses, his eyes looked dazed and slightly guilty, like a kid whod purloined his fathers Penthouse.
Dr. Quay?
He turned, startled, as if he hadnt seen Erin standing there. His face flushed a deep, mottled red, and he muttered something under his breath, quickly whirling away to run headlong into a uniformed server carrying a heavy, silver tray of canapés. Somehow the young woman managed to keep her balance, and after a bit of two-stepping, Russell darted around her and disappeared into the crowd.
The poor man is obviously sexually deprived, Lois Childers, an archaeology professor, commented wryly as she ambled up beside Erin. Thats the kind you have to watch out for, you know. Their frustrations sometimes manifest themselves in very disturbing ways.
You sound as if youve had some experience, Erin remarked mildly. Lois was a tall woman, in her early forties, with handsome features and a raspy, sexy voice deepened even more so by her chain smoking. Her auburn hair was shoulder length and blunt cut in a Cleopatra style that highlighted her angular cheekbones. Tonight she wore a gold brocade suit that made her seem positively regal as she gazed upon the proceedings with airy disdain.
Ive known my share of head cases, she blithely admitted. Id watch out for Russell if I were you.
Erin glanced at her in surprise. Why?
Lois shrugged. He thought he would be the one put in charge of FAHIL. Dean Stanton gave him every indication that he would be, then suddenly she snapped her fingers here you are.
I didnt know, Erin said, although it was hardly a surprise. Universities were as competitive as multinational corporations. Her appointment was bound to cause some hostility. I dont know Dr. Quay all that well, but he doesnt seem threatening.
Well, hell, Lois said, eyeing Erin over the rim of her wineglass. Neither do many serial killers. She paused. Ill lay you two to one odds that the little general is still a virgin. His mommy keeps him on too tight a leash.
His mommy?
His mommy?
Lois snorted. Didnt you know? Russell still lives with his mother. He asked me to dinner once and the old bag had to come along with us. Do you remember the mother in Throw Momma from the Train? When Erin admitted she did, Lois nodded grimly. Well, then, youve got the picture.
Youve dated Russell Quay? Erin hadnt meant to sound so incredulous, but a more unlikely couple she couldnt imagine.
Well, hell, Lois said. Im not getting any younger, and besides, in case you havent noticed, the pickings on campus arent exactly prime. We cant all have tall, dark, handsome detectives traipsing through our offices.
Erin froze. How had Lois known about Detective Gallagher?
Almost casually, she said, So, who have you been talking to?
Lois smiled mysteriously. I have my sources.
This is serious, Lois. If theres a leak at FAHIL Lois rolled her eyes. Oh, come on. Lighten up, Erin. A good-looking man causes talk. I saw him coming out of your office and I asked Gloria who he was. She obviously had the hots for him herself.
Gloria Maynard hadnt exactly overwhelmed Erin with her competence and trustworthiness, and now to hear that shed been talking about a visitor to the lab, even to Lois, did not bode well for their future working relationship. Erin would have to speak to her secretary at once, warn her to be especially discreet where FAHIL was concerned.
Still, Lois was right. A good-looking man did cause talk, and Nick Gallagher was nothing if not good-looking. An image of him flashed through Erins mind, and she felt that same flutter of nerves in her stomach that shed experienced upon meeting him. She told herself again it wasnt attraction. She had some sort of sixth sense about the man. Some internal alarm warning her that he meant trouble.
Lois gave her a smug look. Ill lay you ten to one odds that man doesnt live with his mother.
No, Erin thought. For all she knew, he lived with his wife. Or his lover.
That notion gave her another odd feeling, making her stomach tremble even more, and she took a sip of her wine, trying to chase away the unfamiliar sensation.
And I can tell you without a doubt, hes no virgin, Lois declared.
Erin gave her an amused glance. Without a doubt? You know, of course, that implies a certain knowledge of the fact.
Lois gave a sensual wince. Dont I wish. That dark hair with those blue eyesthat body She shuddered. Hed be an incredible lover.
Erins amusement evaporated, and she became annoyed with the conversation, although she couldnt say why exactly. Just because hes good-looking
Its more than that, Lois declared. When you get to be my age, you have a certain instinct for men. Its like a radar. You know almost immediately the ones wholl remember your birthday, the ones wholl be nice to your mother. The ones wholl be good in bed, she added with a sly smile.
And you think Detective Gallagher would be nice to your mother? Erin couldnt help asking.
Honey chile, my dear ole mother would drool all over him, Lois drawled, mimicking Erins Southern accent.
Would he remember your birthday?
Lois gave that a moments consideration. No, she said finally. Hes not the type of man who would remember a womans birthday. But hed sure as hell know how to make it up to her.
ERIN STEPPED OUT onto the portico of the deans house a few minutes later, breathing a sigh of relief that shed finally made good her escape. Then she paused as her gaze lit on a man lurking on the sidewalk across the street. He stood beneath the limbs of a giant elm, his face filtered from the streetlight, and for a moment, Erins heart started to race. Had he followed her here? Had he been standing there all evening, waiting for her to come out? If so, why?
An image of the skeletal remains of Case 00-03, locked tight in her lab, flashed through Erins head, and panic bloomed inside her. Just as she turned to go back inside the house, the man stepped into the street, leaving the shadows behind, and Erin recognized him. She felt relief and anxiety all at once, and her heart continued to pound as she watched Detective Gallagher cross the street and head up the flower-lined walkway.
Hed be an incredible lover.
Erin cursed herself for lingering as long as she had over that conversation with Lois, because now she couldnt get the womans observations concerning Detective Gallagher out of her head.
Honestly, Erin told herself irritably. Whether the man was Don Juan himself had no bearing on her dealings with him.
And I can tell you without a doubt, hes no virgin.
Brilliant, Erin thought dryly. It didnt exactly take a Nobel prize winner in genetic engineering to reach that conclusion. Anyone who had gazed into those baby blues would have deduced that much in two seconds flat, even a forensic anthropologist whose sexual exploitsand it was being extremely imaginative to use that termwere few and far between.
When he drew near her, his steps faltered for one split second before he approached her. Dr. Casey?
Yes.
I almost didnt recognize you. His gaze swept over her, taking in her loose, flowing hair and the clingy fabric of her tunic and pants. The look on his face made Erin grow almost breathless.
H-how did you know Id be here? she said, wincing inwardly at the stammer.
Your secretary told me.
Gloria again. Not only did the woman talk too much, she wasnt above selling out her boss in order to gain the favor of an attractive man.
Well, who could blame her? a little voice jeered as Erins gaze slipped over Detective Gallagher in the dim light. Hed shed the sport coat and slacks hed worn earlier in favor of jeans and a cotton T-shirt which melded very nicely to his muscular torso. Erin was beginning to appreciate a little more than just his bone structure, she realized. Perhaps she hadnt given enough credit in the past to toned muscles and tanned skin.
And now you sound just like Lois, that same little voice taunted her.
Well, hell, Erin thought, wrapping her shawl more tightly around her shoulders.
Are you ready to go? His gaze flicked over her again, as if he still wasnt quite convinced she was the woman hed been expecting.
Erin knew she should be flattered, but for some reason she wasnt. Had her appearance been that lacking earlier?
And so what if it had? Why should she care what Detective Gallagher, or anyone else, thought of her looks? Erin had never been a vain person. There had always been so many more interesting pursuits with which to occupy her time. She didnt even like to shop. Shed ordered the outfit she had on tonight via the Internet, not having concerned herself for more than a minute with the fit, color, or fabric.
Judging by Detective Gallaghers reaction, the selection was a success, and Erin felt herself growing even more agitated the longer he stared at her.
She pushed back her hair. Ill need to go home and change first. Then Ill have to go by the lab and pick up my equipment.
Fine. Ill drive you.
Erin started to tell him she had her own car, but then she remembered that shed walked the few blocks from her garage apartment to the deans house, not wanting to be bothered with parking on the narrow street. It had still been daylight then, but now that it was dark and growing cool, she didnt relish walking home alone. She shrugged. Thanks. Id appreciate the ride.