Which would make it okay for him to have had sex with her?
No. She breathed out. No, it would just make them not strangers. Frustrated, she pressed on her temples. Im trying really hard to untangle this mess of knots weve tied, Knight.
And coming to a lively restaurant-his idea, not hers-in even livelier Mount Adams probably wasnt the best place to do that. The chili at Bitte might be the best in the city, and the owners, a pair of second-generation German brothers, might be famous for bursting into song, but Romana had had two bombshells dropped on her that night-one involving Jacob, the other his former partner-and neither one was sitting well.
As she struggled with her thoughts, she moved her gaze around the room.
Holiday oompah music underscored laughing patrons at more than three dozen tables. Being German, the brother/owners had Christmas trees stuffed into every nook and cranny. The one precariously angled over their booth tended to grab Romanas hair every time she moved.
She swirled the lager she hadnt really wanted and, beginning with the less complicated prospect, backtracked through the newest knots.
What was the state of OKeefes marriage nine years ago?
Jacob gave a small laugh. Come on, Romana, guys dont talk personal on the clock.
In my experience, they dont talk personal off the clock, either. But even a guy can get a sense of another guys life. Was he snappish, moody, tense, depressed? Or the opposite- upbeat, relaxed, eager to leave when his shift ended?
He was OKeefe, steady and dependable. A solid cop. We talked baseball, football, politics and punks. Jacob took a long drink of beer. If youre interested, Barrets friend, the mayor, is a dick.
She tugged on strands of her hair that were currently snagged in the tips of the Christmas pine. Really? Ill have to mention that to my colleague at the university. The mayors her stepfather.
Steps can be dicks, too.
Although the word step triggered a third line of thought, Romana wanted to deal with OKeefe and Belinda first. Straight answer, Knight. Did OKeefe know Belinda Critch before he allegedly went upstairs at Gilhoolies and had sex with her?
Alleged sex.
Dont nitpick. It wasnt an official question.
Then the unofficial answer is, no, I dont think he knew her, but yes, hed met her.
Through you?
Through the department. We deal with people in forensics every day. Its part of our job. And Belinda was very people oriented.
Mostly male people, as Romana recalled, but she let it go and ran a contemplative finger around the rim of her glass. It could have been a one-time thing between them. New Years Eve festivities gone awry.
Could be. Why arent you looking at me?
Shed been expecting this. Raising her head, she forced a steady stare. Better?
He leaned over his drink, and it took all of Romanas willpower not to grab his T-shirt and haul him closer. Or shove him away and escape.
Jacob watched her but didnt speak until the young restaurant owner, whod launched into a boisterous rendition of Handels Hallelujah chorus, finished to a round of applause. Jacobs green eyes moved over her face with a slow, almost dangerous kind of seduction. Her skin warmed, and her heart made a dizzy revolution in her chest.
Who did you run into in the park?
She could lie and call herself a coward, or go with the truth and brace for impact.
She took a deep breath-then sighed it out. One of Belindas phone conversations was overheard during that weird and eventful forty-eight-hour period prior to her death. Your name came up.
Not in a good way, I assume.
She told whoever was on the other end that you wanted her dead.
Did this eavesdropper happen to know who Belinda was talking to?
Id guess no. Now that it was out, Romana gave in to temptation, slid closer and ran a fingertip from his cheek to his jaw. Deny it, Jacob. Id rather believe you than someone who listens in on private conversations.
His eyes fixed on hers. Why would I want Belinda dead when I didnt want her in the first place?
Thats not a denial, Detective.
Catching her fingers, he brought them to his lips. I didnt want her dead, okay? I didnt want anything from her.
She reminded herself to breathe. Did you argue about the restraining order she requested?
We might have. I know she wanted me to obtain it no questions asked.
Surely she knew that was impossible A cloud of doubt scudded in. What do you mean, you might have? Dont you know why you argued?
Turning her hand over, he ran his thumb lightly across her palm. The shiver that skated along her spine had as much to do with apprehension as desire. What arent you telling me, Jacob?
He held her gaze, but his lashes fell to shield his expression. I remember meeting her for lunch, and I know we talked about a restraining order. Its leaving the restaurant when things start to getblurry.
Romanas latent cop sense kicked in. She curled her fingers around his. Define blurry.
He stroked the skin on the back of her hand. Hazy, as in unclear, like a slow spin through a black hole.
Concern had her capturing his chin. You have blackouts?
Had them six years ago, for a three- maybe four-week period.
Did you tell Stubbs or Canter?
Canter and I have several post-Academy issues, and the code book is Stubbss bible.
Doesnt mean hed have crucified you. Why a months worth of blackouts?
The lines around his mouth deepened. Long story short, six years ago, OKeefe and I pursued three homicide suspects on foot to the waterfront. It was early December and icy. OKeefe went down. I kept going. I lost sight of one suspect, but the other two were visible and, by the time I reached them, penned in by a high warehouse fence. The one closest dropped his weapon when I approached. The other didnt. I heard OKeefe shout, but didnt turn fast enough. The third guy blindsided me. When I regained consciousness, two of the suspects were gone and the one Id managed to graze was on the ground, howling that he was bleeding to death.
Let me guess. When the paramedics arrived on scene, you sent the runner to the hospital but never considered going there yourself.
Something like that.
She shook her head. Men. Then on a note of exasperated amusement. Cops. The humor faded. Untreated concussions have been known to cause blackouts, Jacob. You must have realized you needed attention after your first one. Or was the restaurant the first time?
Fifth. A crease formed between his eyes. I think.
Okay, this wasnt good. But it didnt necessarily damn him, either. It was simply another knot.
A limb caught her hair, causing several decorations to jingle. The approaching server apologized and helped her untangle. Transitioning smoothly, he recommended the house chili with wild rice and a bean and herb salad.
Okay, this wasnt good. But it didnt necessarily damn him, either. It was simply another knot.
A limb caught her hair, causing several decorations to jingle. The approaching server apologized and helped her untangle. Transitioning smoothly, he recommended the house chili with wild rice and a bean and herb salad.
By the time he left with two full orders on his pad, Romana had her hair smoothed and her doubts firmly locked away.
You should have said something- she stabbed Jacobs chest to emphasize her point -long before you reached number five. Did OKeefe notice anything?
Yeah, he told me I looked like crap and suggested I get a vitamin shot. He nudged aside his empty glass. OKeefe was going through a messy divorce, Romana. Hed lost the custody battle. His father had been killed in a motorcycle accident a few months earlier.
His father was a biker? she interrupted. I mean She frowned. I thought when OKeefe said his dad rode bikes he meant ten speed or mountain. Hell. She visualized OKeefes face on the dark wood tabletop. Im not much of a friend, am I?
Jacob almost hid his smile. You said yourself, you dont pry. OKeefe doesnt really talk about his private life. Hes even less forthcoming about his fathers death.
Which wasnt quite the point. Any way Romana looked at it, she should have known.
She took an absent swipe at the air-and realized her thumb was covered with tree sap.
Having a bad karma day. She rubbed at the sap with her napkin. I need soap and water. As she slid from the booth, she patted his cheek. Think explanation for five unreported blackouts, Knight, and Ill be right back.
There were only two people in the womens washroom, a mother and daughter who appeared to be having a Freaky Friday episode.
Romana tuned them out and set her mind on Jacob. He didnt remember leaving a restaurant with a woman whod wound up dead two days later. He thought he remembered why theyd argued but wasnt sure.
Like the conversation Patrick had overheard, those facts couldnt have come out at the hearing. Thered have been headlines if they had. So did that make Jacob a liar, or did it mean that the overall picture was intact and only the details were fuzzy?
Her head buzzed with possibilities, far too many to sort through in a washroom where a teenage girls voice was growing louder by the second.
Let it go, Lacy, her crimson-faced mother finally ordered. Youre embarrassing both of us.
Romana could have told her that very little embarrassed a police officer, past or present, but she stopped herself and used the air machine to dry her hands. She was re-shouldering her purse when the door shot open and a man in full Santa costume rushed in.
He didnt hesitate, merely flicked a glance at the women in the corner then lunged at Romana, his nearest target. He had her arm wrenched painfully behind her back before she could dip a hand into her bag.
Mom? The girl sidled behind her mother.
Its okay, Romana gasped as her arm was yanked higher. He wants me, not you.
Smart lady, the fake Santa growled in her ear. Pretty, too. Bad-luck, good-luck scenario for me. You! He jerked his whiskered chin at the frightened pair. Lock yourselves in a stall, and stay there. You- he returned his mouth to Romanas ear -come with me.
She was trained, Romana reminded herself. One unguarded moment, and she could take him down.
Where are we going? she asked and was rewarded with a crack in the region of her elbow. But he had hold of her other arm as well, she realized through the pain, so if he was carrying a weapon, he wouldnt be able to access it easily.