OKeefe expelled a weary breath. Is there more left to say? Yes, Im done, and while I stand by all of it, I shouldnt have unloaded on you like that. I know youve had a lot of valleys with those peaks. Deep ones. The suspicion surrounding Belinda Critchs death, the memory thing, the threats. A frown appeared. The brake line Damn. You were filling me in on the details before I went off half-cocked.
Jacob knew he could walk away now, and OKeefe would understand why. But theyd been partners for years, friends longer. And if he was honest, not much of what OKeefe had said was untrue.
By way of a peace offering, Jacob topped their mugs. Come into the waiting room, and Ill tell you about a patch of ice the size of Lake Michigan, a rusted-out fence and just how much damage a brick wall can inflict on the back end of a truck.
TIME TICKED ON. DARKNESS gave way to light. Romana felt as if she had a metronome embedded in her brain. No Fitz, no Critch, no way to contact James Barret.
Her parents arrived in Cincinnati unannounced early Friday morning. Her father insisted that his grandchildren should miss school and go tobogganing. Later, hed treat them to dinner and the Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo.
He roped in Romana and her brother Noah to help. He would have added Fitz to the list if Romana hadnt told him that the path lab was overrun, and Fitz couldnt possibly get away from work.
Feeling every one of the bruises shed incurred the evening before, she bumped down snowy hills, ate pizza and chicken wings and wandered through the spectacular Christmas light display with her family. By 8:00 p.m., rosy-cheeked and tired, the kids were back at their homes, and Romanas parents were en route to Grandma Greys Kentucky ranch house.
And thats a thumbnail sketch of my entire day, Romana said to Jacob, whod knocked on her door fifteen short minutes after shed collapsed on the sofa. How did your daylight hours pan out, Detective?
Ive had worse. He looked around at her high ceiling, tall windows and wide-open floor plan. You have urban written all over you.
My homes urban, but Im going to inherit a Kentucky horse ranch, and believe me when I tell you, Ive mucked out more than a few stables in my life.
He grinned. I wouldnt mind watching that scene unfold.
She wagged a finger. No, no, you dont watch at my grandmothers ranch, you participate. Means you get dirty. She has six dogs, a million cats and the most beautiful thoroughbreds you can imagine. And if you think the Christmas light show at the zoo is a wow, you should see her ranch on Christmas Eve. Think North Pole with a twist. She dresses up as Mrs. Claus and invites the entire town of Evanwood to walk around and gape. All donations of food and money gratefully accepted and passed on to local charities. Im playing the part of Snow Miser this year, and while Im sure you have no idea who he is, visualize icicles and snow control, and youre pretty much there.
Standing at the living room window, Jacob scanned the city. Theres still no word on Fitz.
I know. She ran a hand along her arm, joined him at the glass. I hate that I dont know who has her. Critch makes sense, but I keep thinking about Belindas watch and seeing James Barrets face. Guilt crept in as she glanced at Jacobs profile. When Im not seeing yours.
He gave a brief laugh. Not the best time for that, is it?
No, but then Im not big on timing. Fitz says its one of my more promising flaws. Unable to shut down her feelings, she went with the moment and walked her fingers up his arm. Im liking the shoulder holster, Detective Knight. It screams power and sex appeal.
You think guns are sexy?
When the right person wears them, yes.
Im not a saint.
She flicked at the ends of his long hair. Good, because sainthoods totally overrated. Even Santa Claus shunned Rudolph for having a red nose.
Then offered him the job of top reindeer.
Because he needed Rudolphs nose to guide him through a winter storm.
A gleam appeared in Jacobs eyes. He slid a knuckle along her jawline. Is this story going somewhere?
It made you smile. She took a rumba step closer, hooked two fingers into his waistband. Any story that can do that is worth the telling.
You have a warped mind, lady.
When you grow up with six brothers, you warp or go nuts.
The gleam intensified as he ran his thumb over her cheekbone. I see your eyes when Im asleep. Sometimes theyre all I see. Other times, he wrapped his long fingers around her nape, I see a lot more of you.
Tugging on the bottom of his T-shirt, she slid her hands over his skin. Thats pressure on me. Its not easy living up to peoples expectations. I should probably warn you, Im not a good emotional risk.
Why not?
Head tipped to the side, she regarded him at a deliberately seductive angle. Too changeable. I have trouble sticking. On the flipside, she eased in to bite his lower lip, I dont seem to have any trouble at all
The rest died in her throat as his mouth crushed onto hers and began to devour. Nothing else registered. It was as if a giant wave of lust crashed over her, drenching her with wet heat.
And color. Pure white fire with splashes of jeweled light. Or was that the city skyline? Whatever it was, wherever it came from, sensation after sensation tore through her.
God, did Jacob Knight know how to kiss. The taste of him drove Romanas excitement level up until she was clutching his hair to keep him as close as possible. She pressed her body against his and simply let herself revel.
Should she be doing this here and now, though, with her cousin missing and her brain so crammed with thoughts that it might take her until next Christmas to sort them out?
When he raised his head, the room tilted slightly. Big yes, she decided, and swore she could see Fitz sending her a delighted thumbs-up. She marveled that her mouth felt numb and gave her upper lip an experimental touch with her tongue. So thats what a nuclear explosion feels like, huh?
Or a tidal wave. He framed her face with his hands, looked into her eyes. We shouldnt be doing this, Romana.
Probably not. Her movement against his lower body drew a hiss of reaction. But I sense a conflict in you, Jacob. Her smile teased while her fingers roamed. A big one.
He pressed his lips to her forehead. Very clever, Professor Grey. I meant there are things I havent told you.
The smile gave way to understanding as she brushed at his dark hair. You dont remember the night she died, do you? Only a part of it. Jacob, you didnt kill her. Aside from the fact that youre a cop and sworn to uphold the law, why would you have wanted her dead? It doesnt make sense, and it doesnt mesh with your character.
Not the character you know. Romana sighed. Did you love her? His eyes slid past her to the window. I dont think I had any feelings for her. She wanted help with a problem. Im a cop. She came to me.
So you see? We agree. You didnt do it-as Ive said from the start. She nipped his lower lip, smiled just a little and set her hands on his shoulders.
Taut muscles, lean body, awake and aware. Troubled he might be, but he wanted her, and God knew she wanted him.
Still, timing mattered, and this wasnt their moment. Tonight they needed something different, something active and purposeful.
I have an idea. Should I be worried? Im worried enough for the both of us, Jacob. Her eyes narrowed. Captain Harris has people looking for Fitz, right? As many as he can spare. Good, because we need a break. Okay, now Im worried. Thats the idea. Jumping up, she wrapped her legs around him. One final, long kiss, deep and dangerous, then she nuzzled his ear and whispered, Grandma Grey swears a change is as good as rest for sharpening the mind.
And that means?
It means, Detective Knight, that you and I are going to climb into your new vehicle, point it north-and go shopping for Christmas trees.
SURVEILLANCE WAS A DULL SPORT, but what had to be done had to be done. Hed been following Romana all day with little opportunity to strike. He had no particular desire to involve children in his revenge. Besides, Knight was with her now, and twofers were always more exhilarating.
Take the incident last night. Watching them careen down that hill, skid, spin and finally crash through a rusty fence into the meat factory wall had gotten him hard. Wonder what a shrink would say about that?
A sprig of mistletoe on the dash taunted him. Knight had used it as a prop in Belindas death. It seemed only fitting that Warren Critch should make his counterstatement in much the same way. One clear, life-ending statement. Then, hasta la vista, hed be gone.
Inside his truck, he pulled the hat he wore down low on his forehead, tucked his hands under his arms and slumped deeper into his seat. He had an arsenal of weapons locked in the utility box behind him. When they left tonight, alone or together, hed be right behind them, their very own ghost of Christmas past.
Feliz Navidad, Jacob and Romana.
Chapter Eleven
They drove to a Christmas tree farm ten minutes north of the city. Live trees, cut trees, small, medium and large trees, this place had it all.
Romana knew what she wanted-a six-foot blue spruce that could be planted in her brothers backyard after Christmas.
Its eco-friendly, she told Jacob as they wandered through the labyrinth of green. Its also a happy ending for the tree.
Now youre into the psychology of trees?
Every living thing has a spirit. People, trees, even cockroaches. Maybe. At the tug of amusement on his lips, she grinned. Hey, I teach criminology, not metaphysics. What kind do you want?
He examined the burlap root bag of a traditional Christmas pine. The memory of a similar pine brought a stab of pain and a clutching sensation in his belly. He saw his mothers face and had to work to block it out.
No kind, Romana. But thanks.
She left the blue spruce shed been admiring and circled to where he stood. You need a tree, Jacob, even if its the Charlie Brown twig variety.
Oh, look, Oscar, an elderly woman remarked. Theres a lovely spruce.
No kind, Romana. But thanks.
She left the blue spruce shed been admiring and circled to where he stood. You need a tree, Jacob, even if its the Charlie Brown twig variety.