Page 15 of Night Prey
“Thank you, Sal.” She hugged him. “I appreciate you coming all the way down here to give me a ride home.”
He pulled back. “You sure you don’t want me to take you over to Reed’s condo? He’s been calling and calling.”
“I’m not ready to see him yet. I need to shower and clean up. I’ll call him on the way to my place.” Her top priority was to meet with Reed and the partners at the Veritas Center to talk about working together to clear her name, but first she needed to wash away the grime from her night in jail. She couldn’t function if she didn’t look her best, and she needed some high-level functioning if she hoped to find the guy who was trying to frame her for Junior’s murder.
She didn’t know if the killer was intentionally setting her up or if she’d just happened to be there, and the shooter had seized the opportunity.
“I promise Reed won’t bug you again,” she said.
“No worries.” Sal’s lips tipped up. “You’d do the same for me, and you know you’d be the person I would call if I was in your place. Not that I’ll ever be in your place.”
“Don’t sound so cocky, Sal. I never thought I’d be arrested for murder either.” She linked arms with him and turned to start for his double-parked car, but she came to an abrupt stop. Ian leaned against a plain looking sedan parked at the sidewalk, and he was giving her an expectant look.
“Seriously, he can’t be waiting to talk to me, can he?” she muttered.
“Looks like it.”
She thought to stay put and wait until he made a move, but she was ready to get home. That shower was beckoning her. She ran a hand over her hair and pressed wrinkles from her blouse before starting down the stairs, heading away from him.
“Could I have a word, Malone?” Ian called out.
She must’ve subtly changed course, angling a bit toward him and alerting Sal to her intentions.
“I don’t recommend that,” Sal said. “He’s still the investigating officer and could use anything you tell him against you.”
“I know what I should and shouldn’t say.”
“Yeah, knowing it”—Sal tapped his temple—“and remembering it in the heat of the moment are two different things.”
“Then come with me.” She didn’t wait for him but strode toward Ian, who’d changed from last night’s shirt and sweater to a blue button-down and black slacks, though he still wore the leather jacket. He’d arrived to interview her dressed that way, but she didn’t take the time to enjoy how the shirt color emphasized his gorgeous eyes or the way it seemed custom fitted to his toned body.
“Oh, I see,” Sal said as they got closer.
She glanced at him. “What?”
“You’ve got a thing for this guy.” He gripped her arm. “I suggest you stop right now and back away. You’re thinking with your emotions, not that fabulous brain I’ve always envied.”
She rolled her eyes at his compliment that, under normal circumstances, might make her think twice about it. “I’ll admit to having a crush on him in high school, but that was another lifetime. I got this. Trust me.”
Sal shook his head. “When it comes to matters of the heart, you’re such a novice that you won’t know you’re in trouble until after trouble strikes.”
She laughed. “I’m good. Honest.” She squeezed his arm and closed the rest of the distance to Ian.
“Don’t tell me,” she said. “You want to arrest me again.”
Ian drew in a sharp breath. “I know you have some great resources at your disposal, and I was hoping you would work with me in finding Junior’s killer.”
“Work with you?” Malone gaped at him. “You arrest me for murder, let me spend a night in jail, try to get charges brought against me, and then you want me to help you out? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I had to arrest you.” He stated the words in an even tone, but his nostrils flared. “It’s my job.”
She looked up at the man she’d once imagined herself in love with. One-sided infatuation, yeah, but love nonetheless. Even if hehadbeen doing his job, a long night in jail wouldn’t let her find any reason right now why she might even like him. Sure, he was good-looking. Totally good-looking, but she wasn’t shallow enough to fall for a man because of his looks alone.
And yet, he was right about her arrest. As a lawyer, she knew he had no choice. He’d said his lieutenant had brought the charges to the DA, but that didn’t mean Ian agreed. Maybe he’d even been instrumental in getting the DA to hold off on charging her.
“Tell me one thing,” she said, keeping her gaze pinned to him so she could evaluate the truth of his answers from his expression.
“I will if I can.”
