Page 45 of Crow
“I’m pretty sure you already know Joey Deets. We work together in the same unit,” she said.
“I don’t know him. Is he cool?”
“You know me. I came by last week, and we talked.” Joey then muttered “Asshole” under his breath.
“Maybe,” Abe replied as he wheeled back into the apartment.
She placed her hand on Joey’s arm. “Don’t take it personally. The meds he takes makes his brain foggy.”
“I don’t really give a shit if he remembers me or not,” Joey said before going inside the unit.
“How’ve you been?” Crow’s low, husky voice slid over her.
“Good, and you?”
“Not bad.”
Sunlight from the apartment seeped into the hall and washed over him as Angie ran her gaze down his body, liking the way his faded jeans fit over his long legs. His gray T-shirt was pulled tautly by hard muscles and biceps. She swallowed, her throat as dry as ash.
“Angie?” Joey’s voice floated toward her.
“Coming,” she said, her voice rough and croaky.
“I guess you better not keep yourfriendwaiting,” Crow said.
Her gaze snapped to his. “Heismy friend.”
“I didn’t say he wasn’t.”
“But you implied it.” Her face started heating up, no doubt staining her cheeks pink. She groaned inwardly, then blew out a breath. “You’re infuriating.”
He chuckled. “I’ve been called worse.”
The way he was standing made it impossible for her to go inside without brushing against him. For a split second, she wondered what it would feel like to press her body against his hard muscles, and then she willed the thought from her brain.
“Can you please move aside so I can go in?”
Shrugging, he stepped away and gestured for her to enter. Shaking her head, she hurried past him and walked over to Joey.
“What were you doing out there?” he asked.
“Going over some notes.” She fibbed, then turned her attention to Abe, who had just finished his footlong. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Close the door,” he whispered.
“I got it,” Crow said.
Joey looked over her shoulder at the biker. “We’re working here.”
“For Abe’s and Angie’s sake, I’m gonna let that pass this once, but don’t fuckin’ speak to me again,” Crow said in a voice that could cut glass.
“Don’t,” she said to Joey when she saw his mouth open. “Leave it alone.”
Abe pointed a finger at the HUD investigator. “Crow’s right—you keep quiet.”
Angie could feel her friend bristling next to her. The tension in the room was palpable. She nudged Joey and pointed to the couch next to Abe. “Let’s sit down and listen to what Abe wants to tell us.” From the corner of her eye, she saw Crow staring at her, but she refused to look his way. “What’s on your mind?” she asked while sinking onto the couch.
“The night that guy was killed, I saw him,” Abe said as his eyes darted to the windows, the door, and around the room.
