Page 85 of Spring L.A.W.
She lowered herself to her elbows and stared at the glassy surface of the pool. The lining was black, the best color forscrying. Bas had the blue tiles changed to black. Crowe saw clouds reflected in the surface, but that’s about all.Oh, is that one in the shape of a mouse? Cool.
Crystal popped her head around the door to the pool area. “I’m going to meet Stan and wait for a ransom call, meanwhile looking for any suspicious activity at the hotel.”
“Sounds like a good idea. I’ll be here doing what I do until I come up with something. Got your cell phone on?”
“Sure do. Oh, and Joell? Rick’s still here.”
“What?” She jumped up and held the towel together tighter.
“Don’t wait up,” Crystal called. Then she disappeared faster than a cat at bath time.
The cop wandered out onto the patio. “Sorry about before,” he called as he approached. “I talked to Crystal. I really didn’t give you a chance to explain how you work before pissing you off. I thought it might be a good idea to talk about how we can coordinate?—”
“Stop right there.”
“Look. I know you don’t like to work with the police, but…”
She glared at him. “If you have something to say, just say it.”
“No. It’s your turn to do the talking. Seems I’ve said enough.”
It was what he was saying with his eyes that concerned Crowe. They twinkled with secret knowledge. She’d undoubtedly be furious if she thought he was one up on her. She seems dominating. Not with the whips and stuff. It’s just that she likes to call the shots, because she’s usually right. Bossy, but in a good way.
He began to swagger toward her again. “Don’t worry. I’ll be quick.” Then he looked over at her bathing suit top and said, “Well, maybe not that quick.”
Uh oh. Dark clouds crossed her eyes. Crowe thought Rick was about to see the reverse side of Witchy. Her evil twin, Bitchy.
Instead, she matched his swagger and met him halfway. She leaned forward and whispered something in his ear.
He laughed. “Believe me, sweetheart, no one’s damaged me yet, and you wouldn’t be the first one who’s tried.”
Joell attempted to walk past him and head for the house, but he grabbed her arm. “Hey, we need to talk about the case.”
“No,wedon’t.”
“Excuse me, but I think we do. Unless you don’t care if the League fails.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “That’s not an option.”
“Good. I have the same philosophy.”
“I work alone.” She tried to shake off his arm without success.
“Not this time.”
Uh oh. He means business.
They both glared, and he seemed to have lost his sense of humor. It looked as if the unstoppable force that was Wonder Witch had met an immovable object.
“Look, I need your help, Joell.”
Her eyebrows rose, probably because he actually used her correct name. “How?”
“I don’t know anything about romance conventions or how the models are supposed to act. I need to know how to blend in.”
Joell’s eyes glinted, and one side of her smile lifted.
Uh oh,Crowe thought. I know this look. She’s thinking of doing something. Something bad.
