Page 41 of Whispers at Dusk
When they had finished eating, they thanked Bisset for his thoughtfulness and he reminded them he was there for whatever they needed. He’d continue communicating with the teams throughout the day and convey the images Maisie would send to every possible law enforcement officer in the country and beyond.
They left headquarters, walking down the street in silence.
“Maybe we should have a public argument,” Della said. “I mean, nothing obnoxious. Something quiet—and then I walk away from you.”
“Pardon?”
“Well, if I’m with you, I’m hardly a good target.” She smiled at him wryly. “You do realize even here where people are tall, you stand out and you look as if you could take down half a football team at once. We need this person to come after me.”
“Della, I’m not sure—”
“What? If we see him, we just stare at him? We can’t hold him for just walking down the street or ordering a drink in a bar.”
She had a point.
But he had lost one partner.
And while they’d barely known each other a few days, they had been intense ones. And whether he wanted to accept it or not, he was attracted to her.
And he knew what it was to lose a partner.
She sensed something in him, and he feared she might realize just how much he was attracted to her.
But that wasn’t it.
“You know, what you said to Marlene is true. You blame yourself for your partner’s death, and I read the file. It wasn’t your fault in any way. Mason, when we get into this line of work, we know our lives will be in danger. He wouldn’t want you blaming yourself. You did nothing wrong. You have to accept that—and accept the fact that I am an agent—a Krewe agent at that—and trust in me and let me do my job.”
He smiled and nodded slowly.
“You may be too good a target,” he murmured.
She frowned.
“Okay, right. I’m tall. I’ve got that. But you’re stunning—and this guy likes attractive women. And one of the dead was with the National Police Directorate.”
“But she was probably just out with friends—not expecting anything. I am well aware now of what this man and his accomplice are after. More than that—I have you at my back.”
“All right,” he said. “We’ll play it your way.”
They headed on into Bruger’s bar. Sven was there. They sat at the bar and he came over to speak with them. “Anything?”
“We think you might have served a man truly responsible for some of this,” Della told him, leaning close across the bar, and smiling. “Hey, play along with us. We’re just a couple. An American couple enjoying the sights of Lillehammer.”
“You got it,” Sven assured her. “Anything I can do!”
She laughed and playing her part, turned to Mason, drawing a hand down his arm, coming close as if they were a couple just as she had said.
He laughed in turn, stroking her chin, lifting her face to his.
He hadn’t lied. She was stunning. And she could play a part brilliantly. A little too brilliantly for his—
They were professionals, he reminded himself.
People came in and out. It was still a bit early for the real nightlife to start. But then...
People began to arrive. It was a beautiful time in Lillehammer, and tourists were in abundance.
Despite the vampire murders.
