Page 41 of Lead Me On
“Greg. Hi.” Her tongue dried out so fast it nearly stuck to the roof of her mouth.
“I’m glad you called.”
“You are?”
“Yeah, I’m… Look, I’m sorry for what I said in the restaurant. It was out of line.”
Oh, thank God. He wasn’t mad anymore. Maybe this wouldn’t be so hard. “You had every right to be angry. I shocked you. I’m really sorry.”
“Why don’t we get together tonight and talk about this more? I miss you, Jane.”
“Greg—”
“I’ve never taken anyone home to meet my parents. I wouldn’t have planned that if I hadn’t been considering a future with you. I’m not ready to give you up without a fight, Jane.”
Oh, God. A horrible thought popped into her head, expanding until it filled her skull and pushed every rational thought out. What if she took him back? Just for a little while? Just until her brother was exonerated? She could find out who was leading the case, how the investigation was going. She could even hang around his office and listen for little tidbits of information.
“Please?” he whispered. The real emotion in that word shocked her out of her madness.
“I’m sorry, Greg. I’m sorry, but I can’t.” Her hands shook with the horror of what she’d been contemplating.
His breath left him in a long sigh. “Just think about it,” he muttered.
Feeling awful, knowing she should say no, Jane kept her mouth shut, unable to take that last step to cut their bond completely.
“What were you calling about, then?” he snapped in a much colder voice.
“Um, I had a question. Do you know who’s been assigned to the Michelle Brown case?”
“Michelle Brown? Why?”
“I…” She couldn’t say it. Her stomach rolled at the thought.Because my brother is a suspect.“I know someone who knew her,” she blurted out. “I told them I’d see what I could find out.”
“Not another one,” he muttered. “I think that girl was friends with half the people in Aspen. The D.A. has the case right now. I seriously doubt he’ll assign it to anyone else.”
“Should I be nervous? Is there a killer out there stalking young women?”
“Well, you’re ten years older than Michelle was, Jane,” he said drily, clearly meaning to be snide. “But no, I wouldn’t worry too much. I can’t reveal anything else, but we may have the guy in custody already.”
Although she was sitting down, a wave of dizziness descended over her. He must mean Jessie. He must. “You think you’ve caught him?”
Greg cleared his throat, and his voice became sharper. “I’m not saying we caught him, okay? Don’t go spreading that around. I’m just saying that these kinds of people are usually involved in other criminal activities. It’s likely he’s already in custody for some minor crime.”
“Like what?” she pressed.
“Look, I’ve got to go.”
“Wait… How will you know it’s him? Did someone see him at the scene? Is there—”
“Jane, I can’t give out that kind of information. What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Suspicion rang clear in his voice.
“Nothing. I’m sorry. I was just curious.”
“Yeah, well, if you were my girlfriend, maybe I’d consider talking this out with you.” He left it at that, clearly waiting for some sort of response.
“I’m sorry, Greg—”
“Don’t,” he said stiffly.
