“And you’re learning to use the gifts God gave you.”
She snorted even as a vice twisted around her major organs. “Yeah, right. That’s why I said Snake knew the license number when he didn’t. Why I missed the significance of the locket.” Why she hadn’t known enough to save Jules.
“Max, Max, Max, you always have to know everything right this minute. Savor the learning experience, sweetheart.”
“My little learning experience got Jules killed.”
“Jules’s participation in that video got him killed.”
“But—”
“Fate, Max. Jules sealed his the night he let Pippa talk him into raping Tiffany.”
She stood mute before him. It just wasn’t that easy.
“I want you to at least admit the possibility that I’m right,” he whispered.
She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth, chewed on it, and gave in with a suddenness that surprised her. “Maybe.”
“Witt’s here,” Cameron said just before a knock sounded at the door.
Her heart gave a curious little leap. She moved to the top of the stairs and saw his big shadow filling the curtained window of the door below.
With one hand on the jamb for support, her gaze riveted on Witt’s outline, she realized her confessions weren’t over.
And she owed Cameron an apology. “I’m sorry I hurt you with all that stuff last night.”
“You didn’t hurt me. But you should have told me years ago, my love.”
The backs of her eyes ached at the endearment, but she didn’t cry. “You’re right, you know. I don’t know how to make love. I don’t even know how to have a relationship.” And she had the most awful sense that the lack of feeling she’d so eloquently described to Cameron last night was merely the tip of the iceberg. “In fact, I’m scared to death of it all.”
“I know. Now let in Witt, sweetheart.”
The command held a wealth of meaning. She descended the stairs and opened the door under the misguided impression that Witt wasn’t still pissed at her.
Not, she realized, as he blocked the light in her doorway. He didn’t smile, his dimples were totally non-existent, and his blue eyes were dark and stormy.
“Let’s go for a ride.” His voice had that dictatorial quality that set her nerves on edge.
“A ride?” She wasn’t dressed to go out. She had on her grungiest pair of jeans and the T-shirt she wore when she cleaned the toilet, which is exactly what she’d planned to do after hanging the medicine chest. Penance maybe.
“You need to know what’s happening.”
She pushed the door wide. “You can come in and tell me.”
His gaze was mutinous. “We need to be out in public. I might strangle you if we’re alone.”
Uh-oh. Full sentences again. He hadn’t forgiven her. She just couldn’t figure out which thing he was most pissed about—for almost getting herself killed, for sending Bubba to run interference, or for telling him she wasn’t interested in him. “I need a sweatshirt.”
She ran back upstairs, swapped out her shirt and jeans for her more traditional black suit and high heels. Witt liked her high heels. She hoped they would help him loosen up.
The scowl only got worse when he saw the new ensemble.
Parked in her gravel drive was a tan department vehicle. No Dodge Ram. Oh man, he was really pissed. She straightened her shoulders stoically and climbed in beside him. The seats were sun-warmed and the interior musty and smelling of pine air freshener over old cigars.
“Are you on duty?”
“I’m working a case. I don’t have much time.”
He backed out of the drive, turned left, drove a couple of blocks, and parked next to the playground. Two girls whipped back and forth on the swings, laughing. A woman sat watching at a nearby picnic table.
The sun streamed in through the windshield, warming her inside and out. Or maybe that was just the effect of being with Witt in the close confines of the vehicle. Max turned in her seat and waited. She’d done all her “I’m sorrys” and explanations last night, or rather early this morning. They hadn’t moved him. She didn’t think anything had changed.
Witt undid his seat belt, letting it slam home. The sound made her jump. “Scagliomotti and Berkowsky found a box of Tiffany videos in the house. Pippa Lamont caved after that. Nadine spilled her guts about killing Tiffany. Although they’re both saying the other one was the leader.”