Her dark eyes widened. “But...”
“No buts. You don’t leave this room. Order anything you want from room service. I’m going to talk to my captain today, and we’ll probably move you to a safe house.”
“But I barely saw the guys.”
Her words hit like sharp ice chips. “Saw them? You said Payne told you. You didn’t say you saw anyone. Them? There was more than one?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Two. One kid was waiting in the car. But—”
“What did he look like?” Hope swelled in Brit’s chest.
She blinked. “I don’t want to get in this any deeper.”
Brit glared at her. “You’re in this about as deep as you can get. You know Payne wouldn’t have thought twice about giving you up to those guys. Besides if you saw them, then they saw you. The only way you’re going to save your ass is to help us catch them. So just tell me. What did the other guy look like?”
She frowned. “They were both kids. One white and one black, the one who talked to Payne was black. He didn’t say he’d killed anyone. He said one of his gang buddies had done it.”
“What about the other one? Did you get a look at him?”
She wrung her hands together. “He had long hair. Red.”
“Did you know what gang they were from?”
“I don’t know gangs. They don’t like to pay for sex.”
Brit let out a deep breath. “Come on. I’m taking you in.”
“But I thought I was going to stay here. Order room service, watch cable. Judge Judy comes on in an hour.”
“I’ll get you something to eat at the station,” he said.
~
Cali sat at Tanya’s kitchen table, drinking coffee. Tanya, who wore jeans and a neon purple sweater, stood at the sink washing a few dishes. “Oh, I want to show you my last three pairs of earrings.” She dried her hands. “I want your honest opinion.”
Cali followed her into a room where a big table was filled with a small welder, and gold wire, and where tiny beads were scattered on top.
Eager to show off her wares, Tanya held up a pair of earrings that looked like tiny acorns.
“They’re beautiful,” Cali said and meant it. Truth was, most of Tanya’s pieces were beautiful, but they weren’t Cali’s style. These were different.
“You really like them? Because they’re different from anything I’ve done. But when I was designing them, I thought about you.”
Cali smiled. “They’re really pretty. Honestly.”
“Good. I made them for you.” She handed Cali the pair.
“No.” Cali set them down. “You need to give these to the gallery. They’re waiting for you to replace the others.”
“I already made those.”
“You’re serious?” Cali asked. “You made these for me?”
“Yes, now don’t get mushy on me. Just say ‘thank you.’”
“Thank you.” Grinning, Cali went to the mirror and put them on. “How do they look?” She turned, tilting her head to one side, then the other.
“Classy,” Tanya said. “The artist who designed them must be absolutely fabulous.”
“She is.” Cali looked around the room that served as Tanya’s studio. “You must have been very busy.”
“I was. Stayed up past midnight last night.”
“What about Eric?” Cali asked.
Tanya frowned. “I’m going to meet him for dinner tonight, but I’m putting sex off until next weekend.”
“Why?”
“You were right. Date three is too soon.”
Cali flinched. “I was joking, I didn’t mean—”
“I know you were joking. But you were right. I don’t want to rush things. I’m always dirtying up the bed sheets with a guy, and then I’m sorry I didn’t wait to find out if he was worth the price of laundering the sheets.”
“Do you think Eric’s a dickhead?”
“No. I just think I need to slow down. But speaking of dickheads, how’s Brit?”
“He’s fine.” Cali looked back in the mirror at the earring.
“Just fine?”
Cali dropped down in a chair beside Tanya’s work table. “Oh, heck. He’s so fine.”
Tanya rubbed her hands together like an excited child. “Details, I want details.”
Cali spent ten minutes telling Tanya about Brit kissing her, then sleeping in the same bed with her.
“So nothing happened?”
“No. Nothing.”
“And you’re fine with that?” Tanya asked.
“Of course.”
“You don’t lie worth a shit,” Tanya said.
Cali shook her head. “I don’t know what I want. One minute I’m telling him we’re not sharing food let alone bodily fluids, and the next, I wish he’d try something.”
Tanya grinned. “What time is he picking you up?”
“He said around five.”
“Great, that’s just enough time.”
“Time for what?”
“Shopping. I think you need to buy something new. Something sexier than your teacher attire.”
~
Brit had delivered Rina to Adams and had just gotten settled into his chair when he felt someone staring at him from his office door. He hadn’t looked up when he heard the sultry voice.