“Don’t worry. It will all shake out.”
“Yes, I’m sure it will. And it’s a huge force. I’m sure there are lots of cops out there who have to work together and aren’t always so terribly fond of each other.”
“Sure. And hey, I haven’t seen the drawings yet, but I hear that they’re beyond good. I’ll get to see them soon, though. I’m meeting Jake here in—” He glanced at his watch. “—about five minutes.”
“Good. I hope you’re happy when you see them. I’m going to run. I have to shower and pick up some friends to go visit another friend in the hospital.”
“The kid who was hit on the highway?”
“Yes. You know about it?”
“I dropped Jake off at the hospital the other night. I hear you think there’s something fishy about the accident.”
“I do.”
“Well, be careful, then.”
She smiled. She decided she liked Marty a lot. He didn’t try to give the same-old, same-old speech about drugs.
“See you, then. And thanks.”
She waved and hurried off, crossing the terrace, hopping the rail and hurrying across the grass to her dockside door. She glanced at her own watch, then stripped down, throwing things helter-skelter as she headed for the shower. Once the hot water was pouring down over her, she found herself just standing still, savoring the warmth that seeped into her body. It had been a long day. A triumph, some would say. Except, on a professional level, she knew she was going to have to find a way to stop seeing the image of the dead woman lying on the gurney. This was something she had chosen, something she wanted to do, and she couldn’t let this haunt her.
She just felt…fractured inside. Attracted to someone with the kind of almost ridiculous passion and urgency she hadn’t felt since…ever. It was akin to a high school crush, but she wasn’t in school. She’d been crazy if she’d thought she could indulge her senses in one night and walk away unscathed. Insane. She’d been drawn to him ever since they’d had the run-in with the coffee.
She forced herself to turn the water off, towel dry furiously and get dressed. She decided to go through the restaurant quickly and let Nick know she was home, that she was leaving, and that she had a million things to tell him about her day, but not until later.
As she walked through the restaurant, she saw that Katie, a long-time server and more or less assistant manager was behind the bar. She waved to Ashley, looking relieved to see her. “Hey, can you help on the floor?”
“Oh, Katie,” she said with dismay. She liked the woman a lot. Of Irish descent, she had dark eyes, dark hair and beautiful creamy skin. She had a gift for laughter—and for getting things done. Somewhere around forty, she had lost her husband, a firefighter, over ten years ago, and raised a family of five on her own by working for Nick. Her children, once they had become teenagers, had come in now and then to bus tables. “Katie, I’m sorry, but I really can’t. I’m picking people up to go to the hospital. I have a friend—”
“I know, I know, that’s where Nick and Sharon have gone,” Katie said with a sigh. “There was no one here—no one at all—and I told them that if they felt like going down to see your friend’s folks, they should do it. And now, it’s getting busy.”
Sandy was sitting at the bar. “Keep your apron on, Katie. I’ll get the food out.”
“Sandy, you’re a customer,” Katie said firmly.
“I’m not a customer—I’m a fixture,” he said with a grin. “Get out of here, Ashley. And mind you, I expect payment for this.”
“Of course.”
“I don’t mean money. I want to hear about your new career.”
She looked at him, startled.
“Nick has cops for customers, remember?” he said, grinning.
She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll pay you off big-time. I’ll talk your ears off,” she assured him. Katie gave her a wave. She left then, choosing to go through the office and the house to the parking lot, rather than risk seeing Jake Dilessio out on the terrace with his partner.
Karen was outside waiting for her when she got to her friend’s house.
“I know, I’m late.”
“Just by a few minutes,” Karen said. “Not late at all for normal people, but since you’ve got such a talent for being on time…”
“I think I’m beginning to fall off on that punctuality thing,” Ashley murmured.
“Hey, you have the right. What a week, huh? I called the hospital a little while ago. They won’t give much information over the phone, but it seems Stu is holding his own, anyway.”
“Yes, he’s hanging in there.”
“So tell me, did you get some rest and relaxation this afternoon?” Karen demanded.
“No. I went on my first assignment.”
“You’re kidding!”