“Haven’t had any cases that crossed your radar,” I said, as I watched her, loving that small smile that always slipped across her lips when she saw me.
I thought she had a little crush on me. Kirkland insisted I was wrong. He thought she had a thing for him. But maybe we were both just a little right.
“How’s Jack?”
She shrugged. “He’s chief of police. He’s always too busy.”
She stopped just a foot or so in front of me and let her eyes move slowly over the length of me. I’d dressed a little more conservatively today in honor of coming to the bank. I still had on jeans, but I’d put on a dark button down that I actually tucked in with a loose blazer that was designed with the same concealment purpose as hers. My 9mm was tucked against my ribs, a comforting presence despite the benevolent intent of the day.
“You look nice.”
“You’ve seen me in a blazer before.”
“Yeah, but it’s always a treat.”
She winked and then turned toward Kate’s car. “This it?”
“Yeah.”
She squatted and looked at the same tool marks I’d mentioned in my call to her. Then she stood and looked up to where the nearest camera was.
“Too far out of the frame.”
“Probably why they chose the front bumper instead of the back. Back would have been easier for placement.”
She nodded. “Well, I’ll call the detectives working the case, find out if they noticed any of this.”
“Do you know if they’ve made any progress?”
She shrugged. “They’re still leaning toward the whole burglary-gone-wrong theory. They have tape of the front of the bank that shows the security guard letting Miss Thompson out the doors. Then a full minute later, Miss Thompson comes running back. The security guard opens the door, and they have a conversation at the doors. She points to the side alley a couple of times. The security guard appears to decide to go check out whatever she’s telling him. Then they both move out of camera range.”
“What about these cameras over here?”
“Don’t show anything but Miss Thompson pausing at the mouth of the alley.” She pointed toward the street. “She comes out of the bank and walks to the edge of the building. But then she stops and stares down the alley. Something upsets her and she turns, running back to the front doors.”
“The cameras don’t catch anything else?”
“No. If there was someone here, in the alley, he knew where the cameras were and how to stay out of their range.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, staring at the bumper of Kate’s car.
“This makes me nervous.”
“It could be nothing.”
“Or it could be something.”
“The detectives on the case think that the security guard caught a couple of burglars breaking into cars parked in the area. They were probably kids who panicked when they saw him. And then Miss Thompson, instead of staying in the relative safety of the security cameras, followed him and they went after her only to get interrupted by something. A passing car, probably.”
I agreed. It sounded plausible. But it still bothered me, the tool marks on her car. If they were just stealing radios out of the cars, why mess with her bumper?
“Okay.”
I gestured for her to walk back up the alley. I followed, my thoughts still working out what she’d told me. I couldn’t see someone being that cautious with the security cameras just to turn around and shoot a man dead practically in the middle of the street. But what other explanation could there be?
Emily turned to me when we reached her car, laying a hand affectionately on the center of my chest.
“I know this one is personal to you.” She smiled when my eyes narrowed. “Ash was worried.”
“He doesn’t need to worry.”
“Yes, well, when things are personal we sometimes do things we shouldn’t do.”
“I’m just doing my job, Em.”
“I know that. But I can also see that you’re worried. So I want you to promise me that you’ll let me and my colleagues do our jobs.”
“I’m not—”
“Please, Donovan. I know you. Just promise me.”
I hated that she was asking this of me. Emily knew if I made a promise I would stick to it even if things changed. Even if what I’d promised could compromise my safety. It was who I was, who the military taught me to be. And she was taking advantage of that fact.
“I promise I won’t interfere with you and your colleagues doing your job.”
She squinted at me a little, as if she wasn’t quite sure if she should accept that. But then she let her hand fall to her side.
“I guess I’ll have to take that.”
“Just make sure you find these idiots soon.”
“That I can’t promise, but I will promise that I will put as much pressure on Jack’s people as I dare.”
“I guess I’ll have to accept that.”
She smiled. “That’s the Donovan we all know and love.”
She rose up on her tiptoes and kissed me gently on my cheek. I caught her around her waist and pulled her close for a brief second. Then I opened her car door and helped her inside. I watched her drive away before I turned to the front of the bank and caught Kate watching me from her desk.