“Okay,” she agrees. She opens the door leading into a small foyer and places her purse and keys on an antique table shoved against the wall. “Do you think I’ll ever need you? I mean, do you think Montenegro will target me specifically?”
“I doubt it. But it’s better to be prepared, you feel me?” I march forward. A large living room sits directly in front of me with a dining area and a kitchen to the right. The furniture is all antique, dark like the floors, and just as dull as the rest of the place. There aren’t any pictures on the walls, or vases, or any of that shit girls are supposed to like. It all seems staged and cold. “Did you just move in?” I ask.
She shakes her head, appearing confused. “No. I moved in three years ago when I started law school.”
“Oh. All right. Mind if I open a few doors? Check the closets, that sort of thing?”
“No, that’s fine.”
I scan the area while she removes her coat and walks into the kitchen. “Would you like some water? I’m afraid I don’t have much more than that to drink.”
“No. I’m good.” I motion to the left. “Bedroom that way?”
“Ah, yes.”
“I’ll be right back.” I make quick work of flipping her prissy pink comforter so I can look beneath the queen-sized bed before moving to the walk-in closet and then the bathroom. The bedroom has that same dark furniture, and her closet more of the frumpy clothes she wears, but even that’s limited to a few pairs of pants, blouses, and those damn spinster shoes. The place doesn’t seem right. It’s clean and all that, but I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.
She says she’s lived here for three years. But there’s nothing of Tess in here. Nothing.
“Is everything okay?”
I glance up to find her standing in the doorway, fiddling with her hands. “All clear,” I answer, my voice monotone.
“Thank you.” She starts to head back into the living room, but then changes her mind and faces me again. “How long will you be here?” she asks.
“I’ll be outside watching the place till Lu takes over at midnight. She’ll take you to the office tomorrow. The detectives there will cover you for most of the day, and either me or one of the other badges will see to you after that.”
“I’m not due in the office until tomorrow afternoon. I have classes.”
“How are you getting there?”
She motions behind her. “Oh, I have a bus pass.”
“You’re kidding.” I take in the apartment. She’s paying at least three Gs a month to live here. Is that the reason she can’t afford a car?
She edges away from the door. “It’s not a big deal,” she says.
I think it is, but don’t push. Any idiot can see she’s nervous. “You all right?”
“I’m fine.” She glances down. “I just have a lot of work to do.”
“Then I guess I should get out of your way.”
She lifts her chin. “You’re not in my way. It’s nice having you—” She clears her throat. “I don’t get much company,” she admits.
I watch her for a beat, looking at the way she’s looking at me, and thinking I’m in serious trouble. “I’ll have Lu drop you off at your school,” I tell her, my voice lowering. “When you’re done there, call the DA’s office, and either me or another badge will take you where you need to go.”
Her stare averts to the floor again. “That’s not necessary.”
“Yes it is,” I say, my cop face in place.
“All right, thank you,” she says almost silently.
She backs away and walks into the living room, giving me plenty of space as she follows me out. When we reach the door, she offers me her hand. “I appreciate the ride home, and, well, everything. You’ve been very sweet.”
Her voice is shaky. Did I spook her? I examine her face. Nah, that’s not fear etching its way to her sea-glass eyes. It’s something else.
And I like it.
Too much.
Shit.
She starts to withdraw her hand when I don’t take it, but I reach for it before she can lower it. I carefully round her fingers, brushing a kiss over her knuckles, my eyes never leaving hers. “You’re welcome,” I tell her.