Chapter 17
Detective Casey
New vehicle—an insanely expensive black sports car with tint as dark as you could get without being illegal. Intense stares at their surroundings. No ease. Constant leaning in—whispering.
Anna and Boston could have been reflections of each other. Halves making a whole. How I had never seen it before left me perplexed as I watched them scan over the paper Anna held. Both, at random times, would stop to take in every little movement around them. One, then the other. As if they were twins. As if instinct had them subconsciously protecting one another. It was baffling, yet fascinating. How they were so in tune didn’t make sense to me. Which had me paying closer attention to Boston. I knew everything I ever would about him. At least from the information I’d gotten from talking to the people who knew him. As for his record, he didn’t have one. He was as clean as they came. The only questionable person in his life was the doctor, but what rich person didn’t have a shrink now a days?
As if my mind conjured the man himself, white pulled at my peripheral. Dr. Patron was walking at a fast pace, wearing his fancy suit and a pair of shades. Anna was the first to spot him. Her face inched closer, and Boston turned at whatever she said.
No smile. No expression at all.
Boston’s eyes went back to Anna. Whatever he said caused her to squint.
I couldn’t stand not knowing what they were saying. It pulled me to stand from the table of the outdoor café and jog across the street. It was Boston’s turn to snap his head around. His eyes met mine. Another whisper, bringing Anna’s attention to me. Dr. Patron got to them only seconds before I did. At my approach, the doctor’s lip twitched.
“I wasn’t expecting so much help to show up.” The slight sarcasm in Anna’s voice brought a smile to my face. After the way we’d left things earlier, I knew she had only meant to put more distance between us, but I wasn’t letting that happen.
“This is my investigation. Why wouldn’t I help?”
“You mean spy? I saw you the moment you got out of your car half a block down. You’re curious what we’re up to. Posters,” Anna said, pointing to the small table next to them. “Nothing more.”
“Posters. Great idea. But what’s the paper in your hand?”
Boston took the paper, and Anna smiled sweetly, moving in front of him as if she were some sort of shield. In sync. One. Their actions had me leaning my head to the side to look around her.
“Just a few ideas. I’m sure you have them covered already, so…” She shrugged. “Since you’re here, do you want to grab a coffee? We met here. Well, right over there,” she pointed. “I ran into you and soaked us both with coffee. Do you remember?”
“You’re changing the subject.” At her silence, I frowned, glancing to Dr. Patron, and then to Boston, catching the hint. “Of course I remember. And yes, coffee would be great.”
Anna headed for the door, and I followed. The doctor was already moving in, speaking lowly to Boston. Everyone seemed to be communicating in secret. I had no idea what the hell was going on, and my agitation was building by the second.
A ding sounded as Anna and I entered the coffee shop. Just like the day we met, people were lined through the small area. A couple was sitting in the far corner and random men and women were scattered throughout. The smell of coffee and pastries were heavily in the air, reminding me I hadn’t eaten breakfast after my night shift. Luckily, I would be rotating soon.
“What made you decide to come over?”
I turned more toward Anna as she stared up at me. There was something in her eyes. Hurt? Anger? I couldn’t tell from her tone. She held no more emotion there than she did in her voice.
“Curiosity. What was on that paper? The two of you were very serious while looking at it.”
The question had her glancing through the large glass windows. The two men were still talking, and it appeared the conversation was slightly heated. Boston was shaking his head, pointing down the road, while the doctor was just as unreadable as ever.
“Just locations I believe may be of interest.” She paused. “Have you learned anything new?”
“I’m asking the questions. Tell me more about this paper.”
“It’s neighborhoods and their crime rates. I was explaining the dangers to Boston.”
“Good. Both of you need to stay away from there. If for any reason you feel you can’t, I’ll escort you.” I paused, narrowing my eyes with how compliant she was being. “Are we going to pretend nothing happened earlier?”
Brown eyes fluttered innocently. “Which part?”
“All of it.”
Silence.
“Anna…I know what you’re doing. Don’t. Please.”
“Do what? I told you how I felt. We made a mistake, and—” At my hardening stare, she let out a deep exhale. “Okay. We both wanted it, but that doesn’t mean it was right. We’re better off apart.”
“Says who? This new you?”
“Yes.”
I laughed at her seriousness. “I think this new you needs me. Wants me.” I stepped closer, flattening my palm on her lower back and bringing her closer. My volume lowered, and Anna’s lips parted as my fingers pushed just above her ass. “Admit it. You still want me, and not just as some occasional lover to satisfy your needs. I see through you and your hurtful jibes. You still love me, and I love you.”
“Sir, can I take your order?”
Anna stiffened in my hold, wiggling free as I cursed and closed the big gap between us and the counter. Anger thickened my tone as I ordered, and Anna backed away, moving closer to the door. When I had the Styrofoam cups in my hands, she was all but waiting on me to exit. Each step had her pushing the door open and side-stepping away.
“Keeping fighting it, baby. Someday,” I said, lifting the cup in her direction, “you’re going to change your mind. And when you do, you’re going to regret this. I can help you in more ways than one. You know that.”
Anna took the coffee, refusing to meet my eyes. “If I need you, I’ll call. Today, I don’t. Boston and I can put up these posters on our own. You should get some rest. You worked all night.”
I leaned in, kissing her cheek. The pressure against my lips increased as she couldn’t help but lean into me.
“I love you, Anna. I’m going home. Our home. You should come home too when you’re finished. I’ll be waiting for you…in bed.”
Shock mingled with an array of emotions as I pulled back. I knew I’d caught her off-guard, but I didn’t care.
“Braden—”
My finger pressed against her lips, holding for only a moment before I traced to her jaw and tilted her head back.
“You don’t have to say anything. I’m going home. I hope to see you there. Don’t get into any trouble.”
I went to kiss her, but movement had me pausing and looking over. Boston’s eyes were nearly closed to slits as he looked at us. The detective in me flared, sending possession and protectiveness for Anna soaring. Before I could do anything, her stare followed mine and she stepped out of my hold.
“I’ll see you at home. Sleep well.”
“No…” I moved back in her direction. “I think I’ll stay and help.”
“There’s really no need,” Anna argued. “You’ll be exhausted.”
“Actually, we could probably use his help.” Boston was almost smiling now, leaning down to separate the fliers. The reaction had transitioned so fast, it had me questioning whether I’d seen it at all.
Dr. Patron reached over, grabbing papers from Boston, but paused as Boston went to hand Anna her stack. “Wait. Let’s go in pairs. One can hang them and go into the businesses while the other can stand just outside and pass them out to pedestrians walking by. I think we can circulate them faster that way. Anna, would you like to come with me? I’d really like to talk to you, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh.” She looked between us, nodding. “Sure. We can take this side of the street if Boston and Braden want to cover the other.”
“Sounds good to me.” Boston threw me a grin. I kept quiet, glancing at Anna before her and the doctor took off. When my attention came to Boston, that look was back in his eyes. The one that reminded me of me.
“Let’s skip the mindless bullshit conversation you’re about to start. What are you up to with Anna?”
Boston stayed at my side as we began jogging across the street. Traffic was increasing as the lunch crowd began to pick up.
“I don’t know what you mean, Detective. Anna’s helping me. I consider her a new friend. I like her.”
“More than a friend?”
“I beg your pardon?”
Anger bordering on rage had Boston stopping on the sidewalk. His eyes were narrowed again, and he was doing nothing to conceal it.
“That,” I snapped. “That look. You gave it to me when I was about to kiss Anna. Why would you do that?”
“You’re mistaken. If I was giving you some sort of look, it wasn’t intentional. Maybe I was thinking. I do have a lot on my mind, you know. Like Lucy,” he said, thrusting the stack of papers he held toward me. “Lucy, you know, the one who’s missing. The one you’re supposed to be looking for.”
“And you think I’m not?”
“Well, I don’t know, Detective, you tell me. Every time I see you, you’re chasing around the one person who is doing everything she can to bring back the woman I love. Shouldn’t you be out there doing your job? Knocking on doors, or interrogating possible witnesses? Something? Anything, but distracting Anna?”
A smile came to my face. “When you see me, I am doing my job. Even off hours, like now. You may relate this to Anna, but who was the closest person to Lucy? You. Just because you were there when she was taken doesn’t completely rule you out.”
“Then you’re barking up the wrong tree and wasting your time. Someone took Lucy and she needs our help. Anna and I are doing everything in our power to find her. What are you doing? What is the Rockford Police Department doing? I see nothing. I hear nothing. Lucy needs you. She needs everyone she can get and you’re not helping.”
“You’re wrong.” My tone softened from training. He was getting too worked up. I meant to calm him, but I knew exactly what he was feeling. “We’re doing a lot more than you know. Right this very minute, other detectives are following up on leads. Lucy is never not being looked for. We have a good department. We’re all over this. Trust me. Just because you see me doesn’t mean Lucy is being neglected. We happen to have gotten in a call late last night. A tip that sounds promising.
Boston’s lips parted as he stepped closer. “A tip? Did they say where she was? Did they say who had her?”
“That’s something I’m not at liberty to discuss. What I can tell you is this person gave us information on Melanie Ways we didn’t release. They knew things. Saw things. And I believe they saw him. But I didn’t tell you that.”