He’d only learned swing dancing out of necessity, a strategy for gaining some face time with that one old crush. And even then, for their little high school musical, it was only the fast stuff. The quick big band favorites. Nothing slow. Certainly nothing sultry in a hot Southern jazz club far from the prying eyes of teachers.

He’d never done anything like this in years. And he was a little relieved that Ernesto had left an hour ago. He didn’t want it known how much fun he was having on his vacation—despite how much he’d been encouraged to do so. Here he was, clearly indulging himself in his half-drunken attraction to this beautiful southern belle. It had happened as easily and naturally as he recalled the dance steps, even making some up as he went along. The three-step sway and turn that had her gliding around the dance floor. It felt so natural, her hands in his, their arms touching, her body twirling away and then coming back tight against him.

She was such a nice distraction, both from his work and from his inner demons. He needed the break. And it seemed like she needed one, too. Her ex-boyfriend was an absolute puke of a man. Maybe even physically abusive. Matthias was glad to be touching her now, softly, with care, the only kind of touch she deserved. And when he made eye contact, it was with a loving glance. Not the meth-head aggression of . . . what was his name? Jason?

Matthias suddenly made a little misstep, his feet fumbling the wrong way. “Sorry,” he said. “I’m just making it up as I go.”

She laughed. “You’re doing great.”

“I’m only used to the fast stuff. They didn’t want us dancing so close in high school.”

“And you weren’t this drunk in high school, huh?”

“Why? Am I being sloppy?”

“No, but I am. I’m really rusty. I never do this.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know, this. Not just dancing, or slow dancing, but I don’t know . . .”

He smiled. “Come on, what?”

“I don’t get out much.”

“I’d never guess,” Matthias said. “You seem like a natural.”

“A natural floozy?”

“We’re just dancing, Laurel.”

The song fizzled out to its ending, leaving Matthias feeling a little awkward with how their conversation just left off. All too quickly she had drawn her hands away from his, her body separating quickly, her face looking a little embarrassed.

“Thanks for the dance,” he said.

“Yeah, thank you.”

“Hey, why don’t we head somewhere else? I can grab you a bite to eat.”

“It’s quarter past one.”

That was a shock. He didn’t usually stay out so late anymore. Hell, he usually didn’t go out at all. But he was more than surprised how quickly the time, and drinks, had passed by.

“Maybe I should go,” she said. “I’ve got a big day tomorrow, and I’m already up way past my bed time.”

“Yeah.” He walked her off the dance floor. Is this where he should ask for her number? Part of him wanted to, the part that wanted to stay up late with her, to learn more about who she was, to stretch the night out as long as possible. But she’d already been through a lot. Did she really need another guy obsessing over her? Maybe his attention had been borderline unwanted in the first place.

“But,” she said. “Maybe you can walk me to my car?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I can definitely do that.”

“I think it’s been long enough for Jason to go home. But you never know. He can be kinda crazy.”

“Well, just let him get crazy tonight and he’ll see where that gets him.”

“Where? In a hospital? But seriously, though, I don’t want any trouble with you guys.”

“I know.”

Laurel bit her lip. “I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

“It’ll be fine. I just want to make sure you get to your car okay.”

She looked almost sullen.

“What’s wrong?”

“I walked here.”

He grinned. “Well, that’s actually good news, because you’re kinda hammered.”

“So are you.” She pushed him playfully.

They stood outside in the fresh night air. It was cooler, but still humid. The ground was wet from a late-night rain.

“Do you live very far?” he asked. “I’m at a hotel two blocks from here. I could walk you home?”

Her lips were pursed together as she looked him over.

“Sorry, is that weird?”

“No,” she said. “It’s not weird.”

“Listen, I . . . I like you, and, I’d love to get your number. But I’m not trying to force myself into your house.”

“I know. I like you, too.”

“I kinda feel bad, asking, but I just . . .”

She interrupted him with her smile, and the digits of her phone number spoken through it. And then she said, “Don’t feel bad. And don’t forget to call me sometime, too.”

He wasn’t sure how much time he’d have for that, how intense his investigation would be. So far, Jackson had left it pretty open-ended, but he couldn’t see anything longer than a few days. Maybe a week at the most. Where would he fit Laurel in? Maybe they could do lunch.

And then he felt it, a blast of bright light shooting through his head, followed by pain, his head blasting forward and with the sound of a dense, hard thud. The vibrations ripped down his spine and he tumbled, dizzy. The pain. The stars in his eyes fading so that he could see where he was. In a parking lot, staring at his feet. Listening to a woman scream. He turned around just in time to dodge another blow, an object swinging fast overhead. A baseball bat. It was held by that kid in the bar, the same bastard he’d threatened to beat up.

“Jason! Stop!”

Matthias was on him fast, like a spider collapsing around his prey, his arms dangling over him and wrapping him up, legs sweeping out his until they were both on the ground where the baseball bat had no use, where Matthias’ fists took over, pummeling the face of his attacker until it was red and wet with blood. He heard little sounds coming out of him, little bubbling, babbling pleas for help as Matthias finally laid into him. One knee on his chest now, holding him down, the little man’s scrawny arms swinging away aimlessly and uselessly as the bat that he once held rolled away from them down a slant in the parking lot.

A baseball bat. This punk hit him in the head with a fucking baseball bat.

As it sunk in, Matthias felt the rage bubbling to the surface, the need for a few more strikes to the guy’s already-bleeding nose. But then he heard more of that blood-curdling screaming from Laurel. And his attention shifted instantly, from rage and revenge to concern for her. She’d already seen enough crap tonight. And he’d promised that everything would be fine.

And everything would be fine. He had this little puke pinned to the ground, almost crying, his face a bloody wreck.

But she was hysterical. Screaming. He could feel her energy even stronger than Jason’s.

“Laurel, it’s okay. It’s over.” He shook Jason hard. “Right?” His head flopped around his shoulders like a rag doll. “Right?!”

Jason was coughing, unable to get anything sensible out of his mouth but little gurgles.

“Fuck this,” Matthias muttered, slamming him down and cracking his head against the pavement one last time before getting up and checking on Laurel—who was still holding her hands to her mouth in one big silent cry.

“It’s alright,” said Matthias. “Let’s get the cops here and then we’ll figure everything out. You’ll get a restraining order, do everything officially and legally so this won’t ever happen again.” Matthias looked at Jason, crouching down to him. “You hear that? You’re done.”

Jason struggled out a wimpy, defeated sounding “Fuck you.”

“You’re already fucked. You’re done for. That’s assault with a deadly weapon on top of whatever else you just put her through.” He looked over to Laurel. “You getting the cops?”

She was holding out her phone in two trembling hands.

“You want me to call?”

She raised the phone to her mouth and in an anguished voice described her location and her emergency. Jason Coates attacked her with a fucking baseball bat.

Matthias could hear the calm, professional tone of the operator. “Is he still there?”

“Yes.”

“What’s happening? Is he subdued?”

“Yes.”

“We’re sending units right your way, ma’am. Hold tight.”

Matthias checked back at Jason, who had stopped struggling. Now he was moaning and writhing in pain. But under Matthias’ boot, he wasn’t going anywhere. He looked back to Laurel, who was still shakily holding the phone. She lowered her hands and now her eyes were on Matthias. They were filled with tears.