More Than A Lawman. Anna J. Stewart

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СКАЧАТЬ you?” Cole shrugged, but Eden could see he was keeping his temper at bay. He was angry, frustrated definitely, and she must be in pretty bad shape if he was willing to hold things in check until a later time. “You’re breathing, so I’d say you’re in better shape than the other eight people they found in that locker.”

      “Eight.” Eight lives. Eight souls. Turn eight on its side and it became infinity. Infinity... A killer like the Iceman would keep going unless he was stopped. Unless she stopped him. “Who were they?” She’d made them a promise. One she intended to keep.

      “We should know in the next day or so. In the meantime—”

      She shoved another bite into her mouth and jostled the railing. “In the meantime, I need to get out of here before—”

      “Too late. I’m here.” The sharp feminine voice shot through the doorway and preceded Simone Armstrong’s pristine white form into the room. The woman wore white as effortlessly as a bride and more elegantly than a queen.

      The bride she’d been for all of three months a few years back. A queen? It was probably on her list of things to do. Eden once considered submitting Simone’s photo to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary so they’d have a visual display of professional perfection.

      “You didn’t have to come down,” Eden mumbled as she picked at a loose thread on the blanket. They might be the same age, but at twenty-nine, Simone was most certainly the eldest. “Aren’t you getting ready for the Denton trial in a few weeks?”

      “Denton’s not going anywhere. He’s on ice.”

      Cole snickered. Eden glared at him and he shrugged. “Tell me that wasn’t a little funny.”

      Simone flicked a latch under Eden’s bed and lowered the bar before sitting beside her. Eden caught the familiar, comforting scent of Simone’s perfume. Some kind of flower. Eden didn’t do flowers.

      “Thank you for calling me, Cole.” Simone took hold of Eden’s hand and squeezed, and only then did Eden feel the fear trembling through her friend. Eden had scared her. Again. Not that Simone would ever admit to such a thing in public.

      “I wasn’t going to deal with her all on my own.” Cole’s grin didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You know the way she gets.”

      “She is getting that way right now.” Eden felt a puff of relief as Allie Hollister flitted into the room like the dark-haired pixie she was. “Finally. Someone reasonable. Allie, please tell them— What. Is. That?” Eden angled her eyes to the sad-looking one-eyed panda bear tucked under Allie’s arm.

      “Pathetic, isn’t he?” Allie walked over and plopped the bear on Eden’s lap. “Looks like he’s been kicked around a bit. Found him on the top shelf of the gift shop. Discounted by about a million percent and it still cost me ten bucks. He reminds me of someone I know. Can’t imagine who. I also stopped by your place and got you some clothes.” She dropped a plastic bag on the bedside table. “Ooooh, bagels. May I?” She snatched the sack and snagged the second one. “I missed breakfast. So, how was your night?” She fluttered her lashes innocently at Eden—as if she didn’t know.

      “Okay, okay. I get it. I was stupid. I even told myself that when I was hanging in that meat locker.”

      “Gah.” Allie’s mouth twisted as she dropped the bag. “Thanks so much for that image. At some point we’re going to have to discuss this annihilation wish you seem to have.”

      “Stop analyzing me, shrink.”

      “Criminal psychologist, please.” Allie held up her hand much like their fifth-grade teacher had when correcting a spelling error. “I worked hard for those degrees.”

      “Excuse me.” An unfamiliar voice accompanied the knock on the door frame. Eden lifted weary eyes to the cautious-looking blond man wearing dark green scrubs. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I need to draw some more blood before they remove your stent, Ms. St. Claire.” He held up a plastic-handled container one might carry cleaning supplies in. “It won’t take but a minute.”

      “Yeah, sure. Whatever.” Eden squinted to read his badge as he drew closer. “Glen.”

      “Careful—she bites.” Allie grinned.

      “Shut up.” Eden shifted and focused on Cole. The expression on his face seemed odd, caught between concern and confusion. But the smile he gave her was pure Cole and took her breath away. Where would she be without him?

      “All done.” Glen gathered up his supplies.

      “That’s some touch you’ve got, Glen.” Simone patted Eden’s knee in comfort. “She barely flinched.”

      “Have a good day.” He gave them a quick wave on his way out.

      “So which one of you is going to fill us in on what happened?” Simone asked as she looked between Cole and Eden.

      “Didn’t you read the paper?” Cole asked.

      “I only read the paper if I’m featured,” Simone said with a sly smile. A lie. Simone never read the paper, not even Eden’s articles. “You finally did it, then, Eden. You’re solidly in some maniac’s crosshairs just like you’ve always wanted.”

      “No fair picking on the sick girl,” Eden said.

      “She must be desperate if she’s playing that card.” The other railing went down as Allie perched at the end of the bed and rested her hands on Eden’s feet.

      The monster inside Eden settled, curling up and falling into hibernation once more. She had her friends—her family—around her. She was safe. Even in a hospital, she was home when she was with them.

      “Do you remember anything?” Allie asked.

      “Creep got me in the parking lot at Monroe’s,” Eden explained and tried to clear the last of the cobwebs. “Thought I had time to get my Taser, but...”

      “Wait. You were at Monroe’s last night?” Cole’s entire body tensed, and he came toward her.

      “Of course. We had a meeting, remember?”

      “I thought you’d ditched me. Because of our fight.”

      “If I ditched you every time we fought we’d never see each other,” Eden teased him. “I got there right after seven. I was late, sure, but—”

      “Hang on.” Simone squeezed Eden’s hand and addressed Cole. “What aren’t you telling us, Detective?”

      Cole’s expression turned cold. “We found your car at your town house, Eden. Your purse and phone were inside. Your house keys were under the gargoyle.”

      Whatever fear she’d managed to push aside roared back. “But I live more than a half hour from Monroe’s.”

      “If you two didn’t meet up,” Allie said, and Eden saw the logic gears begin to turn, “how did you know she was missing, Cole? How did you know where to find her?”

      “I meant to ask you that last night,” Eden said, and for the first time she could remember, СКАЧАТЬ