Her Last Word(64)
“You’re allowed to eat this, right?” he asked.
She pried off the top, savored the sight of the creamy swirls. “The doctors said soft foods. I think this qualifies.”
He peeled off his container top. “How’re you feeling?”
She took her first spoonful. The cool, rich chocolate was the best she’d ever eaten. “Better now.”
“You’re lucky.”
She ate a second bite, the rich taste making her feel optimistic. “I suppose I am.”
He cocked a brow. “You’re listening to your doctors?”
“Generally speaking. I freaked out a nurse when I tried to walk down the hallway this morning. She wasn’t happy. Made me promise to stay in bed.”
He chuckled and took several bites of sorbet. He raised his gaze to her as if he were seeing her in a different light. “I didn’t realize your hair was so curly.”
She resisted the urge to touch a curl. She saw something in his eyes that sent nervous energy running through her body. “I call it my ‘mountain woman’ look. Detective, if you haven’t noticed, I’m in a lockdown ward. No beauty contests here.”
“I like the curls. And your natural color. Why did you dye your hair blond?”
“Other than blondes have more fun? Hiding, I think. When I returned to Texas I decided I needed to look different. Didn’t want to see Gina when I looked in the mirror.”
He was silent. “Keep the brown. It’s you.”
“Might as well. If I thought the hair color was helping me hide, I was wrong.”
But she was vain enough to enjoy his compliment. She also wished she weren’t dressed in a shapeless hospital gown when he looked so sharp and commanding.
Her belly tightened, so she shifted positions. Without hesitating, Adler set down his sorbet and grabbed her elbow. She felt the rough skin of his scarred palm as he steadied her while he resettled the pillow behind her. “In a week I’ll be running track and jumping hurdles.”
“You ever run track before?” He pulled the blanket up.
“No, but I could if I wanted to. And I just might take up running.”
“That I’d like to see.”
She considered telling Adler about her dream. The detective had quiet strength that calmed her anxious nerves. And right now he felt like a man she could trust.
“Forensic came back with some preliminary information,” Adler said. “They did find your thumbprint on the Crowleys’ front door latch. You let yourself into the house.”
“Have you found Erika?”
“No. And her phone is not emitting a signal.”
His blunt assessment didn’t bode well for Erika. “What about her husband?”
“Brad Crowley came by the station. He says he’s also searching for his wife. And he’s hired a lawyer.”
“Are you following him?” she asked.
“I have no cause.”
“He knows more than he’s saying.”
“He’s on my radar,” Adler said. “But I don’t think he knows where Erika is.”
“How could he not?”
“I honestly don’t think he’s smart enough to have pulled it off.”
She took another bite of sorbet, but suddenly found the flavor too sweet. “You went to see Susan.”
His spoon hovered above his carton. “I did. I’m trying to figure you out.”
“I’m very simple. I’m trying to find Gina.”
“So am I.”
She was doing her job. He was doing his. And as long as their priorities aligned, they’d be fine. “You know my life story, so I think you could throw me a detail or two about yours.”
He dropped his gaze to his sorbet and dug out a full spoon. “Forty-one, divorced, no kids.”
“Married to the job?”
“It was supposed to be a stepping stone into politics, but I discovered I liked it and am good at it. My ex had a different vision for my future.”
“She wanted you to go into politics.”
“She has her sights set high.”
“It must have been painful when you two split.”
“Not as bad as it should have been.”
“How long were you married?”
“Ten years.”
“I can imagine you standing before a gilded altar in a church filled with stained-glass windows and hundreds of important people.” She didn’t like the image.
“It was quite the society affair.”
She liked John Adler a lot, and if she were going to trust someone now, it would be him. She stared at the spoon before she said, “So, I received flowers today. They were delivered to my office. No note. My boss has no idea who sent them.”
He scanned the room, and his tone sharpened when he spoke, “Where are they?”
“I gave them to the nurses. Someone also sent me flowers the night of my lecture. I gave those away to a student. I don’t know anyone who would send me flowers.”
He was silent.
With him she was able to confess, “They gave me the creeps. Who would have thought such a pretty and perfect arrangement of white tulips would make me want to jump out of my skin.”
“The other flowers were also white tulips?” he said.