Keep Her Safe(87)

“The two of us could get through it faster. We both want the truth, Gracie.”

She considers that, her sharp green eyes finally lifting to meet mine. “Yeah, fine,” she mutters, reluctantly.

I should stop now and just be thankful she’s not itching to skin me alive anymore, but I can’t bite my tongue hard enough. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Klein. If I could do it over again, I would have gone and woken you up and brought you downstairs to talk to him that same night.”

She presses her lips together. And then sighs. “I get why you didn’t tell me. I don’t like it, but I get it.”

“Please say you don’t hate me.” I offer her my best contrite face.

She rolls her eyes. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop looking at me like that.”

I smile. “I can’t help it.”

She averts her gaze, but I spot the corners of her mouth curve slightly. “Did you tell your uncle that we talked to the FBI?” There’s a challenge in her voice.

“No.” Silas called me while I was on my run. I didn’t pick up. “He’ll hear about it soon enough.” I sound indifferent, but in reality I’m dreading that conversation. “All that matters is clearing Abe’s name and finding the person responsible. Or people,” I quietly add, knowing that could include my mother. “No more withholding information. No more worrying about anything except doing the right thing. We count on each other. We tell each other everything, right away. Deal?”

She exhales heavily. “Deal.”

“Okay then.” Gracie’s forgiven me. All feels right, even though it’s far from it.

“So . . . were you going to shower first?” Her nose twitches with exaggeration, but then she laughs, breaking the last of the tension.

“Yeah. Do you think you can control yourself for the next ten minutes? Or should I lock the bathroom door?” I tease. Knowing that I’m really pushing my luck here.

“Leave it wide open for all I care.” She feigns indifference, but I catch the way her gaze flitters over my body, the way her throat bobs with a hard swallow, the way her cheeks flush.

“Okay, I needed to make sure. Remember, you did pick an especially dumb one to chase aft—” I duck just in time to avoid the pillow that she launches at my head.





CHAPTER 39


Commander Jackie Marshall

April 26, 2003

I watch the cigarette smoke curl out my driver’s-side window and sail into the night sky. It’s been an hour of sitting and waiting.

Finally, I spot Abe’s familiar stride. He weaves through the cars, heading toward his white sedan. It’s parked where he always parks—under the third light post on the south side. I swear, I could set my watch by that man’s predictability.

“Abe!” I step out of my car.

He sees me and his face hardens. He doesn’t stop.

“Come on, wait up a minute!” I cut him off at his door before he has a chance to open it, his hand gripping the handle.

“What do you want, Jackie?”

“Where you goin’?”

“Where am I going?” His brows climb halfway up his forehead and I brace myself for an earful. “Where do you think I’m going? To drive around the slums and sit in motel parking lots and bribe hookers for information, thanks to you! Now get outta my way.”

The Abe I know would never have talked to me like this, but I can’t say much. I deserve it.

“Mantis showed up at my house the other night.” I glance around to make sure no one’s within earshot. It’s late, and the shift change came and went. The staff parking lot is full of cars and not much else at this point. Still, I drop my voice. “You need to stop stirrin’ up that pot you’ve stuck your spoon into.”

“Unbelievable.” Abe starts to laugh, but it’s not his usual hearty, boisterous laugh. It’s full of bitterness. “You protecting Mantis too?”

“I’m protecting you. You know you can’t go around threatening him!”

“Why? Because he’s Canning’s dog?”

“Because he has the temper of a rattlesnake that’s been stepped on! Lord only knows what he’ll do if you get him cornered.” There are enough stories floating around about Mantis—sending opponents off sports fields in stretchers, putting a guy in a hospital after a bar brawl, complaints of excessive use of force, from criminals, mind you—to make any smart person wary of that guy.

“Then he shouldn’t have stolen that money.”

I knew it. “They’re getting drugs and bad people off the streets, even if Mantis has a crooked way of doing it. I’m telling you, Abe, leave it alone. For everyone’s sake, but especially your own.” I don’t know how I can warn him any more clearly than that.

“When did you get like this? You weren’t always like this. I guess that assistant chief’s star is just too damn tempting, isn’t it?” He shakes his head, his chocolate eyes alight with anger. “If he’s done it once, he’s done it a hundred times. It’s wrong. I can’t turn a blind eye to that. Now if you’ll move . . .” He opens his door, forcing me back. “I won’t get to put my baby girl to bed—again—thanks to you.”