Midnight Betrayal (Midnight #3)(60)

“That’s great. Where did you grow up?” Conor asked.

“West Philly.” Damian rattled off a crossroad.

Conor whistled. “Rough area.”

“No kidding.” Damian snorted. “Try being a geeky, undersized teen in that neighborhood fifteen years ago. Every day, walking home from school was like running a gauntlet. Sometimes I’m surprised I made it out alive.”

“Well, I’m glad you did.” Mark smiled.

“Time for us to go home.” Damian gave Louisa a peck on the cheek. “You get off those feet and get some rest.”

“Thanks again.” Louisa showed them out and then turned to Conor. “I’m going to change. Once I sit down, I might not get up again.” She limped down the hall.

The dog didn’t follow her mistress back to the bedroom. Conor looked down at the pit bull. Big brown eyes stared up at him expectantly.

“I’ll walk Kirra.” He took her downstairs for a quick turn around the park. Returning, he checked the fridge. Nothing had appeared while they were gone.

“Did you eat anything tonight?” Conor filled two plastic bags with ice.

“No.”

“Do you want another grilled cheese, or should I make a takeout run?”

“Grilled cheese would be great,” she called from the bedroom. He heard drawers opening and closing, then the soft sound of a zipper. She hadn’t closed the door. Another small sign of trust?

Trying not to picture Louisa undressing, Conor got busy making sandwiches. By the time he was done, the kitchen smelled like browned butter. She reappeared in plaid flannel pajama bottoms and a sweatshirt. Her hair was down again, tumbling over her shoulders in a blond wave. Conor brought the food into the living room. He moved the coffee table over and pulled an ottoman up to the sofa. Louisa raised her feet and sighed as he settled the two ice packs on her knees.

“Eat before you fall asleep.”

“What could be going on between Xavier and Isa?” She bit into her sandwich and groaned. “God, I could eat this for every meal.”

Her groan made him think about . . . “Could it be sex?”

Louisa wiped her mouth with a napkin. “I guess it’s possible. He wouldn’t be the first professor to sleep with a student.”

Conor finished his food and pushed his plate back. “If they’re sleeping together, what’s the conflict? Is she blackmailing him?”

“She’s doing something.” She shrugged. “But if she’s sleeping with Xavier and blackmailing him, what is she doing with Heath?”

“Good question.” Conor took the empty plates to the kitchen and loaded them into the dishwasher. Isa shared an apartment with Zoe. The police had searched their place. But what would a search of Heath’s apartment yield? Inquiring minds wanted to know.

“Could you bring me that file on the counter?” Louisa asked.

He brought the file and the reading glasses she’d left on the counter back to the couch. She put the glasses on and pulled off hot librarian without the suit. Louisa settled back on the cushions, relaxed. She flipped through papers.

“What are you looking for?”

“I’m not sure. This is a list of museum employees. Anyone on this list could have stolen the dagger.” Louisa sighed and closed the file. “But without more clues, the list doesn’t mean much. I’ll see what I can make of it in the morning. Xavier is definitely a suspect. He might not work for the museum, but he visits often enough that people are accustomed to seeing him there.”

Conor sat next to her. Their bodies touched from hip to shoulder. “What about your boss?”

Louisa lowered her glasses to her lap. “Dr. Cusack?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know.” Louisa sighed. “Tonight he seemed more concerned with making the museum’s budget than with Riki’s murder, but that doesn’t mean he actually feels that way. He’s just doing his job. He did order me to stop asking questions. He threatened to fire me.”

“And you said?”

She shrugged. “I said I wouldn’t stop. But my performance tonight might bolster some support. This evening’s donations were substantial. My skill at eliciting funds for the museum might balance my disagreement with Cusack over Zoe.”

“I’m sorry your boss is a jerk, but I’m proud of you.”

“He’s not a jerk. He’s a politician. OK, maybe he is a jerk. Regardless, I really don’t want to lose my job, but I won’t let fear for my career make me stop looking for Zoe. Her family deserves better.” Louisa shivered.

Conor wrapped one arm around her. “Then it’s a good thing she has you.”

Her head fell onto his shoulder. “I’m tired.”

“Should I leave?”

“Would you mind staying? I sleep better when you’re here.” Her voice was sleepy and soft.

“I’d love to stay.” He sat up and turned to make eye contact. “Do you want me to take the couch?”

“No. I like sleeping with you.” She blushed. “I actually mean sleeping.”

“I know what you mean; I don’t expect anything. In fact, I prefer to wait. To me, there’s nothing casual about sex.”

He stood and held out a hand. She took it and let him help her to her feet. Wrapping an arm around her, he took some of her weight as she hobbled to the bedroom. Her knees must have stiffened as she sat. “But I’m warning you now. I get hot. I’ll probably end up taking off my shirt.”