Midnight Betrayal (Midnight #3)(81)

Louisa stifled a sob. She was going to miss her intern, and not just because of her superior knowledge of Celtic history. Zoe’s youthful energy and drive would be sadly lacking in the office.

Her arms were full. Why hadn’t she brought a box with her? Spying a large cardboard box behind the shelves, she rounded the unit and opened it. But it wasn’t empty. Inside were a number of small personal items: a bottle of antacids, an iPod, a flashlight, a pen, mints, dental floss, and a bottle of ibuprofen that looked exactly like the one that had been in her desk drawer. A museum brochure was tucked under the jumble. Could she have found the museum thief’s stash?

Forgetting about her 3-D scene, she hefted the box down to Director Cusack’s office.

His secretary’s desk was empty. Louisa knocked.

“Come in,” Cusack’s voice commanded.

She opened the door.

“What is it?” Cusack closed his desk drawer with a slam. His mouth was tight and his eyes annoyed.

Louisa hesitated. Fear prickled her nape. Was he hiding something? She left the door open as she crossed to his desk. “I found something upstairs you’ll want to see.”

His attention snapped to the box.

“I believe this is full of stolen personal items.” Setting the box on the corner of the desk, Louisa explained how she found it. “Do you want to call the police?”

“Yes, I’ll handle it,” Cusack said.

“You should go home.” Cusack scrutinized her face. “You look tired.”

Louisa sighed. She was tired. “I just have a couple of things to finish before I leave for the day.”

She hurried out of his office. Cusack was acting strangely. One minute he was irritated, the next he was uncharacteristically considerate. He knew all the girls. He had access to the replica knife. If the police hadn’t already arrested Xavier, Louisa would be suspicious.





30


“I think you’re being a big idiot.”

Leaning on the bar, Conor looked up from the stack of invoices in his hand. “What?”

Next to him, Pat dropped his reading glasses on the receipts he was tallying. The bar hadn’t opened for the day, but there was plenty of work to be done. “Hey, you asked.”

“I spill my guts, and that’s what I get back?”

“A smart, gorgeous, sweet woman told you she’s falling in love with you, and you didn’t say it back, even though we both know you feel the same way. You can’t commit because she has more money than you? That’s the lamest thing I’ve ever heard.” Pat pointed a finger straight into Conor’s nose. “Danny’s medical bills took us all by surprise. But we’ve paid off all the debt. We’re not flat broke anymore. In fact, without those extra interest payments, the bar has been turning a nice profit lately.”

“But—”

“I’m not finished.” The flush was creeping up Pat’s neck into his face. Pat didn’t get angry often, but when he did, he went full out. “We spent all our lives sweating the lack of money, Conor. I still wake up with flashbacks of an empty fridge, a mailbox full of bills, and a social worker on the doorstep ready to take Jayne and Danny away. Now you’re going to cry over the possibility of having too much money? Give me a f*cking break.”

“I always thought I’d end up with a simple life, like you.” Conor stepped back to get out of the way as his brother paced to the end of the bar and back, his movements tense and jerky with anger. “Louisa and I have nothing in common. What do I know about yachts and ponies?”

“Simple? You think my life is simple?” Pat shook his head in wry amusement. “Let me tell you this. Nothing is simple. And it pisses me off when you say you’re not good enough for her. What about Jayne and Danny and me? Are we unworthy? Because we all come from the same humble roots. Should Jayne not marry Reed because he’s loaded and she’s not? Maybe Leena should have left me years ago. It was her salary that fed us for a long time.”

Guilt washed over Conor. Pat was the best man he knew. The thought that he’d just insulted him—a real insult, not their normal daily ball-busting—made him feel six inches tall. “I didn’t mean—”

“I know you didn’t.” Pat rubbed his forehead as if it hurt. “What’s the real reason you’re running scared? Is it because of Barbara?”

Conor sighed.

“I know you got burned, but Jesus Christ, that was three years ago. Get over it,” Pat said. “If I hadn’t thrown my back out, I’d knock your ass down and sit on your chest like I did when you played hooky and I had to cover for you.”

“I was twelve. This hardly compares.”

“It compares because it was a stupid thing to do and you needed some sense knocked into your thick head,” Pat retorted. “Do you love Louisa?”

Certainty engulfed him without warning, like a flash flood in Cobbs Creek, and the thought of spending the rest of his life without her hollowed his chest. “I do. How did you know?”

Pat rolled his eyes. “Because you’re normally not such an idiot. Something had to be different.”

“She’s a lot of work. She has issues and enough baggage to need her own pack mule. She’s been hurt and has trouble trusting people.”