the gang at headquarters, but by the time we get back, most will have left for home. I guess that means we’ll do it tomorrow.”
“That’s fine,” she said, opening the car door to get in.
It occurred to him that while they’d been together, he had never allowed her to open the door for herself. He’d always considered it an honor to open the door for her. It was just one of Shep’s rules about how to treat people, especially a girl you thought was special.
“If you ever need me to drive, let me know,” she offered, leaning over to adjust the volume for the speaker on the console.
He wished she didn’t do that. Her scent had been driving him nuts all day. He loved that fragrance on her. That had been one of the first things he noticed about her. No, it really had been the second thing. The first had been her beauty. “I prefer driving.”
“Suit yourself. Just thought I’d offer, but you know I’m not crazy about being behind the wheel for long.”
Yes, he knew. And yet, every other month, she would make the seven-hour drive from Miami to Savannah to meet up with him. They would engage in phone sex all the way, and then when they reached their destination, they would make good on their talk. It had been a seven-hour drive for her, but an eight-hour drive from Alexandria to Savannah for him. However, because he knew the back roads and short cuts, he would get to Savannah first, check into the hotel and be naked in bed when she got there. He wondered if she ever remembered those times. If she thought about them as often as he did?
When the cruiser came to a traffic light, he glanced over at her. She was looking straight ahead, seemingly deep in thought. Like he’d been at lunch. Was it the murder case they were working on...or something else?
“So, when did you move to town?” he decided to ask her.
She glanced over at him. “A week ago. I’m still unloading boxes. I hired a property manager to rent out my house in Miami, and decided to get an apartment here for the time being. I hope I’ll be able to return home in a year or so.”
“So, the move here is only temporary?” he asked. If so, he’d better not get too used to having her as a partner.
“I don’t really know, Drew. I could have stayed and taken the heat, but the negative newspaper articles about me were taking a toll on my grandparents’ mental health.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks.”
Drew didn’t say anything for a minute as he changed lanes that led to the expressway. Then telling himself he was only asking out of curiosity, he said, “What area of town did you move to?”
“I’ve got a place on North Pit Road. I like it. It’s a pretty quiet area. I miss the beach, though.”
He figured she would. The beach had been just a short walk from the place she’d lived before. Living in Miami had spoiled her.
As they sat in silence again, he figured they’d run out of things to say to each other, at least for now. That didn’t bother him—it gave him a chance to digest what she’d told him.
Andrew knew Toni. She was one gutsy cop, and normally, she wouldn’t run. Things must have gotten pretty damn bad. Although, he had no doubt she could have taken the heat, it must have been hard for her grandparents to deal with the defamation of her character and her ability to do her job as a police officer.
He glanced at the clock on the dash. It was after five. This would be their last interview for today. Then they would return to the office and go their separate ways. Not too separate, though, since they lived on the same side of town. Not within walking distance, but he crossed Pit Road to get to work every morning.
Had she known that? There was no way she could have, since he’d moved last year. He was no longer living in the condo she used to visit those times she came to town for their hook-ups, but had bought a house a stone’s throw from the Potomac.
He had to remind himself that Toni had been out of his life for close to five years. The only reason she was back now was because she’d needed a job and he’d needed a partner. Too bad the result had