Shadow of Doubt - Hailey Edwards Page 0,44
her posture. “What does that tell you?”
“Many things,” she murmured. “Have a care that those with fewer resources than I have at my disposal don’t start to imply your man here is simply the hand up a puppet’s back.”
Gritting my teeth, I kept my tone polite. “No man currently has his hand up my back or elsewhere.”
“You’re bold.” An appreciative glimmer brightened her eyes. “I like it.”
“No woman currently has her hand up my back or elsewhere either.”
She bit her lush bottom lip to hold in her grin. “You’re using your own hand these days?”
A flush attempted to climb into my cheeks, but I crushed it. “Let’s say I’m self-sufficient.”
To cover glancing away first, I faked checking on Bonnie. I didn’t spot her right off, so she must have extended her patrol to the hall in front of Ayla’s office.
Chuckling under her breath, she pulled herself together. “Will you keep me informed of your progress?”
“I’ll do that if you do the same.” I mulled over the consequences but then decided involving Ayla directly might save us time. “Reach out to the cleaners. Eight bodies were found in Perkerson Park this morning. The preliminary reports aren’t available yet, but they should be within the next twenty-four hours. Some might belong to your people.”
The humor fled her expression, and grief tightened the skin around her eyes. “We haven’t been contacted…”
“The condition of the bodies means it might take a while for the cleaners to match all the pieces. They’ll be running DNA to determine species and identities, but the process would go faster and smoother with your help.”
“Of course.” She closed her eyes. “I’ll make the arrangements.”
“Our killer is a warg, according to saliva samples found in the wounds. Once we have names to go with the other victims, I’ll need to be in contact with their families. Or, if you feel that’s too invasive, I would appreciate updates from you.”
“Grief is a private thing. I can keep you informed, but I must request you not approach my people. If you uncover any evidence that leads you to believe a member of my pack is involved in these murders, bring them to me. I will exact my own justice.”
Given that was the typical party line with supernaturals, I didn’t have a leg to stand on. “All right.”
“I would like to be alone now,” she said, lowering her head. “You can see yourselves out.”
The familiar refrain of I’m sorry for your loss almost tripped over my tongue, but it felt premature.
Hope was a fragile thing, and one wrong word from me would shatter it for her forever.
Ford and I left, Bonnie on our heels, and we didn’t speak again until we were all situated in his truck.
“You didn’t tell me Ayla has a crush on you.”
“Really?” I twisted toward Ford. “That was your takeaway?”
“I am a man.”
“You were also horrified by our visit to the Forest of Nipples and Peen earlier.”
“I can’t believe you said that.” He dropped his face into his hands. “The mental picture…”
“Consider it payback for letting Ayla’s flirting with me distract you.”
“I’m going to talk to Midas about dissolving our partnership.”
“What?” Blood rushed in my ears, deafening me. “Over one little peen joke?”
“You don’t need me. You handled yourself today, very well, without my help.”
“Please tell me you’re not implying Midas paired us up because he’s afraid a woman can’t do the job.”
“You didn’t let me finish.” He flicked me a quick glance. “You’re working your ass off for Shonda. There’s nothing I can do for her that you’re not already doing.”
“You’re just feeling guilty after Ayla threw our partnership in my face.”
“That too.” He angled his chin toward me. “I’m not saying he’ll go for it, but I’ll try.”
“I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
The prospect of going back to working alone wasn’t as welcome as I expected, but I wrote it off as missing the bonus of having a partner with his own wheels. Maybe Bishop was right, and I needed to buy a car.
Ford tapped my hand where it rested on the seat. “You’re not off the hook for movie night, though.”
“It’s a date, as soon as I close this case.”
“Do my ears deceive me, or did you just ask me out, darlin’?”
“It’s a turn of phrase.” I snorted. “Don’t think my using it makes you special.”
“Ouch.” He placed a hand over his heart. “You are as cruel as you are beautiful.”
“Save all those lines to use on your dream girl.” I adjusted my seat belt as