Read Online Kansas City Cover-Up by Julie Miller - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Julie Miller
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Are you at work? I could meet you at your office or you could come to the station.”
He answered with a long pause that made her wonder if he’d been interrupted at his end of the call. Then the noise in the background went silent and she suspected he’d closed the door to his office, turning this into a private conversation. “Are you reopening Dani’s murder?”
Before she could answer, broad shoulders and dark hair appeared in the window. Marcus flashed his dimpled smile and rapped on the glass. “You free?”
Olivia frowned, hating the interruption, and frankly, hating him at that moment. She pointed to the phone. “No.”
“Excuse me?” a deep voice challenged in her ear.
Oh, damn.
“Sorry, I...” She turned the lock on the doorknob and turned her back on Marcus. “That was for someone here. Yes, we’re reopening the case. I need to ask you some questions—go over everything you know about your fiancée’s murder.”
“Two things, Olivia.” She could feel Marcus’s dark eyes drilling her through the glass, and suspected his cajoling smile had disappeared. But, for some reason, her ex’s frustration with her didn’t bother her as much as the displeasure tingeing the man’s voice on the phone. “One, it’s Gabe. And two? You’d better be bringing your
A
game to this investigation. I’ll see you when you get here.”
Chapter Five
Gabe spotted the rich blue-green jacket from the corner of his eye. He looked up from the article he was typing on his computer and watched Olivia Watson through the windows of his office. She said something to the receptionist who pointed in his direction, toward the line of private rooms surrounding the
Journal
’s news and editorial department’s main floor, and raised her mysterious eyes to meet his.
When their gazes met, she gave him a slight nod before clipping the badge she’d shown the receptionist back onto the chain she wore. Olivia shot her fingers through that sexy crop of short, dark hair, steeled her shoulders and strode through the jungle of desks, reporters, columnists, runners and techs with a certainty of purpose that was at once professionally confident and surprisingly hot. At least, that jump in his pulse seemed to think so.
“I’m finally getting you justice, Dani,” he whispered to the ghosts of the past that filled the air around him. “One way or another.” After saving his story and clearing the computer screen, Gabe stood, smoothing the shirt sleeves he’d rolled up to his elbows. When the leggy detective paused in the open doorway, he extended his hand and circled around the desk to greet her. “Olivia.”
“Gabe.” She folded her firm grip into his. He liked that she used his name the way he’d asked without making a big deal out of it. “This is a noisy place.”
“Hence, the private office.”
“You made it sound as though stopping by anytime was okay. So here I am.”
“Now is fine. We already put tomorrow morning’s paper to bed and I’m working ahead.” Here they stood, sharing another handshake. Another linger. His thumb grazed over the soft bump of her knuckles. Olivia’s skin was smooth, warm. Her eyes this afternoon were a muted shade of gray dotted with green-and-gold specks that darkened the longer he held on to her.
So let go already
.
This is a business meeting
,
not a blind date.
“How’s the arm?” Olivia asked, showing more sense than he had by pulling away and stepping into his office.
He kept his back to her, needing a few seconds to compartmentalize this potent interest in the lady detective and concentrate on the reason he’d agreed to see her in the first place—getting to the truth about Dani’s killer. Only then did he turn, waving his fingers in the air to prove their dexterity, despite the bandage wrapped around his forearm. “A little sore. But as long as I can type, I’m good.” He pointed to her left wrist, indicating the violet bruise peeking out beneath the cuff of her
He answered with a long pause that made her wonder if he’d been interrupted at his end of the call. Then the noise in the background went silent and she suspected he’d closed the door to his office, turning this into a private conversation. “Are you reopening Dani’s murder?”
Before she could answer, broad shoulders and dark hair appeared in the window. Marcus flashed his dimpled smile and rapped on the glass. “You free?”
Olivia frowned, hating the interruption, and frankly, hating him at that moment. She pointed to the phone. “No.”
“Excuse me?” a deep voice challenged in her ear.
Oh, damn.
“Sorry, I...” She turned the lock on the doorknob and turned her back on Marcus. “That was for someone here. Yes, we’re reopening the case. I need to ask you some questions—go over everything you know about your fiancée’s murder.”
“Two things, Olivia.” She could feel Marcus’s dark eyes drilling her through the glass, and suspected his cajoling smile had disappeared. But, for some reason, her ex’s frustration with her didn’t bother her as much as the displeasure tingeing the man’s voice on the phone. “One, it’s Gabe. And two? You’d better be bringing your
A
game to this investigation. I’ll see you when you get here.”
Chapter Five
Gabe spotted the rich blue-green jacket from the corner of his eye. He looked up from the article he was typing on his computer and watched Olivia Watson through the windows of his office. She said something to the receptionist who pointed in his direction, toward the line of private rooms surrounding the
Journal
’s news and editorial department’s main floor, and raised her mysterious eyes to meet his.
When their gazes met, she gave him a slight nod before clipping the badge she’d shown the receptionist back onto the chain she wore. Olivia shot her fingers through that sexy crop of short, dark hair, steeled her shoulders and strode through the jungle of desks, reporters, columnists, runners and techs with a certainty of purpose that was at once professionally confident and surprisingly hot. At least, that jump in his pulse seemed to think so.
“I’m finally getting you justice, Dani,” he whispered to the ghosts of the past that filled the air around him. “One way or another.” After saving his story and clearing the computer screen, Gabe stood, smoothing the shirt sleeves he’d rolled up to his elbows. When the leggy detective paused in the open doorway, he extended his hand and circled around the desk to greet her. “Olivia.”
“Gabe.” She folded her firm grip into his. He liked that she used his name the way he’d asked without making a big deal out of it. “This is a noisy place.”
“Hence, the private office.”
“You made it sound as though stopping by anytime was okay. So here I am.”
“Now is fine. We already put tomorrow morning’s paper to bed and I’m working ahead.” Here they stood, sharing another handshake. Another linger. His thumb grazed over the soft bump of her knuckles. Olivia’s skin was smooth, warm. Her eyes this afternoon were a muted shade of gray dotted with green-and-gold specks that darkened the longer he held on to her.
So let go already
.
This is a business meeting
,
not a blind date.
“How’s the arm?” Olivia asked, showing more sense than he had by pulling away and stepping into his office.
He kept his back to her, needing a few seconds to compartmentalize this potent interest in the lady detective and concentrate on the reason he’d agreed to see her in the first place—getting to the truth about Dani’s killer. Only then did he turn, waving his fingers in the air to prove their dexterity, despite the bandage wrapped around his forearm. “A little sore. But as long as I can type, I’m good.” He pointed to her left wrist, indicating the violet bruise peeking out beneath the cuff of her
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