trouble, all this hormonal bullshit.
I pulled the buds from my ears, dropped them on the desk and rose to my feet. His height made me insecure enough to stand, and then it was too late to sit down again without looking totally idiotic. Hot pain stabbed my shoulder from the movement. It took considerable effort not to wince and I concentrated on his chin. Firm and stubbled, it screamed determined and stubborn. I decided I liked his chin. Very much.
Get a grip, you idiot. He's a bloody cop.
"Hello. Sorry if we startled you. I'm Agent Westin with the Chicago PD." He didn't look the least bit sorry. He waved a hand at the other agent who still stood by the door. Blond, beautiful and silent. "That's Agent Carnarvon. We're the ones making the racket outside."
He nodded at the large windows behind me. From my position, the red emergency lights flashing outside never reached me. The light reflected against the white sills of the windows and threw a haze of pink on the wall to my right, but not enough to draw my attention.
"Sorry, I didn't hear." I indicated the buds and the music drive lying on the desk, its little green light blinked on pause.
"Ah." A light bulb expression lit his face, now I'd proved to be musically inclined instead of deaf. "What’re you listening to?"
Was he trying to make conversation? My shoulder ached and I was in no mood for a chat.
He's way too good-looking to get me on a bad day. Life ain't fair—so get used to it, Kailin.
"Beethoven," I answered flatly.
"Oh, I don't have patience for classical. Jazz is more my style."
I blinked and waited. He wanted to discuss music while my poor friend suffocated inside the closet. The blood-filled closet. Panic surged through me. Anjelo sat among my bloodstained clothes and towels. It was a danger to his Panther as much as the Hunt was to mine.
Dear Ailuros, please look after the poor guy.
"We're checking the building out. There's been a bit of commotion outside." Westin cut right to the chase.
I kept my face blank. Not going to fall into the trap, thanks.
"What's going on?" I turned on my heel and hurried to the window, peering in the direction of the lights. "What happened?"
"Someone dumped a body in the community garden."
High shock value required. I hoped my expression of horror did it justice. Part of me registered the presence of Westin's beautiful partner. Her disinterested glance flitted over me. I ignored it.
"When?" I faced him, hoping for a sign. Had my little act convinced him yet? I needed to tone it down, though or I'd get found out. The last thing I wanted was to ingrain in his mind that I was a total wook.
"Not long ago, about an hour or so." His obsidian eyes focused sharply on my face, watching for the slightest tell. "What are you doing here so late, Miss ...?"
"Odel. Kailin Odel. I work for the rehab center. Teen rehab counselor."
His eyebrows raised in disbelief. I could almost hear the sound of tumblers and springs clicking and clacking away as he tried to guess my age.
"A bit young for a counselor."
"Counselor in training," I said, stressing the word 'training' with a raised eyebrow of my own.
"Is this a night job?"
My brow twisted in confusion. Blood loss began to tire me out.
"School?" Agent Carnarvon, by the door, scowled.
"Oh. I'm at U of C, Detective. But it's okay. I look young for my age so I get that a lot." I waved a hand at the files. "As you can tell, I have tons of paperwork to clear for my supervisor. It tends to pile up while we aren't looking. Clancy's got a group session at noon tomorrow and I thought I'd better give her a hand and get a head start writing up some reports."
"Planning on going home at all?"
"I won't be much longer," I replied.
"It's a dangerous neighborhood, Miss Odel." His eyes assessed me. I'd have given anything to peek into his busy little mind. A part of me didn't mind the assessment, especially when those dark eyes lost their glacial pall for a few seconds. I imagined a more
I pulled the buds from my ears, dropped them on the desk and rose to my feet. His height made me insecure enough to stand, and then it was too late to sit down again without looking totally idiotic. Hot pain stabbed my shoulder from the movement. It took considerable effort not to wince and I concentrated on his chin. Firm and stubbled, it screamed determined and stubborn. I decided I liked his chin. Very much.
Get a grip, you idiot. He's a bloody cop.
"Hello. Sorry if we startled you. I'm Agent Westin with the Chicago PD." He didn't look the least bit sorry. He waved a hand at the other agent who still stood by the door. Blond, beautiful and silent. "That's Agent Carnarvon. We're the ones making the racket outside."
He nodded at the large windows behind me. From my position, the red emergency lights flashing outside never reached me. The light reflected against the white sills of the windows and threw a haze of pink on the wall to my right, but not enough to draw my attention.
"Sorry, I didn't hear." I indicated the buds and the music drive lying on the desk, its little green light blinked on pause.
"Ah." A light bulb expression lit his face, now I'd proved to be musically inclined instead of deaf. "What’re you listening to?"
Was he trying to make conversation? My shoulder ached and I was in no mood for a chat.
He's way too good-looking to get me on a bad day. Life ain't fair—so get used to it, Kailin.
"Beethoven," I answered flatly.
"Oh, I don't have patience for classical. Jazz is more my style."
I blinked and waited. He wanted to discuss music while my poor friend suffocated inside the closet. The blood-filled closet. Panic surged through me. Anjelo sat among my bloodstained clothes and towels. It was a danger to his Panther as much as the Hunt was to mine.
Dear Ailuros, please look after the poor guy.
"We're checking the building out. There's been a bit of commotion outside." Westin cut right to the chase.
I kept my face blank. Not going to fall into the trap, thanks.
"What's going on?" I turned on my heel and hurried to the window, peering in the direction of the lights. "What happened?"
"Someone dumped a body in the community garden."
High shock value required. I hoped my expression of horror did it justice. Part of me registered the presence of Westin's beautiful partner. Her disinterested glance flitted over me. I ignored it.
"When?" I faced him, hoping for a sign. Had my little act convinced him yet? I needed to tone it down, though or I'd get found out. The last thing I wanted was to ingrain in his mind that I was a total wook.
"Not long ago, about an hour or so." His obsidian eyes focused sharply on my face, watching for the slightest tell. "What are you doing here so late, Miss ...?"
"Odel. Kailin Odel. I work for the rehab center. Teen rehab counselor."
His eyebrows raised in disbelief. I could almost hear the sound of tumblers and springs clicking and clacking away as he tried to guess my age.
"A bit young for a counselor."
"Counselor in training," I said, stressing the word 'training' with a raised eyebrow of my own.
"Is this a night job?"
My brow twisted in confusion. Blood loss began to tire me out.
"School?" Agent Carnarvon, by the door, scowled.
"Oh. I'm at U of C, Detective. But it's okay. I look young for my age so I get that a lot." I waved a hand at the files. "As you can tell, I have tons of paperwork to clear for my supervisor. It tends to pile up while we aren't looking. Clancy's got a group session at noon tomorrow and I thought I'd better give her a hand and get a head start writing up some reports."
"Planning on going home at all?"
"I won't be much longer," I replied.
"It's a dangerous neighborhood, Miss Odel." His eyes assessed me. I'd have given anything to peek into his busy little mind. A part of me didn't mind the assessment, especially when those dark eyes lost their glacial pall for a few seconds. I imagined a more
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