Pulse Points. Mary Baxter Lynn

son of a bitch who was responsible.”

      “You and me both,” Don responded, down in the mouth.

      “So how are you holding up, Kasey?” Angie asked in a tentative voice. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”

      Kasey stifled a sigh. “I’m still awfully skittish, that’s for sure. And have the tendency to look over my shoulder at odd times. Otherwise—” Her voice faded into nothingness. What else was there to say? What would be the point in telling them she hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since the incident? Or how much she beat up on herself because of her inability to identify the killer.

      “As long as you’re under police protection, you should be all right,” Red said.

      “I have a feeling that service is about to come to an end,” Kasey admitted with a frown, “since I’m obviously no threat to the killer.” Just saying that word made her shiver.

      

      Another silence fell over the room.

      “Just how bad are things, Kasey?” Lance asked. “Financially, I mean?”

      That question dropped into the silence like a small bomb.

      Before Kasey could respond, however, he went on, “I know Hart’s given us a reprieve, but just how far can that go?”

      “Even though I was a partner, I’m pretty much in the dark as to why the agency’s floundering. However, I intend to find out.”

      Another uncomfortable silence descended over the room.

      Monica Lee broke it. She stood in the door and said in an uneasy voice, “Kasey, Detective Gallain’s here.”

      An hour later, Kasey faced the detective alone in her office, behind closed doors.

      “Did the staff cooperate?” Kasey asked when Gallain was seated in front of her desk.

      “Yes, but they didn’t know much.”

      Kasey made a face. “I find that odd. Most of them have been with Shirley from the beginning.”

      “Seems as if she kept her private life private.”

      “Surely they were able to tell you something that would help with the investigation,” Kasey said.

      “Either they’re reluctant to confide in me, or they truly don’t have a clue.”

      “Why would they hesitate to tell you what they know?”

      “The nature of the crime, Mrs. Ellis. Like you, they’re scared and don’t want to get involved.”

      “I may be frightened, Detective,” Kasey responded in a frigid voice, “but I do want to be involved, only I don’t have anything else to contribute.”

      Gallain rubbed his chin. “So you’ve said.” With those succinct words, he stood and opened the door to leave.

      Tanner stood on the other side.

      Kasey’s eyes widened as they met his for a millisecond. But it was enough to cause her heart to skip a beat or two, which added to her irritation.

      “Hart,” Detective Gallain said in a clipped tone, passing him by.

      Kasey watched as Tanner nodded, then responded, “Detective.”

      Neither said anything until Gallain had left. Then to cover her own nervousness at his unexpected appearance, Kasey asked, “Have you two met?”

      “That we have, and you can bet I won’t get his vote.”

      “If that little exchange is anything to judge by, I wouldn’t think so.”

      “Ah, he’s pissed because I went over his head concerning an incident with one of his friends. He over-stepped his bounds, and I reported him.”

      When he didn’t offer more, she didn’t ask, disconcerted that he had just showed up unannounced.

      “Why didn’t you return my call?” he asked in his low, rusty-sounding voice.

      She maintained as much composure as she could. “I haven’t had time. I’ve been busy.”

      “Is Gallain giving you a hard time?”

      “He still thinks I’m the key to solving Shirley’s murder, if that’s what you mean.”

      “Don’t let him get to you. He can be a royal pain in the ass.”

      

      “I can hold my own.”

      His eyes perused her, and he gave her a lopsided grin. “I’m sure you can.”

      She turned away, feeling her heart do funny things again.

      “Mind if I sit down?”

      “Huh, sorry, you’ll have to forgive my manners, or rather the lack of them.”

      He whipped around, his eyes dark and probing. “You’re doing it again.”

      “What?”

      “Treating me like a stranger with an ulterior motive in hiring you.”

      His arrogant assumption infuriated her. “I don’t think you want to go there, Tanner. I know I don’t.”

      His face lost its color under the lash of her tongue. “I thought we could be friends.”

      “Friends?” Her laughter bordered on hysteria. “I don’t think so.”

      “So, do you have anything to show me?”

      The sudden change of subject caught her off guard, slowing her response. “I’ve been working.”

      “Is that a yes?”

      “Actually, it’s a no.”

      He threw up his hands and smiled, but it disappeared just as quickly and his gaze smoldered into her.