Dammit all. This can’t happen. She isn’t my girlfriend and at this moment, not even my friend. Whatever we are, she can’t be asking questions and mucking up my investigation.
“I’m trying to find out who killed Stacy.” When her heart-shaped chin juts forward, I ignore the ache to pinch it tight and bring it to my lips.
Instead, I shoot her one of my world-famous glowers. “For the last time, leave it be. We don’t even know if her death was foul play.”
“And why not?” Light blond brows raise over huge gray eyes, the color of the cafeteria walls.
“The medical examiner is being thorough, like it’s any of your business.”
“Whatever.”
Are you shitting me?“You need to back off or I swear to God, I will lock you up.”
“Don’t be stupid. You won’t arrest me.”
“Oh really?”Stupid? Is that what she thinks?
Dozens of cell phones point in our direction but I don’t give a damn. This woman has crossed the threshold. We aren’t in high school any longer and she cannot use her sharp tongue to make me feel worthless.
I’m good at my job.She’sthe loose cannon. And let’s just assume, for a moment, Jeff is a killer. If he was desperate enough to murder his wife, a second death won’t phase him.
“Put on your coat.” I slide out of the booth and hold her jacket by the shoulders.
“Why?”
“You have the right to remain silent.” I finish Mirandizing her and when she refuses to budge, I pull my cuffs off my belt. “You want me to use these?”
Temper ignited, I turn to the assholes with their videos. “Shut those the fuck off.” Of course, my comment incites more of what I’m trying to avoid.
One guy has the balls to shout, “Police brutality.”
Muttering, I help Danni out of the booth and clamp the metal rings over her small wrists.
“Excuse me? What am I being arrested for?”
“Interfering with an ongoing investigation.” I’m almost sorry I let her get under my skin but it’s for her own good.
“Show’s over, folks.” I wave at the sea of outstretched arms.
With a hand to the small of her back, I walk her to my pickup, half expecting a blood vessel to burst in her forehead but this is her own damn fault. She may fancy herself a private investigator but she’s not licensed and could get herself killed.
In the parking lot, my ire cools in the frigid air. “Listen, if you promise to stop snooping, I’ll drop the charges.”
“How about this? You let me go and I share what I learned.” Her nose wrinkles and as she sends me a stink eye, I consider taking her over my knee.
“Dammit Danni. Out with it.”
She shrugs. “Am I still under arrest?”
“Ay-yup.”
“Fine. For the record, I’m sorry for calling you stupid.”
Whoa. Her apology came out of nowhere. Am I that easy to read? That sucks. Now I feel like a real jerk, and if any of those kids post my behavior on social media, Al will ream me a new one.
The woman who captured my heart years ago, breaks out in a smart-ass grin. “And, as an added bonus, I will take down those videos.”
“No way. How?”
