“He just bought a new place on the waterfront.”
“New places on the waterfront are expensive.”
“He’s not a pauper.”
“Cops don’t get paid much.”
“He uses his money wisely.”
That gave Susan something to consider, and in the silence that ensued, Savannah thought about places on the waterfront, then places in town. Again Jared came to mind. She pictured him in her bed, wondered whether he was still sleeping, wondered whether she should have left a note. She’d debated it at the time. But he’d known that she was leaving, had known where she was going. And, anyway, what would she have said?
More than anything, she wondered when she’d see him again.
“You’re looking mellow,” Susan observed.
Savannah darted her a startled look, then turned her eyes back to the window. “Must be this birthday, on top of everything.”
“Mmm.”
“It bothers you, too?”
“I took a good look at my neck the other day. It looks old.”
“If so, it’s the only place on your body that does. You don’t look a day over twenty-six.”
“Where’d you get twenty-six?”
“Anything less doesn’t have enough class.”
Susan smiled. “That’s a novel way of looking at it. Good one, Savvy.” She took a quick breath. “Why were you late this morning?”
Savannah’s heart picked up a beat. She really wanted to tell the truth. Each time she thought of Jared, she bubbled inside. She wanted to share that.
But she didn’t. She knew Susan, knew how Susan felt about Jared’s voice, knew how Susan felt about herself as compared to her twin. One part of her wasn’t completely sure what Susan would do if Savannah told her about Jared, and she didn’t want anything to spoil the day.
Of course, there was still Megan to visit.
Savannah sighed. “I overslept. Everything must have crept up on me.”
“You shouldn’t have gone into the office yesterday. You deserved a day off.”
“No. I’ll deserve a day off when I’ve put away the men who hurt Megan.”
“NotI,Savvy.We.You don’t work in a vacuum there. Isn’t the investigation out of your hands now?”
“In some respects. But I’ll be the one to prosecute, so I want to stay closely involved.”
“You shouldn’t prosecute. You’re too close to the case.”
“I’m the best one to do it.”
“Won’t the defense raise a stink?”
“I’m not a judge. I’m not supposed to be impartial.”
“Still, you can be overzealous.”
“Not me. I know the rules. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the case. But the ones I’m worried about are the guys doing the running around now—the state police and the FBI. Sometimestheyget overzealous, and if that happens, an important piece of evidence may later be ruled inadmissable. I don’t want that to happen.”
