Mabel leaned forward. “You can’t let anybody know you’re better. They might try to take you out another way.”
But she didn’t know a thing about Walt’s internal investigation. Did she? “I need to go through all my notes and files from meeting with Walt.” She’d done so once, but her body and mind had been barely working. Who knew what she’d missed.
“I disagree,” Lance said slowly, his gaze hard. “Let’s get you out there and flush the bastard out.”
Ronni’s mouth opened and then closed. “That’s a great idea. Tonight is the retirement bash for the lieutenant, right? How about I show up and prove my health?”
Mabel sputtered. “That’s dangerous. You’re not a cop.”
Yeah, but she was flirting with immortality. “I don’t care. Somebody tried to fucking kill me, and I want to know who it is. Make them pay.”
“For killing Walt, too.” Lance studied Mabel. “We need to take a look at your boss. He decided it was a suicide way too quickly.”
Mabel paled even more. “Not necessarily. Dr. Counts has been overworked for years. He might’ve just missed something.”
“Right. For now, I’ll leave these files for you to go through. They’re copies.” Lance pushed away from the table. “We’ll see. Tonight, everyone keep vigilant. Ronni, stick close to me. I’ll cover your back.”
Oh, this was crazy, but anticipation lit Ronni up.
Mabel cleared her throat. “Let’s have the Tuesday meeting at the lab. I think I’m on to something with the autopsy files, and I want to have them organized for you guys to go through.” She allowed Lance to assist her up and then smiled when he pressed her forward with a hand on her waist.
Were they seeing each other? “Bye,” Ronni murmured, waiting until Lance and Mabel had headed back to work. “I can’t wait to catch this dickhead.”
Olivia sipped her latte. “What does Jared think about you pursuing the guy who tried to kill you?”
Ronni blinked. “It’s not really his concern. Why?”
Olly shrugged. “I’m not sure. Chalton is over-the-top protective. I mean, he’s in the other room right now doing some business while I’m just meeting with friends. I haven’t given him the whole truth here.”
Ronni raised an eyebrow. “Don’t lie to your man for me.”
“Didn’t lie. Just didn’t give the whole truth.” Olly’s eyes sparkled.
It was nice to see her friend so happy. “Don’t worry about me. Jared and I have an arrangement, and he’s probably already making plans to leave town.” Why that made her recently healed heart ache a little, she didn’t want to examine. Although it would’ve been fun to play with that hard body of his. She’d never seen natural muscles like that.
Olly leaned in. “Just how bad was the mating?” Her eyes widened. “Oh, no. Nobody farted, did they?”
Ronni sputtered her coffee and then laughed. “No. I didn’t even have the energy to fart, and Jared was way too worried about being gentle and not breaking me.”
“Well, that’s good.” Mirth filled Olivia’s eyes. “Oh, he texted Chalton for your phone number, and I gave it to him. Figured that was all right.”
“Sure.” They should probably keep in touch a little.
Olivia stood. “I don’t think tonight is such a good idea, you know? You’re not a hundred percent yet.”
“Don’t care. It’s time to flush this guy out.” Besides, she felt fantastic. “Let’s keep our investigation between us, though. Promise?” If nothing else, she needed to keep her personal and professional lives separate. Talk about having a huge secret. Vampires existed, and now she was immortal. How crazy was that?
Olivia frowned. “I’m not sure.”
“Don’t lie. Just don’t say anything.” It was too late to prove her worth to a dead man, but she could do this. Could take down an enemy.
Olivia faltered. “I don’t know Jared very well, but I doubt he’d want you going after a killer on your own.”
He’d done his duty, and he was gone. Ronni took another big drink of her coffee. “The vamp is probably already halfway out of town. Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
Well, kind of.
* * * *
