Heath knew how hard it was for Denver to speak, so he rarely forced him. But this wasn’t getting better. “Not the way you’ve been drinking.” He nodded as Ryker strode up with a bag in his hand. “Denver is ready to talk about Noni. Apparently she likes alexandrite.”
Ryker stopped short. “Who is Alexandrite?”
Denver rolled his eyes. “It’s that jewel.” He pointed to the light green stone. “Turns purple sometimes. It was Noni’s favorite. Her grandpa was Russian, and it’s found in Russia.”
“Okay.” Ryker cut Heath a look. “Apparently we have a lot to chat about tonight.”
Denver shook his head. “I just chatted. Am done now.”
Ryker lifted one eyebrow at Heath.
Heath shrugged. He had no clue whether they should push Denver or not.
Ryker narrowed his gaze but didn’t say anything.
“You gonna buy a ring?” Denver asked, his lips twitching.
Heath shuffled his feet. “No.”
“Why would you buy a ring?” Ryker asked, his gaze going from Denver to Heath.
Because it was perfect for Anya? “They’re pretending to be engaged. She needs a ring.” Denver turned away from the green stone as if the movement hurt him.
Heath moved toward the emeralds just to get his brother away from the alexandrite and back to the other counter. “I’m not getting a ring.”
Ryker started to argue, but something stopped him. Heath partially turned to see Denver with a hand on Ryker’s arm. Denver shook his head and then said to Heath, “Do the ring. If you’re pretending, do it right. Maybe have fun with it.”
Heath lifted his head in surprise. Have fun with it? What would Denver give for a fake engagement to Noni, even for a short time? Maybe he wouldn’t be able to let her go again.
Ryker kept his mouth closed, but his eyes broadcast genuine concern. Different expressions crossed his face, ending with acceptance. And amusement. “All righty. Dig out what little cash we have left. Might as well go completely broke.” He leaned toward Denver. “You’re right. He should get the ring. This might be fun to watch.”
Denver nodded, his eyes twinkling. Finally.
Heath would do anything to keep Denver amused, and getting Anya a ring did seem like it’d be good for the case. He dug out the last of his cash, which would just cover the bauble. “You guys. It’s just for the case. I like her, and she deserves a ring. Maybe a memento of us. Yeah, that’s it.” Heath motioned for the proprietor. This was just for appearances . . . and Anya would like the ring. She should have some sort of souvenir from their time together after he’d gone. “I’d like the emerald ring, please.”
Anya finished taping up her notes of the Copper Killer case on the wall to create a new murder board in the empty living room, wincing again at her sore body. She had tingles and reminders of the night with Heath pretty much everywhere, which only made her want him again. Like now. He’d left a rather short note saying that he’d taken care of the GPS tracker on her phone, that he was going on an errand with Ryker, and that she should stay in the apartment building until he returned. It hadn’t been phrased as a request, either.
She glanced at the clothing in the corner. While she’d had a lot of items in the temporary apartment, she missed her apartment on the coast. Hopefully her neighbor was still gathering her mail.
A soft knock sounded on the front door. “Come in,” she called.
Zara opened the door and poked her head inside. She’d piled her dark hair up. Without makeup, her skin was smoothly flawless and her eyes were a sparkling blue. “Nice murder board. Denver has a similar one. Now you’re surrounded.”
“Good.” The more she saw the ties between victims and times, the more her mind would work on the case. “We have to figure out who this guy is.”
Zara nodded. “Fair enough. For now, I’ve made breakfast, if you’re hungry.”
“Starving.” Anya launched herself toward the doorway but paused as she drew closer. “Is that a hickey?”
Zara rolled her eyes as she gingerly touched her lower neck and the clear mark there. “Ryker is such a dork.”
Dork?Not a word Anya would’ve considered for the strong and silently moving badass. “If you say so.” She glanced toward the empty kitchen. “I take it you keep the food?”
Zara chuckled. “I pretty much do all the cooking, so I usually have the food.”
Anya frowned as she followed her new friend, who’d so nicely loaned her a gun the night before. “That doesn’t seem fair.”
Zara let her into another apartment, this one just as empty except for what appeared to be a fully stocked kitchen. “I enjoy cooking quite a lot, and I also like to eat.” She walked around an island to grab a couple of plates piled high with scrambled eggs, bacon, and pancakes. “When those guys cook, we starve.”
