“But I—”
“We have to find a receptive judge first,” Sean said. “I’ll do that.”
She frowned at her teammates.
“We’re better off fueling up for the long haul,” Evan said.
She thought to keep arguing but knew when she was outnumbered and looked at Evan. “Lead the way.”
He charged for the door.Right.He was hungry. A good leader would’ve thought to grab some food while they were out. Now it was pushing five o’clock and they hadn’t even had lunch. And yet he didn’t complain or ask. With their history, he likely thought she’d say no, or maybe he didn’t think he should even ask.
If so, things had to change between them. He was on the team now, so she needed him to be an effective member, and she had to let him know she would welcome his input and suggestions. She still held him responsible for Olin’s death—that would never change. Even if she appreciated his willingness to have her back in the meeting with Malouf and make the situation easier for her.
He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a tray of sandwiches. “Turkey, roast beef, or ham.”
“Turkey.” She took the sandwich and sat to open the package. The thick wheat bread piled high with turkey, lettuce, tomato, and avocado made her mouth water, and she was suddenly ravenous.
He went to a soda machine and came back with a Dr Pepper and Coke. He set the Dr Pepper in front of her. She paused, sandwich in hand, to stare at the can. He’d not only thought to get her a drink but also remembered her drink of choice. Why did he have to keep reminding her that he was a great guy?
He popped the top on his soda, the fizz sizzling into the air. “I figured some extra sugar and caffeine might help after pulling an all-nighter.”
She smiled her thanks, and as he dug into his meal, she finished chewing her bite and pondered what to say to him.
“I didn’t want you on the team,” she said, instantly regretting the start to her conversation.
He shot her a surprised look and swallowed.
She held up her hand. “But you are. And I want you to know I’ll do my best to be civil, and I want you to feel free to say or do what you might normally say or do on an investigation.”
“Okay.” He took a long swig of the Coke.
“I mean it. I remember how smart and intuitive you are. This investigation is bigger than all of us, and I’m glad for your input.”
He gave a firm nod and took a large bite of the crusty roll with mounds of thick roast beef. Thankfully he didn’t seem inclined to string the conversation out, and she focused on her own food.
He set down his sandwich. “It would help if I knew more about Firuzeh.”
Her bite turned to sawdust in her mouth, and she had to wash it down with a gulp of the sugary Dr Pepper. “I’ve told you all I know about her death.”
“You haven’t shared what’s making you look so sad when youthink no one’s looking.” He arched an eyebrow, making the scar on the side of his face stretch out. “Unless there’s something else, I have to assume your sadness is from losing her.”
Kiley turned her can around on the table, looking at the wet ring trailing behind. “Firuzeh was really special. The kind of woman who lit up a room. She was always cheerful and thought of others before herself.”
“And you feel responsible for her death.”
Kiley nodded.
“I understand that. Trust me.”
She knew he meant Olin, but she wouldn’t go there, so she sipped her soda and stared at the table.
“Tell me exactly what happened,” he said, his tone gentle and not at all demanding.
Kiley wanted to ignore his request, but she’d just told him she valued his input, and she didn’t want to shut him down right off the bat. She gave him background information on Firuzeh and her family’s business and replayed the night, looking down at the table and reciting details of the shooting as if it happened to someone else so she didn’t get teary-eyed.
“You did nothing wrong,” he said with conviction.
She looked up to find compassion and understanding in his eyes. “Technically, no, but...”
