We stared at each other for a moment.
“What about you?” I asked.
“I’m surprised you don’t know all about me.”
“I know you don’t have a criminal record.”
“I thought you didn’t run my background.”
“I just looked to see if you were in the system.”
She lifted a sassy eyebrow at me.
“I really don’t know anything about you. I don’t know where you work or what you do. Half the fun is getting to know each other, don’t you think?”
“I work at Diamond Charters. I’m the director of operations. And I don’t know if talking to a cop who knows all my family secrets is fun.”
“Sorry. I don’t like to get blindsided. Information is power.”
“Well, I feel powerless. I don’t know anything about you.”
“I’m an open book.”
She squinted at me. “No, you’re not. You’re pages and pages of secrets. Walled up and closed off. I know the type.”
“You could be operating under false assumptions.”
She chuckled. “You’re cute, Deputy. But I don’t need any more trouble than I already have.”
“Cute?”
“Sorry. Would you prefer handsome?”
I shrugged modestly. “Keep going.”
She laughed. “You don’t need me to stroke your ego. I think it’s big enough.” She scooped up the drinks. “I’ll see you around, Deputy.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” I said, just to get under her skin.
The offer for an introduction had apparently expired.
Riley returned to Amber, and I made my way back to JD and the gang. They had already attracted a small entourage.
“I see you managed to successfully run her off," Jack said.
I sneered at him.
"Does she know anything?"
"If she does, she's not saying.” I sighed. "Maybe we’re barking up the wrong tree. Maybe Shane had nothing to do with the Vault."
It was wishful thinking, and Jack knew better. "Let's hope so. After eight years in the can, you'd think he'd learn something."
"Yeah,” I snarked. “How to be a better thief.”
"I genuinely hope he's not involved. I like the guy. But he always was a little out of control."
We hung out at Red November for the rest of the night, then brought a small group back to theAvventurafor an after-party.
