She Walks the Line (Harlequin Super Romance)

by Fox, Roz Denny

  “Tell Archer straight out. If the man is sensitive enough to buy you Chinese tea, Mei Lu, trust him to be open to suggestions that come from your experience.”

  Mei nodded dutifully. It wasn’t what she’d hoped for. She really wanted Catherine to take her off the case. But she couldn’t admit part of her reason was that Cullen Archer made her feel more a woman and less a cop.

  “Chief, I know you have no one else in the department to translate Chinese, but… Shoot, I’ve never been so uncertain about how to proceed.” Mei hit on something she could admit. “On the other hand, I’ve never worked with anyone from Interpol.”

  Catherine eyed her young lieutenant long and hard. “I hope that’s all it is,” she said, collecting her cell phone before walking to the wall to turn off her lights.

  As the chief drew nearer, Mei noticed lines around her mouth that she didn’t recall seeing there before. And come to think of it, Catherine didn’t seem her usual cheerful self. “Is everything all right with you?” Mei asked, taking care to lower her voice. “Did those two men you met with upset you?”

  Catherine dropped her ring of keys, knelt and scooped them up just as fast. “What makes you ask?” They walked out of her office, and with a sure hand, the older woman locked her door.

  “I thought their movements appeared angry when they passed me.”

  “Did they say anything?”

  “No. Nothing. The way they were dressed—well, I wondered if they were lawyers. Maybe part of the team going after Myron Addison?” The thought had only now occurred to her. Mei knew it was a dicey case. Myron was a sixteen-year police veteran accused of transporting drugs across the border. He’d been off duty at the time, and he was hollering setup. The papers were having a field day. The story seemed to grow more legs every day.

  “You know I can’t comment on a case IA has under investigation.”

  “Right. But we all know it’s yet another situation bringing adverse attention to the force as a whole. The media keep harping on Addison and on those rumors about missing evidence. It’s not fair. You’ve done so much already to decrease the number of times our citizens have to ask who’s policing the city’s police.”

  A meager smile lifted one corner of Catherine’s lips. “I’m alternately accused of being a tough old broad, or else too lax. You’d think I’d get used to being in the hot seat.” She sighed. “Sometimes I long for the days when all I had to do was be a good cop and teach ethics at the academy.”

  Annette left her desk to intercept the women. “These are some last-minute calls you may want to return from your car, Chief.”

  “Thanks, Annette.” Taking the message slips, Catherine turned to Mei Lu. “Jordan used to tease me about women’s work never being done. Now I suspect he wasn’t teasing. Mei, good luck on the case. Keep in touch.”

  Mei lingered only a moment before turning toward the stairs. She and the other women under Catherine made conscious efforts not to appear too chummy with the chief in public places like the elevator. As Mei Lu clattered down the hollow-sounding stairwell, she thought about Catherine’s last statement. She rarely mentioned her dead husband, but when she did it was always with fondness. It sure negated Mei’s own cynicism when it came to marriage. Although statistics proved it was common for cops’ marriages to fall apart… Having seen a few fellow officers cheating on their spouses, Mei questioned what kept some unions sound and others not.

  Her cell phone rang, echoing in the open chamber, and she fumbled it out of its pouch. “Lieutenant Ling here.”

  “Mei, it’s Cullen. Freda said you were called away by your office. Can you give me any idea of when you’ll be back? The twins are bugging me to take them ice skating. You and I have barely scratched the surface of what we need to do next. Say, better yet, can you meet me at the rink?”

  He rattled off the rink’s address, and Mei knew right where it was. She’d gone there as a kid and was now reminded of visions she’d held of becoming the next Olympic champion. “I don’t skate,” she lied, then qualified her response. “Not in years, anyway. I’d probably break my neck if I tried.” She moved to the wall to let two patrol officers entering the stairwell pass.

  Cullen’s deep chuckle floated over the phone, sending those irritating goose bumps up Mei’s arms again. “You think I’d risk life and limb on the ice?” he said. “I just sit where I can keep an eye on the twins, and guzzle a gallon of hot coffee to try and keep warm. How about it? Can I tempt you if I promise to bring a thermos of tea?”

  “No need for that. Tea tastes funny out of a thermos. I wonder if the hot chocolate they sell at the concession stand is still as fabulous as I remember.”

  “So, you’ll meet me there? Good. The twins will be forever grateful to you. How long will it take you? Half an hour?”

  “Uh, probably longer.” Mei couldn’t figure out what had possessed her to say she’d go. It seemed too much like playing hooky from work.

  Cullen must have sensed her hesitation. “Promise you won’t stand me up. If you do, I’ll end up being bored to death by a gaggle of mothers who assume I’ve got nothing better to do than hear every last thing their darling children have done since birth.” He lowered his voice. “You have no idea, Mei Lu. Sometimes they even go into those details, too.”

  She laughed. “Okay, you have my word.” He sounded so pathetic. She shut and stowed her phone, but was still grinning when she yanked open the fire door that opened onto her floor and collided with someone rushing out.

  “Oops, sorry!” Mei jumped aside. “Lucy?” Gaping at the changes in Lucy Montalvo’s appearance since the two women had last seen each other, Mei stood there stunned. “Gosh, you look…different. Gorgeous,” she added.

  Blushing, Lucy raked her narrow fingers through her shoulder-length brown hair. “New hairstyle. I admit this is a far cry from the way I used to skin my hair back in a ponytail. But there’s nothing much different about what I have on. Same old white shirt, navy blazer and blue jeans.”

  “It’s more than your hair, Lucy. I never knew you to fuss with makeup.” Of her former friends, Mei had always found Lucy to be the biggest enigma. Quiet, single-mindedly efficient. Risa used to tease Lucy about being too private. But then, she had the tough job of locating abducted or missing children. So, how could her emotions not be involved?

  “Well, Jackson likes feminine touches. That’s where I was headed. To meet him.”

  “At the ranch?”

  “No, at a florist’s.” A bright blush added color to Lucy’s cheeks. “We’re choosing flowers for our wedding, Mei Lu. It’s going to be very small. Only family. Still, I have to keep pinching myself. It’s really, finally going to happen. Oh, and guess what else? Jackson has a buyer for the ranch.”

  “That’s great! I’ve been so afraid you’d move out there and leave us like Abby did. Speaking of Abby, did you get the postcard with her new phone number?”

  “Yes. I hope all’s well with her and Thomas. I know how happy I am, and I wish the same for her.”

  Mei reached out and clasped Lucy’s wrist. “I spoke briefly to Abby. I can’t wait to catch up—with her again and with you. Anyone can see you’re walking on clouds.”

  “I never told people at work how difficult it was for me to find Tomas Avila dead a few months ago. Jackson’s helping me work through that, so I’m not nearly so hard on myself. I saw Jackson make peace with his alcoholic, abusive father, so by comparison, overcoming the high expectations everyone’s always placed on me is simple, really. Oh, I’ve gotta tell you, Grandpa Wiley’s having a grand time making new friends at the senior center. I just—well, life couldn’t be better.”

  “I’m so glad everything’s working out for you. All falling into place,” Mei said. She noticed that Lucy kept glancing at her watch. “I can tell you’re in a rush. I have an appointment away from the precinct myself. Let’s get together soon—all of us. If not before your wedding, then right after. Please say you will.”

  Lucy smi
led and gave Mei a fierce hug. “I’ll do my best. I miss our gabfests even more than I imagined I would. As well, I want everyone to get to know Jackson,” she declared, suddenly seeming shy. “He’s the best. He’s good for me, Mei Lu.”

  Tears stinging the backs of her eyes, Mei nodded. Blinking fast, she hugged Lucy one last time before her friend dashed away. For a minute, Mei stood in the stairwell, her hand gripping the knob of the door through which Lucy had appeared. She felt strangely bereft and for a moment forgot where she was headed. Just a year ago, the five friends would have thrown Lucy a bang-up wedding shower. Mei echoed Lucy’s comment about the group. She missed their camaraderie, too.

  She was glad no one stopped her before she reached her desk. Collecting the few messages that had come in, she left again as quickly.

  She remained less than enthusiastic about the prospect of meeting Cullen Archer at the ice rink. Several times she considered turning around and just going straight to the nightclub on her own. After all, she’d done hundreds of interviews.

  Turning on the radio, she spun the dial to her favorite station, arguing that this investigation was no different from any other. But it was, some part of her brain insisted. Two men were dead. This was not an ordinary white-collar crime.

  Traffic was dreadful. Mei pulled into the crowded parking lot a full hour after she’d hung up from making the arrangements with Cullen. He could have come and gone by now. Although, in that case, she would’ve expected him to phone again.

  Remembering how cold ice rinks could be, even in the area where parents huddled waiting for lessons to end, Mei gave thanks for the emergency supplies she kept in the trunk of her car. She pulled out a hooded sweatshirt left over from her street patrol days. She had a lap robe and a windbreaker, too, but didn’t bother with them.

  Cullen was the first person she saw as she slipped inside the busy arena. She stood in one spot near the concession area, letting the heavy door close on its own.

  Spotting her, he shot out of his seat. He seemed relieved, and even a little glad to see her.

  “I was afraid you’d gotten hung up at the station.” He tossed an empty paper coffee cup in a recycling bin. “That’s my third. I’m not sure even a coffee hound like me can drink another. I’ve managed to save you a seat. If you’ll watch my stuff, I’ll go get your hot chocolate.”

  “The rink’s packed. So is the parking lot. Funny, I don’t recall it ever being this full when I was a kid.” She set her notebook on the table and pulled her sweatshirt on over her head. Her last comment came out muffled.

  “Quite a few schools are out for Easter break. That’s why I have the twins in the middle of a school term. They spend summers, Easter break and alternate holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas with me. Hey, between the sweatshirt and the cold air you’ve managed to electrify your hair.” He waved his hand an inch or so away from Mei’s cheek. They both watched strands of her hair follow his fingers.

  “I must look a fright.” Still, they both laughed. Mei tried smoothing her hands over her once-sleek hair, only making matters worse. “I don’t have a comb on me, either.”

  “A woman without a comb? No purse? That’s gotta be a first. Frankly, I think it’s cute. I’ve tried imagining you a bit ruffled.” Cullen’s lips curved up in a teasing grin.

  Mei felt herself blush. Where she’d been shivering with cold, she suddenly felt warm. “I don’t carry a purse but have a car key clip inside my notebook,” she blurted, or there was no telling how long the two of them would have stood, gazing into each other’s eyes if Cullen’s kids hadn’t skated up to the Plexiglas barrier and banged on it to get their dad’s attention. He wheeled abruptly and acknowledged them. They waved mittened hands, their little faces wreathed in grins. Mei waved back, but they’d already skated off.

  “I remember my brother, Stephen, and me being exactly like them. Red faces. Icy feet. And yet we were in seventh heaven. No way would we have come off the ice or admitted to being cold.”

  Cullen, who had his jacket collar turned up around his neck, tucked his hands in his pockets. “Did your mom sit out here for hours freezing her butt off?”

  His query effectively doused Mei’s joy. Embarrassment flooded in. “Uh…no. Stephen and I came with friends.” She didn’t mention how, at that age, she and her brother had been mortified over the funny way Aun dressed and, more so, over her refusal to learn English. So they’d stopped having her come.

  Luckily Cullen didn’t probe further. He excused himself to go after the hot chocolate.

  Mei used the time to refocus on the present. She opened her notebook and read through the few notes she’d made. But her mind refused to fall into line, instead lingering on how she and Stephen had done their mother a disservice.

  Returning shortly, Cullen carried two steaming cups of cocoa. Whipped cream oozed out over the edges and climbed up red-and-white peppermint sticks protruding from the white mound.

  Mei immediately cupped her cold hands around the warm cardboard cup. “I’d completely forgotten about the peppermint sticks. My brother and I tried making these drinks at home. Somehow they never quite tasted as good.”

  “So, are you and Stephen close?” Cullen asked after pausing briefly to lick a blob of whipped cream threatening to spill down the side of his cup.

  Mei realized she was staring when Cullen glanced up at her and grew still.

  She hurriedly lowered her eyes. “Uh…what did you ask?”

  “You and your brother? You’re still close?”

  Mei angled her head to watch the skaters. She saw the twins, who were laughing and spinning with their arms wrapped around each other. For the first time in a long while, she considered how she and Stephen had become such strangers. “My brother’s in charge of Ling Limited’s Hong Kong operation. Strong ties are difficult to maintain long distance, especially since neither one of us keeps regular hours. He’s engaged, and I’ve yet to meet my intended sister-in-law. What about you? Are your siblings in Houston?”

  “I’m an only child.” Hiking a shoulder, Cullen followed her gaze to his children. “That’s why I’m thankful Belinda and Bobby have each other.”

  “Not to get nosy, but you make it sound as if they’re the last little Archers. You don’t want more children to fill that big house?”

  Cullen hid a grimace behind the still-steaming cocoa. “I wanted a whole passel of kids. It turned out my wife had quite different views.”

  His scowl convinced Mei to drop the subject. “Shall we discuss our plan?” she said briskly.

  “Right.” Cullen took a big gulp before setting his drink aside. He dug out a notebook much larger than Mei Lu’s. “Have you got anything in your closet that’s…less corporate-looking?”

  “Pardon?”

  “Clothes. Not that you don’t look fine for normal police work. But if you’ve got nothing else on your agenda tonight, I figure there’s no time like the present to begin observing who comes and goes at that nightclub.”

  “Surveillance of the parking lot? All that requires is blue jeans.”

  “I meant for us to go inside.” Cullen slouched against the chair back and laced his hands together behind his head. “I find information flows more freely around people who fit in.”

  Mei thought about the corporate cocktail parties she’d attended for that very reason—she fit in. “Point taken,” she said, sliding a pen from a pouch in her notebook. “What time shall I meet you? Or maybe I should ask, what time did our courier die?”

  “Midnight. But I’m not planning on duplicating the situation to that degree,” he teased. “Let’s say I pick you up at your place around quarter to nine. Write your address in my book. I assume from a previous comment that you live near the club.”

  “I said the market I frequent is a few blocks from there. I’ll have no problem meeting you at the club by nine.”

  “My picking you up seems to be a problem, Mei Lu. I guess I never asked if you have a…significant other. I remember
you said you’re not married.”

  “No. I have a dog.”

  “Ah. Must be some monster dog if he’s the reason you meet your dates instead of letting them collect you at your door.”

  “This isn’t a date.” Her pen slipped through her fingers and hit the floor. Mei grabbed up the cup of chocolate to save it from spilling as she leaned over to retrieve the pen.

  Cullen shifted in his seat, but he obviously remained amused. “Pretend, Lieutenant. This is my idea. We go inside and have a drink or two. We dance a little, and keep our eyes and ears open.”

  “Isn’t that unprofessional?” Mei said coolly.

  “Why are you so prickly all of a sudden?” Cullen removed a pen from his shirt pocket. “That parking lot is one big slab of concrete. Anyone going into or leaving the club would spot us sitting in a car. But we can try it your way.”

  He sounded offended. The last thing Mei Lu wanted to do was offend him. She bent sheepishly over her book. “No. You’re right. We need to blend in. It’s just…I’m afraid I don’t have your experience club-crawling.”

  “Wait just a minute,” he said huffily, then paused and rubbed the back of his neck. “Guilty as charged. In my younger days, I used to hang out in night spots. After my divorce, too. Until I got my head screwed on straight and told myself I was too old for such crap,” he said unapologetically.

  “You’ve been divorced how long?” Mei picked at the edges of her cup.

  “Longer than I was married. Six years, to be exact. Jana and I called it quits when the twins were a year old.”

  “I’m sorry, Cullen.”

  “Me, too. For my kids’ sake. Not so much mine. I look back and tell myself I ought to have been smart enough at twenty-eight to see how different Jana and I were.” He stared into space, rapidly clicking his ballpoint pen.

  Mei was silent, sucking on her peppermint stick.

  Cullen’s eyes traced the progress of the mint stick. Quickly glancing away, he shifted in his chair again, making it squeak loudly.

  She was about to ask if something was wrong when a blast of cold hit her back. She twisted around.