“Nope, I’m the first. How about you?”
“Several have now. A few are even testing for sergeant already.”
“So, are you thinking about doing that?”
“Not right away. I feel like I need more time here. Besides, I like what I’m doing.”
“Me too.” She nodded. “Well, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Hey, Dana.” Mac waved at her. “You want to catch some dinner or something?”
“Can’t.” Dana flashed him a sly grin. “I have a date.”
“Oh yeah? Who with?”
“Brian Henderson. You wouldn’t know him. He’s not in the department.”
Mac wasn’t as affected by her comment as he thought he should be. “Where did you meet him?”
“We met while I was still on patrol. I stopped him and gave him a speeding ticket—well, a warning anyway. I ended up running into him at my gym, and we’ve worked out a few times.”
“And you’re seeing him socially?”
“Yeah, well, it’s been a while. He called the other day and wanted to see me.” She shrugged. “Seems like a nice guy—I checked him out.”
“Have fun. And be careful.” Mac didn’t think much of the idea of Dana meeting someone she’d had enforcement contact with. The thought initially bothered him as a bit of a moral issue, knowing male officers had gone by the wayside in years past by dating women they had professional contact with. Mac dismissed the thought, though, remembering Dana had worked out with the guy at the gym. Truth was, you really couldn’t trust anybody these days, and he was being a bit of a mother hen—or maybe it was a boyfriend scorned.
“I plan to,” Dana said. “Say,why don’t you give Kristen a call? Bet she’d love to get together with you.”
Mac grinned. “Maybe I will.”
He watched Dana get into her car and back out while he dialed the medical examiner’s number.
She answered on the fourth ring. “Hey, Mac. I just got home. What’s up?”
“I’m getting off at a decent time and wondered if you wanted to do something.”
She hesitated. “What kind of something did you have in mind?”
Mac hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Have you eaten?”
“Yeah, about ten hours ago.”
“How about I pick you and Andrew up and we go out for a pizza?” The suggestion came easily.
“Really? I love pizza and so does Andrew. That is so nice of you.”
“All right. I’ll pick you up in, say, fifteen minutes—or however long it takes me to drive there from the office.”
“We’ll be ready.”
Mac felt good about his decision. Funny how his inhibitions about Kristen had diminished. Was that a good sign? He wasn’t sure. The more time he spent with the woman, the more he liked her, and the less he worried over his relationship with Dana. Still, pulling up in front of Kristen’s house twenty minutes later, he felt a wild fluttering in his stomach. You’re just hungry, he told himself.
As he started up the walk, Andrew burst through the door and raced toward him. Kristen came out moments later, carrying a car seat. He almost panicked at the sight of it. He’d never had a car seat in his vehicle—hadn’t even considered it. Not that he ever would. It was against company policy to let civilians ride in official cars.
The car seat was a wise move on Kristen’s part, though. Andrew was small for his age, and the seatbelt wouldn’t be safe. His gaze met Kristen’s and she laughed. “Relax Mac, it’s just a car seat. And I’m just putting it back in my car. My mom was using it today while she watched Andrew. Here, you can drive.” Kristen tossed Mac a set of keys.
“I know, I just . . .”
“A little too domestic for you?”
She’d nailed it. “Not at all,” he countered, smiling at Andrew while he walked him to the car and opened the back door. “Since you didn’t bring an operating manual, I’ll let you put it in—that is if you don’t mind.”
“Be happy to.” She leaned against him and stretched up to kiss his cheek.
Once his passengers had been seated, Mac got behind the wheel of Kristen’s Volvo. A cute kid in the backseat and an attractive, sensual woman beside him set his radar into full swing. This is a badidea, part of him insisted.
Another part of him thought it felt right and maybe he should think about settling down. Yet another part of him was just plain terrified.
We’re just going for pizza, he reminded himself. Strange that such an ordinary action could feel so extraordinarily intimate.
“How was your day?” Mac asked Kristen, hoping to cover his confusion.
“Busy. I cannot believe the number of bodies we have coming in every day. And we have to do autopsies on every one of them. Then we get the criminal cases from all the law enforcement agencies that take priority.” She tipped her head back and closed her eyes. “Some days I wish the world would stand still so we could catch up.” She lifted her head and turned to look at Mac. “How about you?”
“Still working on the Clay Mullins case.”
“Any closer to finding the bad guy?”
He told her about Shaw’s arrest and the maze they’d wandered into. “We don’t know who Shaw’s accomplice is. May have just been Jacob Mullins—of course, with him dead, we may never know his role in all of it. Now we’re looking at Clay’s daughter. She’s the one who delivers his medication.”
“Wow. Betrayed by his own kids. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?”
“It does.”
Kristen gazed out the window and sighed. “Mac.” She flipped down the visor against the setting sun. “Not that talking about work isn’t interesting, but since Andrew is with us, let’s leave our jobs behind for a few hours and be normal people.”
“Oh, yeah. Sure.” He had forgotten about the little boy in the backseat. He moved his rearview mirror so he could see him. He looked back and Andrew gave Mac a wide, delighted grin.
“So where do you want to go?”
Kristen named a place and gave him directions. Five minutes later he pulled into the parking lot of The Pizza Palace. Mac ordered a large chicken and veggie pizza—Kristen’s choice—and placed their order. Andrew insisted on sitting next to Mac. He felt a bit uncomfortable with the child’s obvious attachment to him but ignored his feelings. “So, what do you want to talk about?” he asked.
“You, for starters.” Kristen rested her arms on the table. “There’s a lot about you I don’t know. And I’d really like to.”
Mac deliberated on what to tell her. He hated talking about his family. “Why don’t you go first? Tell me about your family.”
She gave him a look that said he wouldn’t be getting out of it that easily. Then she said, “Not much to tell, really. Though you probably can’t tell from looking at me, I had a normal childhood. My dad is an oncologist and my mother is a homemaker.” Her soft smile spoke volumes about the relationship they must have shared. Mac envied her.
“You love them.”
“Yeah.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “Dad is my hero. I’ve always wanted to be just like him. Turns out he takes care of the dying, and I take care of the dead.”
“Did you always want to be a pathologist?”
She chuckled. “Yeah. I was reading medical journals and doing autopsies on my dolls when I was ten. I cut open a snake once to see what it looked like inside.”
“Normal childhood, huh?”
“Well, in most ways.” She locked gazes with him. “Your turn.”
Their pizza arrived, and Mac diverted their conversation to food. He placed a slice of pizza on a plate in front of Andrew then took his own. Once they’d started eating,Kristen pressed him again.
He gave up and set down his pizza. “My mother died when I was a kid. My dad was an alcoholic and a dirty cop. Once he was out of my life, my grandmothers took over, and then my childhood was great.” He left out the part about his grandfather’s life of crime.
She raised an eyebrow. “No won
der you don’t like to talk about it. I’m sorry I insisted. I should have been more intuitive.”
He shook his head. “No, I shouldn’t be so sensitive. It’s just that . . . once people find out about my past, I’m afraid they’ll have less respect for me.”
“Not true, Mac. In fact, given your background, I’m totally impressed.”
“I had wonderful grandmothers.” He talked a bit about them, but the conversation pretty much ended when Andrew announced he was done and was ready to go home.
They placed the leftover pizza in a to-go box and headed out.
Minutes later, Mac pulled up in front of Kristen’s home. Without hesitation he went around to the passenger side and opened the door for Kristen. Then he reached into the backseat and lifted the sleeping child out of the carrier. Kristen shut the car door then went in front of him to take her keys and open the door. Once inside, she turned to take Andrew.
“I’ll carry him in,” Mac offered.
“Thanks.” Kristen led the way into Andrew’s bedroom and moved the covers aside, then watched while Mac carefully laid the sleeping child on the bed. Mac kissed Andrew’s forehead and moved back so Kristen could take off the child’s jacket, shoes, and socks.
After tucking him in, Kristen joined Mac at the door. “He looks so peaceful when he’s asleep.”
“He was great tonight.”
“That’s because you were here and he’d had a full day. Nine hours of sleep and he’s recharged and ready to roar. You should see him in the morning.”
Maybe someday I will. The thought jarred him. Mac slipped an arm around Kristen’s shoulders, and they walked out to the living room.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Kristen asked.
“No. I should go. I’d really like to get more than three hours of sleep for a change.”
“Tell me about it.” She took hold of his hand as they headed for the door. “I’m glad you called. Thanks.”
“I enjoyed it.” They were facing each other now, and he leaned down to kiss her. A jumble of feelings whirled around his head as she melted against him. He wanted to hold her, protect her.
The kiss deepened, and Kristen pressed her hands against his chest. “Whoa, cowboy.” She leaned back, as breathless as he was.
“I’m sorry.” He wasn’t.
“Hey, don’t apologize. You’re one heck of a kisser. As much as I’d love kissing you all night, I have to tell you something.”
“Sure, what?” Mac lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes.
“This is going to sound so lame.” She sighed. “Mac, I really like you. Andrew adores you. I need to know how . . . I mean . . .”
He’d rarely seen the doctor at a loss for words. Mac smiled. “You want to know what my intentions are?”
“I know that sounds crazy, but if this is just a game—I mean if I’m one of a string of women . . .”
“Hey. Why would you say that?” Her comment hurt. He wasn’t the kind of guy to play around.
“I’ve seen the way you look at Dana. It’s obvious that you care about her as more than a partner.”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, stopping to rub the back of his neck. What was it about him? Was he really that transparent? “I did. But we’re partners. I’m not dating her.”
“But would you? If she gave you the green light, would you date her?”
“I don’t know,” Mac answered honestly. “All I know is that I like you more than I probably should. And I think your little boy is adorable. Thing is, I’m not ready to be a dad or a husband at this point.” He frowned. “I have to admit, though, I thought about it once or twice tonight.”
“I don’t want Andrew to be hurt.” Kristen wrapped her arms around Mac’s waist. “Part of me wants to keep going—to see where we end up. I don’t expect a commitment.” She hugged him. “This isn’t being fair to you, but I need some time to think.”
“You’re as terrified as I am, aren’t you?” Mac wasn’t certain where the thought had come from, but it seemed right.
She laughed, breaking the tense moment. “Why, Mac, how astute. Yes, that’s it exactly. I haven’t felt this way about a guy in a long time. And maybe I’m using Andrew’s feelings as an excuse for my own fear of rejection.” She stretched up to place her arms around his neck and kissed him gently on the lips. “I think we’d better cool it for a while. See if what we’re feeling hangs around. Maybe I’m being selfish, but I hope you’ll really examine your relationship with Dana. She likes you too, you know. I don’t want to be the girl who helps you get over someone else.”
“So you don’t want to see me outside of work?” Mac asked, trying to clarify her statements.
She closed her eyes. “I do, but I think it’s best if we don’t. At least not for a while.”
Mac frowned, not knowing what to say. His heart actually hurt. He’d miss not seeing her and Andrew. He’d already fallen for the kid and was well on his way to falling for Kristen. On the other hand, maybe she was right. She was probably having second thoughts about him. She was, after all, a doctor and he a detective. Maybe he wasn’t smart enough for her. And his history had more than its share of snags. “If that’s what you want.” His tone was cool and clipped.
“Mac . . .”
He stepped outside and walked to the car, not trusting himself to respond. He couldn’t remember a time when his emotions had been so close to the surface.
KRISTEN CLOSED THE DOOR and headed for the sofa. Collapsing onto it, she leaned forward, dropping her head into her hands. “Idiot.” She hadn’t meant to hurt Mac. She needed her head examined for sending him away. Terror. That’s exactly what she had felt watching him act so naturally toward Andrew. He’d overcome his inhibitions about dating her and she’d . . .
“What have I done? It would serve me right if he never spoke to me again.”
Kristen Thorpe, you may be a whiz at pathology, but you’re a duncewhen it comes to matters of the heart.
THIRTY-THREE
AT 10:15 THE NEXT MORNING, Mac and Dana started for the Columbia County D.A.’s office with their return of search warrant paperwork. Allison at the lab had informed them earlier that she had suspended the time-consuming search through the hairs and fibers recovered from Shaw’s car after the partial print, and the one full latent was conclusively identified as belonging to Jacob Mullins. The evidence would be retained if needed for trial. Those prints and the plastic flare cap would be golden in corroborating Tyler and Mandy’s witness account.
Shaw’s goose was cooked on Jacob’s death, but Mac and Dana were still searching for the evidence to break open Clay’s case and determine where Jacob fit and if anyone else was involved.
Kevin had been working with Dr. Kennerman at the Avalon Research Institute, who was still cooperating but who now required a subpoena from the district attorney for the employee roster he had promised the previous day. They weren’t surprised at the request, as most corporations wanted to protect themselves from civil liability. Kennerman was probably receiving legal advice by this time. Mac appreciated Kevin’s seasoned help on the case. It was comforting to have Kevin’s input, even if he wasn’t riding with him.
Mac glanced over at Dana, who was staring out the window. They hadn’t talked much during the drive to St. Helens, which was not a bad thing. They had known each other long enough now that the silence wasn’t uncomfortable, just an outward sign of their mental and physical exhaustion from working such a tangled web of an investigation.
“How was your date last night?” Mac asked, breaking the silence.
She turned toward him. “Terrific. How about you?”
The lack of a smile made him wonder about the authenticity of her words. “Okay. I took Kristen and her son out for pizza, then went home.” He wasn’t up to talking about her.
“Who am I kidding?” Dana sighed. “It was a bust. The guy was a loser, and I ended up having to fight him off. Honestly, Mac, do I look like a woman who’d jump i
nto bed with a guy on a first date?”
“Not to me.” But with Dana’s looks, he could see how a guy could get fixated.
“Humph.” Dana folded her arms. “Well, no big deal. I fixed him. Called my friend Karon on patrol, and she’ll put the word out to keep an eye on him.”
“By that you mean your pals will make his life miserable?”
“I hope so. He drinks, Mac, and I have no doubt he drives while under the influence. Just because he hasn’t gotten caught . . . I’m not making this personal. Just posted the car info in the briefing folder with the DUII likelihood. Anyway, he’ll get his comeuppance.”
“I almost feel sorry for the guy.”
“Don’t. He’s not worth it.”
Mac pulled up in front of the courthouse. “You okay?”
“Yeah. He wasn’t anything more than I could handle.” She pinched her lips together for a moment then added, “Guess I’m just concerned about what he does to women who don’t have police training.”
Mac nodded. “The guy sounds like a real jerk. You don’t think he’s a rapist, do you?”
“I’ve thought about following up on the idea after we wrap up our investigation.”
“Speaking of which, do you have the evidence list?” Dana had secured a list of the evidence seized during the search of Shaw’s car to the return of warrant form. Oregon law required the police officer applying for a warrant to return a list of evidence seized during the search to the issuing judge for review. The procedure was the formal notification to the judge that the warrant had been served in good faith and there was actually evidence located at the residence or vehicle.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll wait in the car while you run up.” Mac yawned the latter part of the statement.
“Sure, anything else for Darren except the subpoena issuance on the Avalon records?”
“No, I think that’s it. On second thought, ask about Shaw’s bail and see if he’s retained counsel yet. While you’re returning the warrant, I’ll get us a to-go cup. What will you have?”
“Bless you, Mac. Straight coffee—black.”
“Yeah, me too. I don’t think my stomach could take anything sweet.”
Terminal 9 Page 28
