"That's a hell of a pep talk."
"I wasn't trying to cheer you up, just get your attention. We have to move forward."
"And do what?"
She thought for a moment. "Rick worked at a local gym. I assume you've been there."
"Several times after the fire, but not in the past year. The manager was helpful, but he didn't know anything personal about Rick. The staff also had the same story: nice guy, keeps to himself, does his job, don't know anything more about him."
"Did you talk to any gym members?"
"No, and after the FBI closed the case, the manager stopped talking to me."
"I'm beginning to see a pattern. A lot of doors shut in your face."
"Yes, they did."
"Well, let's open them back up. Let's go to the gym. Maybe we can find someone who has remembered something or might be more willing to talk now."
"It's a long shot, Kate."
"High odds don't scare me."
"Then we'll go to the gym."
* * *
When they arrived at the fitness center, Devin let Kate take the lead. She'd done a good job with Marion Baker, and her FBI credentials carried more weight than his PI license. Plus, his impatience and desire to get to the truth as fast as possible often turned people off. Kate was warmer, more nurturing. Although, Kate hadn't been very kind to him with her 'snap out of it' order. He'd gotten no sympathy, just a kick in the ass.
But he'd needed that kick in the ass, so he could hardly complain.
Kate was right. He didn't have time to stew about what he hadn't seen before. He had to look at what was right in front of him now, and follow any new lead he could get. He wasn't expecting much from this trip, but maybe he would be surprised.
Kate showed her badge to the receptionist, and a few minutes later they were escorted into the manager's office. The manager was not the same balding, middle-aged man Devin had spoken to before. This was a younger guy, early thirties, bleach-blond hair, and a great tan.
"I'm Pete Stanley. How can I help you?" he asked, as they sat down in front of his desk.
"We want to talk to you about a former employee—Rick Baines," Kate said. "He was killed in a fire eighteen months ago."
"Yeah, I was around then. I was working the desk those days. How I can help you? Is there some new evidence? Was someone else involved in Rick's death? Is that why you're back?"
"We think someone else might have been involved," Kate said. "We're trying to retrace Rick's movements in the days before his death."
"Wow. You know I never thought he could kill someone. After we all heard the news, it shook me. I couldn't believe the guy I worked with was a murderer, but you're saying maybe he wasn't?"
"Were you close to Rick?" Kate asked, ignoring Rick's question.
"I wouldn't say close. I knew him well enough to have a beer with him, but there were always a lot of other people around. We didn't spend time together after work or anything."
"Did Rick ever talk about high school friends?" Devin interjected.
Pete thought for a moment. "There was a guy who used to come to the gym who told me after the fire that he'd gone to high school with Rick. We were talking about how we couldn't believe he'd done what everyone said he did."
"What was his name?"
"Alan Jenkins."
"Do you have his contact information?" Kate asked.
"He hasn't been here in about a year." Pete got on his computer and typed in Alan's name. "Wait, I still have it." He printed out a piece of paper and handed it to Kate. "This is the address and phone number he gave us, and you didn't get that from me, all right? I want to help, but the owner would probably not appreciate me giving out personal information."
"I understand," Kate said. "This is really helpful."
"Well, I'm always happy to help the FBI," Pete said, giving Kate an appreciative look.
"I have one more question," Kate said, smiling back at Pete. "Did Rick have a girlfriend?"
"I don't think so."
"Was he close with any of the female staff members? And are any of those members working today?"
"He did a lot of spin classes on his off-time with Casey Hughes. She'll be in tonight if you want to come back. Hey, you can take her class, too, if you're interested. She's one of the best in the city. On the house, of course."
"That's very nice of you," Kate said. "We would like to talk to her. I'm not sure we'll spin, but we'll come back."
"Great. I'll let the girls at the front desk know." He got up to usher them out of the office. "If you need a club, keep us in mind. We have a full program of classes. You look like you work out, Agent Callaway."
"Sometimes," Kate said. "Probably not as much as I should."
"I used to train people. I'd be happy to show you how to get the best out of your body whenever you want to come back."
"That's so nice of you," Kate said.
"I'm a nice guy. Ask anyone."
"I'm sure you are."
As Kate and Pete exchanged a smile, Devin felt a wave of unexpected irritation run through him. Kate could not seriously be buying this guy's charm, could she? He was either trying to sell her a membership or get a date, which took nerve since they'd come to talk to him about a murder investigation.
"He was cooperative," Kate said as they left the gym.
Devin gave her a disbelieving look. "He wanted to sell you a membership, Kate—among other things."
"Well, I wasn't going to buy one."
"Really? Because you looked like you were buying everything he was selling."
She frowned. "You sound jealous."
"Don't be stupid."
"And now you sound defensive."
"I'm just annoyed. We went there to get information not for you to get a date."
"We got information. Pete gave us the name and contact information for someone who might have gone to high school with Baines. And he told us that Casey might know something about Rick. We have two new leads to follow."
"Why didn't he give up those names before?" he challenged, not sure why he was feeling so worked up, but he couldn't seem to bring himself down. "I didn't interview him personally, but I know the fire investigative unit talked to every staff member."
"He wasn't the manager before. Maybe he wasn't asked that exact question. Or perhaps now he isn't rattled by a swarm of feds and arson investigators and has had time to think. Breaks in cold cases often come because a potential witness suddenly remembers or feels more willing to talk."
"You don't have to educate me about cold cases or witness testimony," he said, flipping open the locks to the car. "I've interviewed thousands of people, which I'm guessing is thousands more than you."
She got into her seat as he slid behind the wheel. "You're really annoying, Devin."
"I'm the annoying one?"
"Yes, you. Whatever the hell is your problem right now, you need to get over it."
Her blue eyes spit fire at him, and he was both angry and in awe of the fact that he couldn't intimidate her at all.
"Say whatever you need to say," she continued. "Do whatever you need to do so we can go back to the case and concentrate on what's important. All right?"
"Okay. If that's what you want." He leaned over, slid one hand around the back of her head and pulled her into the hot, hard kiss he'd been wanting to give her since she first walked into his office.
She tensed, her lips parting under his in surprise.
He took advantage of the moment, changing up the kiss to one that was more persuasive, more compelling, and damn if she didn't kiss him right back.
Now he was the one who was taken off guard.
The kiss wasn't his anymore. It wasn't hers, either. It was theirs.
It was hot and sexy and more than a little dangerous.
They came to the same conclusion at the same time, breaking apart, staring at each other in disbelief. Yet, the desire to kiss again was still there.
"Devin," Kate got out, but c
ouldn't seem to find more words.
He didn't know what to say, either.
"What the hell was that?" she asked finally.
"You said to do what I needed to do."
"And that's what you needed to do?"
"That guy was all over you," he said, knowing that was about the lamest explanation he could have come up with.
"So you decided to get all over me?"
"You kissed me back, Kate."
"I was startled."
"And attracted." He had to go on offense, because his defense was really weak.
She sat back in her seat. "Maybe," she admitted.
His heart sped up at her response. That one word made him want to reach for her again, but he couldn't do that. He shouldn't do that.
Forcing himself to look away from her soft pink lips and sparkling blue eyes took about every last ounce of willpower he had. He started the car and pulled out of the parking space.
They drove back to his apartment in silence. He parked in the garage and they walked up the stairs in more silence.
He opened the front door and led them down the hall, past his office, past his bedroom, and into the den.
Kate walked over to the map and stared at it, but he didn't think her mind was on the pattern of fires.
He went into the kitchen and grabbed two bottled waters out of the refrigerator and took one over to her.
"Thanks," she said, uttering the first word she'd spoken since maybe.
He took a long drink of water, finishing almost half the bottle in one swallow. Kate did the same.
"Okay," she said, facing him. "So that can't happen again."
"Agreed."
"We're working together. We have a case to solve."
He couldn't believe he was the one who needed the reminder, but for a few minutes, he'd completely forgotten about the obsession that had driven every waking moment of his life for the past year and a half. That realization was mind-boggling. He'd never let a woman distract him from work, not before he left the FBI and not after…until now.
He sat down at the table and opened his computer, because he needed something to look at besides Kate.
"I think we should call Alan Jenkins. I have his information here," she said.
"Go for it."
She punched in the number and put her phone on speaker. A second later, a woman answered.
"Is Alan Jenkins there?" Kate asked.
"No. This isn't his number anymore," the woman said abruptly. "He moved out a year ago."
Before Kate could say another word, the phone went to dial tone.
"So much for our lead," she said. "I guess that number was a landline. I wonder if we can find his cell."
"You have more resources than I do. Use them."
"I will, but if we don't get any more definitive information, I think we should go back to the gym at seven and take that spin class. Maybe Casey didn't just know Rick but also Alan."
"We don't need to take the class. We'll just talk to her afterwards."
"Oh, I am definitely taking the class," Kate said. "I just need to stop at my brother's place on the way and grab some clothes. But I could use a workout. You probably could, too."
Now there was a hint of cockiness back in her eyes. "I probably could," he admitted, thinking that the best way to get rid of all the tension in his body was a hard workout.
"Did you really think I was falling for Pete's lines earlier?" she challenged.
"You looked like you were enjoying his conversation."
"It was an interview. I was working the witness. He liked me. I used it."
"So you didn't like him at all?"
She shrugged. "I don't know him. He's attractive. He probably doesn't have as many problems as you do."
"I don't have problems," he denied.
"Are you kidding? You are carrying a ton of baggage, Devin. I have no idea what's in all your bags, but I know they're full, and they're weighing you down."
Her comment was a little too close to the mark, reminding him that Kate wasn't just beautiful; she was also extremely insightful. "Let's get to work."
"I never stopped. You were the one who—"
"I don't want to talk about it anymore." Talking about kissing her only made him want to do it again. "Let's not speak for a while. Think you can manage that?"
"I can if you can."
"I definitely can."
"You say that, but you keep talking."
He let out a sigh, letting her have the last word. Her triumphant smile should have pissed him off, but damn if it didn't make him like her more. He did need a workout. He just hoped he could make it until seven, before he found another way to quiet her smart mouth.
Eight
Casey Hughes ran an aggressively difficult spin class, Kate thought three hours later, as she gasped for breath on a one-minute sprint. Sweat was running in rivers between her breasts, her thighs ached with exertion, and her heart rate was probably higher than it had ever been, but she wasn't going to quit, not with the incredibly fit Devin by her side. He didn't seem to be nearly as winded as she was.
How on earth had she gotten so out of shape? She tried to run at least three times a week, but it had been a few weeks, she reminded herself. She'd spent more time on airplanes and sitting at desks in the last several months. She needed to change that up, or she would lose the fitness she'd always prided herself on.
When the music and the class finally came to an end, she was filled with euphoric relief, but she stumbled a little as she got off the bike, her legs not quite recovered from the punishment she'd put them through.
"Easy," Devin said, putting a steadying hand on her shoulder.
And just like that, all the sexual tension she'd been trying to burn off came right back.
Why him? Why now?
They were pointless questions to ask, because attraction never came on demand, and it was almost always the wrong person at the wrong time.
"Are you all right?" Devin asked, wiping his face with a towel. "That was a workout."
"I'm fine. Thanks." She stepped away and used her own towel to mop up her sweat. She'd put her hair up in a high ponytail and was thrilled when the air conditioning in the gym finally began to register against the heat in her body. "Casey is almost done talking to everyone," she said, her eyes on the teacher. "Let's hope she can tell us something about Alan Jenkins."
She'd been able to find both an address in San Diego and a cell phone number for Alan Jenkins, but he hadn't answered her call. Hopefully, he would call her back.
While it was somewhat interesting that Jenkins had left town after the fire, it could mean absolutely nothing at all. The thread that tied Jenkins to Baines was about as tenuous as it could be. They needed someone—hopefully Casey—to give them something else to go on. Otherwise, they could be chasing a non-existent lead.
Devin led the way to the front of the studio and gave a warm smile to the attractive brunette with the pretty green eyes and killer body.
"Great class," Devin said.
"I'm glad you liked it. You're new," Casey said. "I haven't seen you around here before."
"First time. This is my friend Kate."
"Hi," Kate said. "Thanks for the workout."
"You're welcome. You two kept up pretty well for newcomers. I hope you'll come back."
"Definitely," Devin said. "Would it be possible for us to talk to you for a few minutes?"
"Sure? What about?"
"We spoke to Pete earlier. He said that you were friends with Rick Baines."
Kate immediately noted the change that came over Casey's face when Devin mentioned Baines.
"This isn't about those fires again, is it?" she asked. "Are you cops?"
"No, I'm with the FBI," Kate said. "And Devin is a private investigator."
"I told the FBI everything I knew, which wasn't much of anything," Casey said. "I worked with Rick, and I thought he was a nice guy, but I guess he wasn't."
"We actu
ally don't think Baines set the fire," Devin said. "We think he was a victim."
"Really? That's not what everyone said before."
"Things have changed. How close were you and Rick?"
"We weren't close. We were just gym friends. Occasionally, we'd have a drink together. He was kind of a lonely guy. He told me he had a rough childhood. His parents were in and out of rehab. He had to live with relatives. He said working out was one thing that always made him happy."
"Did you know Alan Jenkins?" Devin asked.
Casey nodded. "Sure. He was here three to four times a week. But he dropped his membership a long time ago."
"Three weeks after Baines died," Kate said.
"Is that supposed to mean something?" Casey asked.
"We don't know," she said. "Did Alan and Rick spend time together? Pete told us earlier that he thought they were high school friends."
"Now that you mention it, I think they did go to high school together. They were friends, but they could get into it, too. Alan left a sweaty towel on a machine one day, and Rick got after him about it. They had a shouting match in the middle of the gym. I think that was right before Rick died. But I do remember that after we all heard the news, Alan was very upset."
"Do you know why Alan moved to San Diego?" Devin asked.
"No idea. Sorry." She paused. "So you think someone else killed Rick and that woman? Are you suggesting that it was Alan?"
"Would Alan be capable of committing such a crime?"
"I can't imagine that he would be, but then I didn't think Rick could do it, either."
"Thanks for your time," Devin said. "And thanks for the class. It was great."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm sorry I can't help you more."
As they walked out of the studio into the main gym, Kate said, "The class was better than the information we gathered."
"Casey didn't have much to give us," he agreed. "Hopefully, we can confirm Alan Jenkins went to St. Bernadette's when we get the yearbooks tomorrow."
"But Jenkins doesn't live here anymore, so he couldn’t have set Monday's fire at the school."
"He's still a connection. We have to find a way to reach him."
"We've called him. Not much else we can do at this point," he said.
Tender Is The Night (Callaways Book 10) Page 8
