My Private Detective

by Rebecca Winters

  Their eyes clung as she nodded in silent agreement.

  He was pleased with her response—no, pleased wasn’t the word. Excited was a better one to explain how he felt, because he’d be seeing her again soon—on Saturday he hoped. If she was in love with someone else, he’d face that problem when he had to.

  In much better spirits than when he’d arrived, he put his students to work writing their list of crime-scene procedures on the board. The eager group became so involved he dispensed with the break and worked them straight through. A few minutes before the bell, he announced the winner.

  “Natalie’s list has only one item fewer than mine. Congratulations.”

  As everyone clapped, Gideon handed her a wrapped package. “It’s a pocket-size book called The Layman’s Guide to the World of Crime-Scene Forensics. Let’s hope it helps you in writing many famous mysteries one day.”

  Another grandmotherly type, she gave him a quick hug before everyone crowded around, anxious to see it. Gratified that the gift seemed to be such a hit, he decided to give out a prize every week.

  Amid the commotion, he signaled Kevin to pass out their assignments for Wednesday.

  “You’ll need the coroner’s report from your packet to fill out this sheet,” he said, speaking above the din. “When you come next week, I’ll have a coroner here who’ll discuss the case of the poisoned woman and answer your questions.”

  More murmurs of approval met his announcement. Half-a-dozen writers stopped by the desk to tell him this was the most exciting class they’d ever taken.

  When the room had emptied, Heidi was still there, straightening the desks. A smile hovered at the corners of her mouth. “High praise, Detective. I think I’m jealous. After six years of teaching, I can count on one hand the number of kids who paid me such effusive compliments.”

  “Come on, Dad. Let’s go! You promised,” Kevin said.

  For the first time in years, Gideon was torn between pleasing his son and giving in to his own desires.

  “Go with him,” she urged in a quiet aside. “I’ll lock up.”

  The last thing Gideon wanted to do was leave. “You’ll be hearing from me tomorrow.”

  “I’ll be home.”

  He nodded, and their eyes met one last time.

  Kevin was halfway out the door before Gideon caught up with him. “I think you’ve forgotten to tell her something important,” he told his son.

  Kevin turned to her. “Thanks for letting me use your computer, Ms. Ellis. Those were great pictures.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed them. Next time if you have homework that has to be done on the computer, feel free to use mine.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. Have fun with Pokey.”

  Gideon caught the private smile they gave each other. “What was that all about?” he asked when they reached the hallway.

  “Ms. Ellis said you were like our dog because you poke around looking for evidence.”

  Pleased to hear she’d been talking about him, Gideon chuckled. “What else did you two discuss?”

  “She’s been around the world.”

  In a short period of time, Kevin had found out quite a lot. “That’s pretty amazing.”

  “How much do you think it costs?”

  “A lot more than we spend vacationing in Alaska.”

  “I thought schoolteachers were poor.”

  “They make enough to live.” He had yet to learn anything about Heidi Ellis’s background.

  As for taking a look at the Turner case, that would have to wait until Monday. Both yesterday and today, he’d had to work on a new murder investigation. His responsibilities had made it impossible to get into the archives.

  Under the circumstances, maybe it was just as well he didn’t have a lot of preconceived notions about the case—or her. Something had happened to him when she’d walked into that class a week ago. Something almost overwhelming…

  Maybe he was getting ahead of himself here. But if the same thing was happening to her, he didn’t want anything to spoil what might happen between them.

  “Dad? Could you give me an advance on my allowance?”

  Gideon darted his son a glance as they pulled into the mainstream of traffic. “How come?”

  “It’s Brad’s birthday tomorrow. I want to get him a CD for his PlayStation.”

  “No problem.”

  “Thanks.”

  “What does he have planned?”

  “I think a bunch of us are going to a movie. Then his parents are taking us to dinner somewhere. I don’t know for sure.”

  “That sounds like fun.”

  “Yeah. What are you going to do?”

  I’d like to know the answer to that myself. “I’ll probably put in a day’s work.” And in the evening? That all depended on a certain redhead. Gideon was counting the hours until he saw her again.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE of scouring the bathroom when the phone rang. Heidi dashed into her bedroom to answer it, noting that it was almost noon. Waiting for Detective Poletti to call had filled her with so much nervous excitement she’d done a more thorough job of her Saturday housecleaning than usual.

  The caller ID indicated the person’s number had been blocked. She grabbed the receiver, hoping it wasn’t someone else telling her she’d won a so-called prize—a free cruise to the Bahamas or a month’s subscription to the Wall Street Journal or something. There’d been three of those already this morning.

  “Hello?” She knew she sounded out of breath.

  “Heidi?” His voice was deep, vibrant. She sank onto the bed she’d just made. “It’s Gideon Poletti.”

  “Good morning.” The thrill of talking to him had left her tongue-tied.

  “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

  “Not at all. I’ve been cleaning. I needed a break, anyway.”

  “I needed one, too. I’ve been working on a complicated case all morning. What’s your schedule like for this weekend? Would Saturday or Sunday night be better for you to go out to dinner?”

  Her hand tightened on the receiver. “Tonight, if that’s all right.” Depending on the outcome of their conversation, Heidi planned to visit Dana tomorrow. It was an all-day trip. She never got back before dark.

  “Good. That works out well for me, too. Can you be ready by five? There’s a new Mexican restaurant in the Oakdale Plaza I’ve been meaning to try out. They don’t take reservations, but I figure if we get there early, we won’t have to stand in line too long. I confess I could eat Mexican food every night and never get tired of it.”

  “I love it, too. That sounds wonderful. I’ll be ready.”

  “What’s your address?”

  “I live in a fourplex apartment building at 422 Brierwood Avenue in Mission Beach. It’s only three blocks from Mesa Junior High. Apartment C. It’s upstairs on the right.”

  “I’ll find you.” She heard the click.

  She trembled a little at his choice of words just now. I’ll find you. He’d made it sound personal, the way he’d spoken in that intimate tone.

  Then she scoffed at herself. She was so attracted to him she was reading too much into their brief conversation.

  She had to be cautious, not overreact. What if she’d misunderstood the reason for his invitation? He was a professional. No doubt he’d chosen an early dinner as a way of letting her know he’d asked her out purely to learn why she’d used the Turner murder case for her class assignment.

  It was possible that nothing more than discretion and a detective’s instinctive curiosity had motivated him to talk to her privately, away from the other writers in the class.

  Forcing herself to keep those thoughts foremost in her mind, she finished her housecleaning, then ran errands for a couple of hours. Around three, she returned to wash her hair and get ready.

  She must have changed outfits five times, finally settling on a navy gabardine coat dress with gold braid and buttons down the front. It
looked smart, not too dressy and would keep her comfortable in the brisk evening air.

  At exactly five the doorbell rang. Not wanting to appear too eager, she waited a moment before answering. The second she opened the door, she felt the impact of those brilliant blue eyes taking in every part of her, from her navy high heels to the last strand of hair on her head.

  There was instant stillness between them as her gaze traveled over him. He wore a dressy black polo shirt and tan chinos. It was rude to stare, but she couldn’t help herself.

  “Y-you’re right on time,” she stammered.

  “I’ve been told it’s one of my worst faults.”

  Heidi smiled. “Hardly.”

  “Don’t worry if you’re not ready yet.”

  “I am. Let me grab my purse and we’ll go.”

  She left the door open while she hurried over to the couch where she’d put her purse. Once she’d rejoined him, she locked the door, then started down the steps. He caught up with her at the bottom and clasped her elbow to guide her out to the curb, where he’d parked his Acura. As he opened the car door, he suddenly said, “By the way, you look stunning in that dress.”

  Her heart went crazy. “Thank you.”

  She wanted to tell him he always looked wonderful, but she didn’t dare. It was too soon.

  Although she couldn’t deny there was a candid look of appreciation in his eyes, he probably made every woman he met feel beautiful. The female writers in the class, regardless of age, were totally charmed by him. Some men had that ability.

  Still physically aware of him, she needed something to do with her hands and reached over to fasten the seat belt.

  “You smell good, too,” he added before moving his car into traffic.

  She wasn’t used to being with a man who felt so at ease in giving a compliment. Jeff had been an entirely different kind of person.

  “It must be my shampoo.”

  “Strawberries and red hair make a perfect combination. Did you inherit that color from your mother or your father?”

  “My mom.”

  “How many of your brothers and sisters are so endowed?”

  “I’m an only child,” she told him. “What about you?”

  “I have an older married sister with three children, plus my parents. They all live in New York. Kevin and I get out to see them every summer. This coming Thanksgiving, it’s my turn to have my son with me, so my family’s flying here to spend the holiday with us.”

  Visitation. Half the kids in her classes had to cope with it, their lives split between two parents, two homes and sometimes two separate agendas.

  “I’m sure Kevin will enjoy that,” she said. “He’s a wonderful boy.”

  Gideon flashed her a sidelong glance. “I think so, too.”

  “He idolizes you.”

  “I feel like that about my parents, as well. How about you?”

  She smiled at him. “The same. Fortunately for me they only live ten minutes away. I can drop in on them whenever I don’t feel like behaving as an adult.”

  That comment made him laugh. She loved the sound of a man’s uninhibited laughter.

  She’d been so involved in their conversation, she didn’t realize they’d already arrived at the crowded Oakdale Plaza parking lot. There wasn’t a free space in sight. Late Saturday afternoon was the worst.

  As she started to suggest they go somewhere else, a car backed out of a spot just in front of them and drove off.

  “How come that never happens to me?” she lamented as Gideon pulled into the space.

  He glanced at her, a gleam in his eyes. “Stick with me and you’ll find out.”

  It was her turn to laugh gently. “I’ll remember that.”

  “Good,” he whispered.

  They might have been a few feet apart, but she felt his warmth and energy as though they were in each other’s arms.

  So far he hadn’t broached the subject that had prompted this outing. Did he always treat women so…so gallantly, even on police business?

  Or could she be forgiven for thinking he really might have an interest in her beyond the synopsis she’d written? She felt as if her life hinged on the answer to that question.

  Afraid to want something she might not be able to have, she struggled to keep her emotions under control.

  He got out of the car and came around to her door. “There’s no line outside the restaurant. I believe we’re in luck.”

  His comments jerked her back to the present. “Let’s hurry and get a table before the swarm descends.”

  Heidi admitted to many human flaws, but feeling superior around other people had never been one of them. Until now. As he ushered her into the restaurant, the envy coming from a lot of the women there was almost tangible.

  She couldn’t blame them. Being escorted by a rugged-looking man of Detective Poletti’s physical stature and grace bordered on the realm of her own fantasies, too. But there was one difference. This was no dream.

  He gave his name to the hostess, then put a protective hand on her back as they joined the small line waiting to be seated. All of Heidi’s concentration focused on the feel of his hand, the slight pressure, the heat of his skin through her dress.

  The newest restaurant in the area had done a nice job of creating a Mexican-patio feel throughout, with plenty of trees, colorful tiled tables and wrought-iron chairs. She could hear mariachi music—loud mariachi music.

  He lowered his head to talk to her. “Would you like to have a drink in the bar until they call our table?”

  She’d felt his smooth-shaven jaw brush her temple. The clean scent of the soap he’d used clung to his skin. Though the contact was minimal, it sent a feathery shiver of delight down her spine, making it difficult for her to think with any coherence.

  “I’d love it,” she managed.

  “So would I,” he whispered into her hair. Her bones turned to liquid and she was doubly glad of his hand on her back. It seemed to anchor her, somehow.

  He signaled to the hostess where they’d be, then urged Heidi forward past a roomful of diners to the bar. This time his arm was firmly around her waist.

  “Dad!” a boy’s voice cried above the cacophony of sounds and music.

  Physically connected to Gideon, she felt his body immediately tauten. He murmured his son’s name, then whirled her around with him in time to see Kevin get up from a table, surrounded by other teenage boys. He dodged the balloons and came running toward his father.

  “What are you doing here?” The question bordered on accusation.

  “Having dinner, just like you,” his father answered in a voice of enviable calm. “How about saying hello to Ms. Ellis?”

  Kevin’s eyes sent her a withering glance. “Hello.” Gone was all the friendliness of last evening.

  “Hi, Kevin. It looks like a birthday party.”

  “Yeah.” The one word came out stiffly, a reluctant whisper. He gazed up at his father once more. His eyes were suspiciously bright.

  Heidi didn’t have to be a mind reader to understand what Kevin was feeling. It was all right for her to be part of his dad’s night class. But seeing her here with his father’s arm around her must have been a genuine shock.

  Surely Gideon knew that, but his arm remained in place. If anything, it tightened. Something was going on that she didn’t understand. The last thing she wanted was to create problems between the two of them.

  She knew Gideon would tell her about it later, but Heidi was troubled by his son’s pain. There was too much pain in the world. In fact, she was meeting with Gideon tonight in an attempt to end the pain her friend and their families were suffering if she could.

  “Poletti? Poletti?”

  He glanced at his son. “Our table’s being called. We have to go. I’ll call you later tonight and you can tell me about the party.”

  The boy’s face paled. Heidi couldn’t bear it.

  “Kevin?” She broke the awkward silence. “Have you had the birthday cake yet
?”

  His eyes were mere slits when he finally deigned to look at her. “Yeah.”

  “Then your friend probably won’t mind if you sit at our table.”

  A tremor rocked Gideon’s body, one she could feel to her fingertips. He hadn’t liked her suggestion.

  Maybe she had spoken out of turn. It was probably because she taught children that age; she knew how vulnerable they were. The nurturer in her refused to stay silent.

  “No, thank you.”

  She kept hoping Gideon would urge his son to join them. Instead, he said, “Looks like your friends are waiting for you, Kevin. See you later.”

  He moved his hand to Heidi’s shoulder. “Let’s find out where we’re seated.”

  They worked their way to the front of the restaurant again, but Heidi knew she wouldn’t be able to swallow a bite of food. Her appetite, along with her excitement, had fled.

  She turned to him before he could approach the hostess. “Detective Poletti?”

  The tension between them was explosive.

  He grimaced. “My name is Gideon. I’d like to hear you use it.”

  “All right.” She fought for breath. “Gideon. If you don’t mind, I’d feel more comfortable if we left the restaurant. We can eat anywhere else you want. Just not here. Please.”

  She started out the entrance ahead of him.

  HELL.

  Those gorgeous blue eyes were pleading with him again.

  She’d read the incident with his son correctly. In her own way, she seemed to be as vulnerable as Kevin.

  Hell and damnation.

  He put the key in the ignition. “Obviously you’re not hungry right now. How would you feel about going to my house in Ocean Beach? By the time we get there, maybe your appetite will have returned.”

  She bit the soft underside of her lip. “What if Ke—”

  “If you’re worried about that, he lives with his mother and stepfather,” Gideon interrupted her. “She’ll be expecting him home right after the party. You and I have some talking to do—in private.”