“Filthy little weasel,” Ellie muttered under her breath.
“I hope you’re referring to our departed friend, and not present company?” Reilly said. He stood beside her gazing out the window, and every inch of Ellie’s skin registered his presence as if he were stroking her. But when she risked a glance at him, his eyes held questions.
“For the record, the ‘old guy’ that creep was putting such lascivious emphasis upon is the partner in the American security firm I told you about. My alibi.” Ellie said, wondering why she was being defensive. Reilly could think what he liked. “Richards never liked me. I don’t know why.”
Reilly raised his eyebrows at her naiveté. “You don’t?”
“Probably because I never liked him,” Ellie confessed.
“Yeah, right, or maybe you didn’t like him enough.” Reilly grunted. “Anyway, Richards doesn’t like anyone, including himself.” Reilly’s voice changed, and Ellie flinched at its new coldness. “Why didn’t you tell me you were back on the force? And more specifically, on my squad? Or were you going to let me just walk in and find you here?”
Her retort matched him, coldness for coldness. “I assumed Harris would have discussed it with you.”
“He did—ten minutes ago. Don’t you think it would have been polite if you’d mentioned it this morning?” When Ellie remained silent, Reilly sighed and told her it was time they went in and joined the rest of the team. He cursed Harris silently. Coming upon Ellie unexpectedly, her simple black suit making her beauty brighter, had taken his breath away. When he’d heard Richards baiting her, he’d wanted to kill the man. But at least he’d had enough warning to conceal from the curious eyes of every other officer in the briefing room the shock of need that traveled though him at the first sight of her.
There were a dozen men in the briefing room, some plain-clothes task force members, others uniformed men brought in to ease the manpower shortage. Ellie and Jane Corby were the only women present, and Corby acknowledged Ellie’s presence with a cold stare.
Ellie’s nerves still tingled from Reilly’s presence, but he didn’t look at her again as he started the proceedings. “For those of you who have just been brought into this inquiry, the victim was a woman aged thirty-six whose partially-clothed body was found on a beach just north of Whitby—full location details are in the file. The Vic’s name is Roberta Collins, a.k.a. Linda Luscious.” Reilly’s voice was steady and authoritative. “So far, we’ve eyewitness reports that put her at a dance at the FunLand opening, and several people noticed her with a man at the end of the evening. The description was a tall, fair-haired man in his thirties, one that could apply to about thirty percent of the male population of this county.”
A collective sigh went up from the team, knowing how difficult it was to get good descriptions from civilians. Reilly handed the meeting over to Colin Peterson, Sergeant in Charge of the case who would oversee day-to-day activities and the co-ordination of information. “I gather some of you may be acquainted with the lady—she was a dancer at the Heavenly Gates,” Peterson said.
“She is now.” The stage whisper from the back of the room was greeted by masculine chuckles that quickly died as Reilly stood and glared at the assembled officers. “This person had her throat slashed. She took several minutes to die, during which time her murderer was probably getting his jollies. Whatever her profession, this woman was a human being, no different to your wife, or your sister, or your daughter, and deserves to be treated with respect and to have justice served just as well as anybody else.” Reilly’s voice cut like jagged glass across the laughter. He sat down and Peterson resumed his account. Once more Ellie was struck by Reilly’s uncompromising sense of justice, and the unspoken authority he wielded.
So Ellie’s nightmare now had a name. Roberta Collins, a.k.a. Linda Luscious. A topless dancer in a sleazy nightclub, probably doing extra “favors” for customers after hours. Not a life everyone would choose, but certainly not deserving of this kind of death. Ellie shivered, and Reilly had to call her name twice before she heard him introducing her with her name and rank. She briefly gave an account of finding the body, and then the meeting adjourned as officers dispersed to carry out their assignments.
“Fitzpatrick, my office,” Reilly said, “There are things you need to catch up on.” A brash young constable sniggered knowingly, and Reilly’s face grew thunderous. Ellie saw him nod briefly at Colin, saw Colin nod in reply, and knew that young man was in for a dressing down. Ellie followed Reilly toward his office, wondering if he was going to try and sideline her to a desk job. But a uniformed officer brought a message to the Superintendent, casting a curious glance at Ellie as he muttered to Reilly. Listening, Reilly frowned and then turned to Ellie. “I can’t see you now, after all. It’ll be later today before I’m free. Meanwhile you may as well collect a car from the garage and go home—I can’t assign anything to you until you’re up to speed on everything.” He took a pad of vehicle requisition slips from his desk, scribbled his name on one and handed it to Ellie, dismissing her as he strode from the office.
To Ellie, it felt like a rejection—and a reprieve.
****
Ellie’s older sister Julie was at the cottage when Ellie got home, and they sat on the beach, enjoying the spring sunshine and watching Julie’s twin sons playing in the sand. But the peaceful tableau didn’t last long when Julia exploded another bomb into Ellie’s already war-torn day.
“I got a letter from Dad today, Ellie. He’s begging to see us. And I talked to the matron at the nursing home—she says he may not have much time left.”
“So? What’s this to do with me?” Ellie replied, and Julie flinched at the ice in her voice.
“I think we should go and see him,” she said quietly.
Ellie couldn’t help it. She laughed aloud. Ignoring her sister’s shocked face, Ellie went on, “You’ve got to be kidding! The old man deserted us when we were kids. He ruined Mum’s life.”
“Ellie, things aren’t always what they seem. You were very young, you don’t remember the arguments and the silences—Mum was no angel in all this.” Julie had tears in her eyes.
“He chose booze over us, his own family—and now he thinks he can snap his fingers and we’ll come rushing back for a sham of deathbed reconciliation! No way! What kind of a father behaves like that?”
Even as she spoke, she regretted the hurt that flickered across her sister’s face. But Julie gamely answered, “What kind of daughters won’t visit their dying father?”
Really, really hurt ones. Ellie wanted to scream out the words, but she’d said enough. They sat in silence for a time. Then Ellie announced her own news and Julie’s reaction was predictable.
“You’re crazy—totally out of your mind! Or maybe it’s Harris who’s lost his marbles—how dare he even suggest that you do something like this?”
“Listen, Julie, don’t do the big sister act. For the past six months you and Mum have been telling me to stop wasting my life, to quit and find another line of work. Well, I don’t want another line of work, that’s why I’ve stuck this suspension out. Harris said the informal inquiry could not find any evidence that I’d accepted bribes, but that’s not enough. I want to show damn well that this has all been a set-up, and to do that I have to have access to the files. To have access to the files, I have to be back at work.” Ellie paused, watching her nephews chase seabirds along the beach, jumping in the waves and splashing each other with uproarious giggles.
“This is my chance to get control—don’t ask me to let it go. A bit of sisterly support would be nice,” she added dryly.
Julie reached out and hugged her. “Ellie, I know how important this is to you, but sometimes it’s enough to know you’re right—you don’t have to go on a crusade and waste your life.”
“It’s my life, and I am not wasting it. I’m doing what I want to do.”
Julie responded with an exasperated sigh. “When we told you to get on with your life, we me
ant to get away from the police force and find some nice fella—like that hunk Brad Scott—and settle down, raise a family, be happy. Not go back into the lion’s den and let those chauvinistic bastards set you up again!”
Ellie swallowed, struggling past a tight knot of anger in her throat. When she could speak again, she said, “Julie, a quiet life in the suburbs is not everyone’s dream of paradise. I know you and Raymond are happy—but I’m not ready for that.”
Her sister wasn’t easily put off. “Someday you’ve got to stop running away. Not every man walks out, you know. They’re not all like Dad and that Reilly character you were so enamored with.” Ellie didn’t answer, and Julie sighed. “You’re still carrying a torch for Reilly, aren’t you?” she accused. “The creep who did walk out on you.”
Ellie swore, and Julie shot a warning glance toward the twins and back to Ellie. A pain that was almost physical seized Ellie’s chest. Julie had never approved of Ellie’s intense relationship with Liam, and his return into her life was a secret she wanted to keep at least for the moment. “You’re wrong. I’m not carrying a torch for anyone.”
“I’m right, but didn’t he take off to the States, running like a coward when he should have been by your side? Good riddance to him. Sweetheart, drop all this driven ambition. Find yourself someone to take care of you,” Julie persisted, dipping her hand into the dry sand and letting a thin stream slip through her fingers.
“Is that what you think life is all about? Finding someone to make you happy? Good Lord, Julie—the last six months have been hell. I’ve been shut out of everything I worked so hard for, everything I wanted. I’ve been like a bit of seaweed, tossed here and there and then washed up to dry in the sun.” Ellie was standing now, tears welling in her eyes as she faced her sister angrily. “Now I’m taking back my life, taking responsibility for my own happiness. I finally have a chance to do what I really want, and now that’s wrong, too!”
Julie looked stricken at the outburst. “I just don’t know what it is that you’re doing!” she replied.
“That makes two of us. Just what are you doing, Ellie?” The masculine voice took them by surprise. The sisters had been so involved with their own argument that they had not noticed Reilly’s approach down the cliff path. Julie whirled to her feet to face him; her face flushed with anger as she recognized her sister’s former lover.
“What are you doing here, Reilly? Don’t you think you hurt her enough when you beggared off and left her to the wolves when she needed you?”
Reilly’s expression closed. “The way I remember it, Julie, it was Ellie who left me,” he replied, his voice dangerously quiet. His look was cold enough to raise goose bumps on Ellie’s sun-warmed skin as Julie spluttered, “Like hell she did!”
Sensing a full-scale row ahead, Ellie intervened. “Julie, Reilly is my superior officer in this murder inquiry. That’s all. The past is finished and done.” She bit her lip, wondering if the words sounded as hollow to Julie as they did to her. The sight of Reilly, jacket slung over one shoulder and tie loosened, his dark skin already showing a honey tint from the sun, had almost undone her. She hugged her bare arms around herself as if chilled while waves of memories flooded back; the sight, sound, and smell of him assailed her as much from the past as from the present, and she was glad Julie was there or she might have just flung herself into his arms. And that was the last thing she needed—another rejection from Liam Reilly. Especially if he’d overheard Julie’s suggestion that she still carried a torch for him.
“Well, I’m glad you feel that way, Ellie, because the man’s not fit to…”
“I don’t think we need to get into a shouting match, Julie. If I recall, you weren’t exactly a pillar of support for Ellie, either,” Reilly replied cruelly, and Julia colored. Calling her sons sharply, she told Ellie she would visit again when they could have some time alone.
Ellie knelt on the warm sand, helping to dry and dress the boy-scented little bodies of her young nephews, laughing and tickling them. As she pulled them both into her arms and kissed their sun-sweet cheeks, she caught sight of Reilly’s eyes on her, and her heart turned over at the hunger she saw there. But the look was gone so quickly she wondered if the hot sunlight had deceived her.
“Y’all come back soon and see Auntie Ellie,” she told the twins, swatting their bottoms as they ran up the path behind their mother, trailing beach towels and laughter behind them. The three piled into Julie’s car and drove off in a swirl of sand, leaving Ellie alone to face Reilly.
“Did you mean that, Ellie? That the past was finished and done?” He had come up the path behind her and now stood barely inches away. Ellie could not bring herself to look at him, to see the relief she was sure would be there when she replied crisply, “Of course I meant it. It was just an episode in our lives, it’s over and done and now it’s time to get on with other things.” Liar. She led the way into her home, putting on the kettle for tea as they passed through the kitchen. Reilly’s presence disconcerted her, her nerve endings tingling like antennae at his closeness. How does he see this shabby little cottage? He must think I’ve made a total mess of my life…
“Nice little place you’ve got here,” Reilly said, leaning his tall frame casually against the kitchen counter and surveying her home. She glanced at him sharply; unnerved that he apparently still had the ability to read her thoughts.
“Sarcasm never became you, Reilly,” she said tartly.
“I wasn’t being sarcastic,” he told her. “It really is a nice place—lovely location.”
“Well, it needs some fixing up, but I’ve never really bothered. It belongs to the family, only a summer cottage really, and to be honest it was just intended as a temporary spot until I decided what to do.”
“Temporary? Like six months ago?”
“How did you know I’ve been here that long?”
Reilly could have bitten his tongue. He could not bear the humiliation of Ellie knowing of all the times he’d driven up to her lane, intending to confront her, and then sat in the car like a callow boy, afraid to hear the truth: That she didn’t want him, had never loved him, and hadn’t cared enough to even say goodbye. Even when he’d needed her. Instead, he retorted, “I’m a police officer, Ellie—we’re trained to find things out.”
“God, Reilly, you sound just like Harris.”
“I know,” he said with mock severity, “How do you think I got the promotion?”
“You’ve certainly climbed the ladder fast—I’m sure there are rumors,” Ellie’s lips started to twitch, and moments later they were both laughing. But with the laughter came shadows of intimacy from the past, and they sobered quickly.
“I have a huge pile of bedtime reading for you, Ellie,” Reilly said, pushing himself away from the cupboard. He glanced at her, misinterpreted the quick flush on her cheeks and his expression closed. But far from anger at the unintended double entendre, her cheeks reddened as her mind filled with tingling, sensual images. Even his most innocent comment was capable of triggering little shivers in her stomach. Drawing in a deep breath, she wished him gone and herself alone in the unkempt little cottage. What had she got herself into? With him there were always shadows, new depths to be plumbed
“The files are in the car, I’ll get them,” Reilly said, striding out of the room with easy grace. Ellie made tea, biting her lip. She watched through the window as Reilly returned, arms loaded with beige, red, and green file folders. She saw Tuesday sprawled in a patch of sunlight on the terrace and opened the door to call a warning to Reilly, wanting to spare the dog another of the kicks that seemed to be his lot in life. But the words died on her lips and a wave of tenderness caused her heart to skip a beat.
Reilly, juggling the precarious pile of files under one arm, bent down to rub the dog’s ears in a gesture of kindness that filled Ellie’s eyes with tears. Tuesday responded by stretching out to his full length, yawning trustingly, and wagging his tail on the dusty patio stones as Reilly patted him again.<
br />
“You seem to have made a conquest,” she said as she held the door for him. “Tuesday doesn’t take to everyone.”
“Ah, he’s a nice old dog. It’s just people I have trouble with,” he said, smiling that crooked smile, and her insides seemed to melt, licked by the flames of the sexual tension between them. Pull yourself together, Ellie girl, she warned herself.
“Let me help you.” She moved to take some of the files from his arms, stepping so close she could faintly smell his citrus aftershave. Their eyes locked together over the files in a gaze neither seemed able to break. The room, the pounding sea, the voices of children playing on the beach, all dropped away in this total awareness of each other. Saying her name like a sigh, Reilly cupped his free hand gently behind her head and guided her mouth to his in a kiss of such deep tender longing that she could hardly breathe as emotions and desire welled up inside her.
The kiss deepened as Reilly’s tongue hungrily invaded her mouth and found warm welcome there.
Ellie allowed herself a few blissful moments lost in his heat before pulling her mouth from his. Eyes blazing to cover her need, she turned on him.
“That’s a bad idea. If we’re going to work together, you’d better learn to keep your hands to yourself,” she snarled, hoping he couldn’t see the way she had to clasp her own hands together to prevent them from reaching out to him of their own volition. “That’s all in the past, finished. I don’t even want to talk about it, and as soon as this job is done and I am back on permanent staff, I intend to ask for a transfer.”
Reilly knew his sanity would not survive being in such close contact with Ellie Fitzpatrick for long when he couldn’t be close to her in the way he needed. He was silent, livid streaks of red across his cheekbones the only evidence of tumultuous passions kept in check as he studied her face. But when he spoke, anger threaded his voice like cold steel. “Fine, run away again. Believe me, I can live with that. There’s certainly nothing to be gained by re-hashing old mistakes.”
Resort to Murder Page 7
