Bad Behavior(130)

Wash met my eyes. We were on the same wavelength. A man on the inside of the police investigation was invaluable.

"I gotta go. Marked car just pulled up out front. I'll text you the location as soon as I find out."



       
         
       
        

"Yes. Thanks, Doc. You're really earning your fee on this one."

"No shit." The line went dead, and I bounced up and down in my chair like an idiot.

Wash grinned. "You ready for some more field work?"

"Yes!"

He looked me up and down. "Not in that. You're liable to get snakebit or taken off by the locals. Go home and get changed into something suitable for swamping. I'll pick you up."

He stood and grabbed a few things from his desk as I rushed out. I went straight home and bragged to Terrell as I changed into jeans, high boots, a tank top, and a sweater.

"I thought today was my lucky day, but you're on your way to an active crime scene. Fuck me." He shook his head.

"Okay. I'm out. Call me later." I kissed him on the cheek and dashed out the front door as my phone buzzed. A message from Wash-he was waiting downstairs for me and had the general location from Dr. Snider.

I slid into the passenger seat and noted Wash had changed into jeans, boots, and a long-sleeved dark gray T-shirt. How could a man make a plain T-shirt sexy? I didn't know, but I went with it.

We were on the interstate in minutes, heading over Lake Pontchartrain and following the breadcrumb trail Dr. Snider was feeding us with frequent texts.

"When we get there, the cops will hassle us and not want to let us through. Don't worry. I know most of them, so we should be able to chat our way inside the crime scene tape. But"-he reached over and squeezed my knee-"if you see anything you can't handle, just say so."

"I can handle it." After the morgue, I'd resolved to do my best to toughen up. Would it work? I didn't know, but I was going to try to remain calm, professional, and detached. "If all else fails, I'll vom off to the side as inconspicuously as possible."

He laughed. "That's my girl."

I warmed. That was the closest thing to a declaration of more-than-just-like I'd heard from him. Of course, he could have said the same to a pet dog. I frowned.

He misread my expression and squeezed my knee again. "You can do it."

I nodded and watched as the water receded and we were back on land. Wash zipped past the first two exits and took the third, winding around into a small town before the scenery turned wilder.

Another text pinged through. Dr. Snider was at the site. We were fifteen minutes away.

"Tell him to stall," Wash instructed.

I texted the directive and settled in, watching the trees grow thicker, vines and moss weaving into the greenery. We passed over several creeks, the dark waters hiding more than just wildlife. He took a turn onto a gravel road that eventually became rutted dirt. The dark lane took us deeper and deeper into the brush until we saw the glint of sun on cars up ahead. 

We rolled up to a cavalcade of law enforcement vehicles, at least ten blocking the lane. A police officer walked toward us and put his hand out.

Wash rolled down his window. "Ernie. Hey, man, how you doing?"

"Wash. What you doing out here?" The cop leaned down to the window and glanced over at me. "Hi." He smiled, his face young and soft. He had to have been even younger than me. A total cutie, too.

"Hi." I returned his smile.

"A little birdie told me there was another Bayou Butcher victim found," Wash said.

Ernie rubbed his hand along his smooth chin. "Now, how'd you hear that? They told us to keep it out of chatter so the scanners wouldn't pick it up."

Wash shrugged. "We rep the defendant in this case. Just wanted to see what the fuss is about."

Ernie shook his head. "I can't let you through, man."

"Sure you can. I'm an officer of the court. So is Caroline over here."

"Nice to meet you, Caroline." Ernie smiled bigger.

"Likewise, Ernie." I gave what I thought was my most charming smile. I leaned over, knowing full well my sweater would pull away and Ernie would have an excellent view to my low-cut tank top. "I'm pretty much fresh out of law school. Never been to a crime scene before. I wish I could at least see what goes on."

Ernie's eyes went right where I wanted them to. Wash didn't look back at me, though he tensed slightly.

"You certainly need to learn. I hear you on that. I volunteered to come out today, too." He pulled his gaze back up to mine, so I turned my head and looked out the front windshield, giving him a guilt-free eyeful of my girls.