“That if you weren’t Olivia Winters, top New York model, we’d be on our way to the police station.”
“Do you see that as an advantage—or is it a criticism?” she asked in an even voice.
“In that case, it was definitely an advantage.”
“Thanks.” She kept her gaze fixed on the trail ahead, and he was sure she wanted to cut the conversation short, but he wasn’t able to drop it.
“You didn’t use that technique at the reunion meeting,” he observed.
“I already felt like enough of an outsider. I wasn’t going to emphasize the fact.” She waited a beat before adding, “And I like having the chance to be a normal person.”
“But in a case like this, celebrity can be useful.”
“Let’s not focus on that.”
They were both silent as they kept heading down the gravel road toward the car. When they got to the No Trespassing sign, Olivia cut Max a glance.
“You still think it was a good idea going up there?”
“Yes,” he answered, then shook his head. “Sorry. I didn’t like that encounter any better than you did. Maybe less, because I didn’t like getting you into trouble.”
“It worked out.”
“Actually, judging from the amount of trash lying around on the ground up there, it looks like we ran into bad luck getting caught.” He paused and couldn’t stop himself from adding, “And the guy might not have known we were up there if you’d shared the information about parking farther away and coming through the woods.”
She gave him a narrow-eyed look. “Oh, now it’s my fault?”
“No.” He didn’t like the tenor of the conversation and made an effort to get his emotions under control. Obviously this place was affecting both of them. “It was my idea. And I don’t think it was a bad judgment call. We did learn something valuable.”
“What?” she shot back.
“That there was ample privacy up there for a girl to be raped.”
Her expression turned guarded. “Now what are you saying? That you thought I was making it up?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I wanted to see for myself.” He thought for a moment. “A security guard could have interrupted a rape, but not if she and the guy were inside. Especially if they were underground.”
She shuddered. “What did you find down there?”
“Not much. A small room. A mattress. A good place to get a girl by herself.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“And you were never down there?”
“No,” she answered in a barely audible voice. “You asked me that before. Are you trying to see if I’ll change my story?”
He considered his answer and settled on, “No.” He was thinking again that she was holding something back. But he wasn’t going to interrogate her. This little jaunt hadn’t helped their working relationship, and he was thinking that if he was too rough on her, she might shut him out—or fire him. That last thought sent a chill through him. He hadn’t wanted this job, but now he wanted to see it through. Because he’d gotten invested in solving the murders? Or because he couldn’t stand the idea of someone coming after Olivia?
They reached the car, and both climbed in. He had intended to stop for pizza, then head for the next stop on their list, but when he turned to Olivia, he saw that she was sitting with her shoulders hunched, shaking, which made him wonder if her reaction had as much to do with her past as the present.
He could have said, “Are you all right?” But he knew she wasn’t. He wasn’t so great himself. Instead of speaking, he leaned across the console and reached for her, pulling her close.
At first she stayed stiffly in his embrace, then he felt her give in to the feel of his arms around her shoulders. She hadn’t put on her seat belt yet, and he slid his seat back, lifted her up, and settled her in his lap.
She kept her head down and her face against his shoulder. He stroked his hands over her back, then into her lush hair.
“Thanks for getting us out of there,” he murmured.
“It was worth a try,” she answered in a barely audible voice, raising her head to look him in the eye.
“It was quick thinking on your part.”
“Then you don’t assume I’m just an airhead model?”
“I never thought that.”
“Then why…” Instead of finishing the question, she let her voice trail off.
“Why what?” he pressed.
“Have you been keeping me at arm’s length?”
The question shocked him. “Because I knew it was what you wanted and because we have to maintain a professional relationship.”