“I think he liked it.”
“Even worse. What kind of ghoul likes going to a murder scene?”
“You said you wish you could have seen me there last night.”
“Because this is my job. Professional interest. What does this guy do?”
“He’s a history professor.”
“Definitely a whack job.”
His attitude was very peculiar for Lynch, Kendra thought. “Hmm. Jealous much?”
“Jealous? That’s ridiculous.”
“I thought so, too, considering our relationship. I’m just going with what I see and hear. My ‘unique skill set’ you know.”
“Then you’re slipping.” He laughed. “Have you seen that swimsuit ad that’s been showing up on the sides of buses around town? The one with the Asian woman in the striped bikini?”
“Sure.”
“I’ve actually been dating her.”
“Bullshit.”
“It’s true. Her name is Ashley.”
Kendra raised her brows. “Wow. She’s beautiful.”
“Yes.”
“And are you taking her to her high-school prom?”
“She’s twenty-five.”
“Then she should be old enough to know better.”
He tilted his head. “Jealous much?”
“Not in the slightest.” This conversation had taken a very personal turn, and she had always tried to avoid that with Lynch. He was a dangerous man both professionally and personally, and she admitted that she was drawn to him. It would be terribly easy to become involved sexually with him. It was what would come after that she worried about. Better to stay clear. “But I’m afraid you’re wasting your time, Lynch. I really don’t have the time or the inclination to play detective.”
“So you’re telling me to go to hell.”
She smiled. “Yes. Go to hell.”
“Okay. Good enough. I can now tell them that I asked.”
“Yes, you can. And … believe it or not, it was good to see you.”
“The feeling’s mutual, Kendra. There’s one more thing. It may or may not make a difference to you, but there’s something about this case you don’t know.”
“It won’t make a difference to me.”
“Maybe not.” He reached into the side pocket of his sports jacket and pulled out the small manila envelope protruding from it. “It’s all in here. Look at it, don’t look at it, whatever.”
Kendra took the envelope with a noncommittal shrug. “Okay.”
As he started to leave, he pointed to the white-faced street performers who had found other people to annoy. “And if you need me to knock off those mimes, the offer’s still open.”
She smiled. “Got it.”
* * *
KENDRA STROLLED THROUGH THE BUSY Gaslamp District and toward her condo building on E Street. She was trying not to let Lynch and that blasted murder investigation take over her thoughts. She had already decided not to open the envelope, but she still resisted the urge to toss it in one of the many trash cans on her way home. The FBI was smart to send Lynch as their ambassador. They had formed a strong partnership in their one case together, and he was enough of an outsider from all that bureaucracy that she trusted him.
And, she had to admit, she did find him extremely attractive. His movie-star looks hadn’t captured her, but his supreme confidence—backed by smarts, aggressiveness, and steely determination—had sparked the heat that had grown between them during the course of their investigation.
Sparked the heat. What was she, a schoolgirl?
Shake it off.
Kendra entered her building but decided to take a detour on her way to her unit. She approached a door on the second floor and knocked.
Two seconds later, she heard the electronic dead bolt unlock.
“Come in!” Olivia called from inside.
Kendra opened the door. Olivia Moore was seated at her desk, typing away at her computer keyboard. It’s where she was almost every time Kendra visited these days.
“Just a few more seconds. Sit down,” Olivia said as she continued typing. “Gotta keep feeding the beast.”
“The beast” was Olivia’s blog, Outta Sight, which was a popular Internet destination for the vision-impaired. Her Web site, which the blind could enjoy with Screenreader and other specialized text-to-speech applications, featured interviews, travel tips, and product reviews. In less than two years, Olivia had grown her evenings-and-weekends hobby into a full-time job that generated a six-figure income.
Finally, she pushed away from the desk. “Done. I was reviewing some new gadgets. I get stuff in the mail every day now. It’s amazing what’s out there. We sure could have used some of this stuff back at Woodward.”