Tender Is The Night(26)

"That seems a little random."

"It's better than nothing. I'll focus in on the three sites without  alarm systems." He pulled out his phone as he got a text. "The boss is  checking up on you," he said.

"What do you mean? I talked to Agent Roman earlier today."

"He just wants to know if you're able to help me."

"I hope you're going to tell him that I'm doing nothing but helping  you," she said pointedly. "I even tried to teach you how to win at skee  ball."

"I don't recall any teaching, only boasting."

"Because I finally found something I could beat you at."

He sent a text back to Roman, then said, "Are you ready to get out of here?"

"Hold on. What did you tell my boss?"

"That he couldn't have sent me anyone greener."

Disappointment ran through her. "Seriously? We're back to that?"

He opened his phone and showed her the text. "No, I said you've been more helpful than anyone else at the Bureau."

She skimmed the text. "Okay, good. But since the Bureau set the bar for  helping you really low, I'm not sure that's much of a compliment."

"Just take it."

"Fine, I'll take it. Let's stop at Ashbury Studios on the way back to your place."

"Whatever you want."

"If you still need to burn off some energy, we could probably crash  Jessica's ballroom dance class," she suggested. "I think she teaches it  around this time on Friday nights."

"I don't think so. I have no ability to dance."

"I don't believe you. You're very light on your feet."

"Only when I'm hitting baseballs."

"It could be fun. I would even let you lead."

"As tempting as that offer is, I still say no."

"We'll see."

"Hey, you're not going to change my mind," he added, as he followed her out of the batting cages.

She gave him a mischievous smile. "I bet I could if I really tried."

"Then don't try," he said a little desperately.

She liked that she could rattle him, too. "Like I said, we'll see."



* * *



Kate hadn't been at Ashbury Studios since she'd joined the FBI. The  entire first floor of the converted warehouse had been turned into small  to medium-sized music and recording rooms, with one main studio for  more important artists and bigger bands. Her cousin Sean, who was an  excellent musician and singer, and apparently also a good businessman,  had opened the studio with a partner a few years earlier.

The upper floor offered a variety of dance studios for fitness, ballet,  yoga, hip-hop, salsa and ballroom dancing, all overseen by Sean's wife  Jessica.

After entering through the side door, they headed down a hall lined with  photographs. Kate paused in front of one. "This is Sean's band," she  told Devin. "He's been performing since he was fifteen. He's really  good. I hope he's here tonight. I'd love for you to meet him. He and  Jessica have an interesting love story."

"How so?" Devin asked curiously, as they continued down the hall.

"It's a long and complicated tale, but these are the highlights. Jessica  used to dance in Vegas. She met and married a single dad, whose son  Kyle was about four or five years old. Then her husband died tragically,  and she was left to raise her stepson Kyle."

"When does Sean come in?"

"Pretty soon. Jessica had her hands full raising Kyle on her own. Then  things got worse. Kyle was kidnapped from a birthday party."

Devin arched an eyebrow. "Okay, getting more interesting. I'm guessing this is a happy story by your tone."         

     



 

"It is, but it took awhile to get there. At the same time that Kyle was kidnapped in Angel's Bay-"

"Wait-your sister lives in Angel's Bay."

"Right, but Mia wasn't there then. This was before that. At the same  time Kyle was kidnapped, my cousin Nicole's son Brandon was also  kidnapped. Brandon is autistic, so it was even more terrifying, because  he was torn away from everything and everyone he knew."

"There's a link between Kyle and Brandon, isn't there?" Devin asked, his quick mind putting together the pieces of her story.

"Yes. They turned out to be identical twins. It quickly became clear  that they had been separated at birth and adopted individually. My  cousin Nicole had no idea that her son was a twin. She and her husband  Ryan went racing down to Angel's Bay, and Sean went there to help with  the search. That's where he met Jessica. Eventually, the boys were  found, and Nicole, Ryan and Jessica decided that they needed to stay  together, so Jessica moved to San Francisco with Kyle, and she and Sean  fell in love."

Devin smiled as they reached the main lobby. "That is quite a story. Do they all live together?"

"They live near each other but not together. The boys adore each other,  and Kyle, who is not autistic, is so great with Brandon. He really  brings him into the world. He instinctively knows what Brandon needs."

"The twin thing strikes again."

"It does," she said with a laugh. "Anyway, let's go upstairs."

They walked up to the second floor and into the main dance studio where  Jessica was fiddling with her stereo system while two couples chatted  before class.

Jessica was a leggy brunette with dark brown eyes and a warm smile.  Wearing heels, a spaghetti-strapped top and flowing skirt, she looked  like she was ready to dance.

"Kate," she said with surprise in her eyes. "How nice to see you. Did you come for the class?"

She knew Devin didn't want to dance, but she'd gone to the batting cages  with him; maybe he could do something she wanted to do. She'd always  wanted to take a dance class from Jessica, and they had a little time  before the stakeout he wanted to do later. "Yes," she said.

"Hold on," Devin said. "I told you I don't know how to dance."

"This is a beginner class," Jessica said. "And the start of a new  session. No one knows how to dance. I'm Jessica Callaway." She extended  her hand to Devin.

"Devin Scott. And we didn't come here to dance. Kate, tell her why we're here."

She sighed. "He's right I did have another more pressing reason."

"What's that?" Jessica asked.

She looked around. The other couples were talking to each other and not  paying any attention to them. "There have been a series of arson fires  in the city, and property owners in this area are being asked to be  extra vigilant. Make sure all doors and windows are locked at night.  When I saw the studios on the list, I wanted to come by personally and  warn you."

"That sounds ominous. Should we be worried?" Jessica asked.

"Just careful."

"I didn't realize you were working in San Francisco, Kate."

"I'm just helping out on this case before Mia's wedding. I also came by  because I wanted to see you," she said, trying to lighten the concern in  Jessica's eyes.

"Well, I'm happy to see you, too, and glad you're watching out for us.  I'll let Sean know what you said." Jessica looked at Devin. "Are you  also in the FBI?"

"I was. I'm an investigator now."

"And I think he could be a really good ballroom dancer," Kate put in.  Now that she'd gotten work out of the way, she wanted to dance.

Jessica smiled. "There's definitely room in the class. I think you would  have fun. I'll let you two decide." She left them alone while she  walked over to the other students.

Kate could see that Devin was going to be hard to win over, so she put  her hand on his arm and gave him her best smile. "What do you say, we  just try it out? If you're not having fun, we can leave." She squeezed  her hand on his arm. "It's a little break before we spend half the night  driving around the city."

"You're not playing fair," he said grumpily.

"What's not fair?"

He pointedly looked at where she was touching him. "I thought we had a hands-off policy."

"That's a no-kissing policy. Dancing is completely acceptable. And by  the way, I can be just as determined as you when I want something."

He gazed into her eyes for a long moment. "Fine, I'll dance. But I will lead."

"I wouldn't expect anything else."

Jessica called them over, and they joined the other couples as a male  dancer came into the studio. It was a clear he was also a professional.  Jessica and her partner gave them a short demonstration, and then it was  their turn to dance.         

     



 

As Devin put one hand on her hip and grasped her other hand with his,  pulling her close against his chest, she suddenly realized the danger of  her impulsive decision to dance.

Jessica walked them through the first few stumbling steps. Kate felt  even more awkward than Devin, who actually seemed to be picking up the  moves more quickly than she was.

"You just have to relax and let me take you where you're supposed to go," Devin told her.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."