“I’m good with it. Satisfied with it. When he comes up for parole, I intend to go in, speak to the board. I intend to take the photos of me after the assault. I like to think it’s not vindictive, but—”
“It’s not.”
“I don’t really care if it is, and I’ve made peace with my own needs on it. I do know I feel lighter with him in prison, and I’ll do what I can to keep him there. Away from me, away from someone else he might focus on. So I found my balance, and every now and then I like a little boost, or something that opens me up to a different way of thinking.”
With a smile, she spooned up more soup. “How’s your balance, Eli?”
“Right now I feel like I could do handsprings across a tightrope.”
She laughed into her wine. “Sex is the best invention.”
“No argument here.”
“Maybe you should write some sex into your book, unless you think it’s too female and flowery.”
“I sense a challenge.”
“Wouldn’t you like your hero to find his balance in the end?” She leaned over, brushed her lips lightly to his. “I’d love to help you with your research.”
“I’d be a fool to say no.” Eyes on hers, he slid his hand up her thigh. “The kitchen floor still looks good.”
“We should see how it feels.”
As she angled toward him, the doorbell chimed.
“Damn it. Hold that thought.”
He found Vinnie at the door, and realized he hadn’t hit balance when the sight of a cop, even an old friend, still made his heart lurch.
“Hey, Vinnie.”
“Eli. I had a call out this way, and was heading back in since my shift’s up. I wanted to stop by to . . . Oh, hi, Abs.”
“Hi, Vinnie.” She stepped up beside Eli. “Come in out of the cold.”
“Oh, well . . . bad timing. I can talk to you tomorrow, Eli.”
“Come on in, Vinnie. We were just having some soup Abra made.”
“Do you want a bowl?” she asked him.
“No. Thanks. No. Ah, I had a dinner break a couple hours ago, and . . .”
“I’ve got Eli on twice-weekly massages,” Abra said easily. “And I’m making sure he eats, which is something he’s been neglecting. And we’re having sex. That’s a new development.”
“Okay. Jesus, Abra. Man.”
“Why don’t you go in and sit down with Eli? I’ll get you some coffee.”
“I don’t want to get in the way.”
“Too late,” Abra said as she walked off.
Eli just grinned after her. “She’s amazing.”
“Yeah, well. Look, Eli, I like you. At least I liked you back in the day, and I’m inclined to like you now. Just don’t mess up with her.”
“I’ll be working hard not to. We might as well go in and sit down.” He turned toward the parlor, stopped when Vinnie studied the massage table. “She won’t take no.”
“Not on much.” Vinnie hooked his thumbs in his uniform belt. “Anyway, Eli, I know Detectives Corbett and Wolfe came to see you.”
“Yeah, we had an interesting chat earlier.”
“Corbett’s straight and smart—and thorough. I don’t know Wolfe, but it’s pretty clear he’s got his teeth in this bone, and he’s not giving it up.”
“He’s had his teeth in me for a year.” Eli dropped down on the sofa. “I’ve got the scars.”
“He’s going to chomp them into Abra now, and into me.”
“I’m sorry, Vinnie.”
Vinnie shook his head, lowered to a chair. “I’m not looking for sorry. But I figured you should know he’s going to do what he can to discredit Abra as your alibi, and take a swing at me as I play into it.”
“He’s a bully.” Abra walked in with a mug of coffee. “A dangerous one, I think.”
Vinnie took the coffee, stared into it. “He’s a hard-nosed, experienced cop with a pretty solid rep. My take? Coming up against you, Eli, when his gut and the circumstantial says you’re guilty as black-eyed sin, then not being able to prove it’s got him pissed.”
“I can’t be guilty of murder just to keep his record clear.”
“He knew Duncan.”
“I got that.”
“I haven’t looked deep, but my sense is they knew each other pretty well. So now he’s got more motivation to break you down. And this time, you’ve got an alibi.”
“Which would be me.”
“And you,” Vinnie said to Abra, “he’s going to see as a liar, protecting your . . .”
“The word these days is ‘lover,’” Abra put in. “He can try to discredit me. He’s doomed to failure. And I can see on your face you’re thinking it was easier, clearer when I wasn’t sleeping with Eli. I’ve— We’ve complicated things. But the truth’s still the truth, Vinnie.”