Ian picked up the menu and scanned it. “I heard the salmon is good.”
Lucy was toying with the scarf around her neck. “Okay.”
Ian glanced up at Lucy, whose face was half obscured by the menu. Then he glanced around the half-empty restaurant, which had rows of tables on either side, uniformed waiters rushing past in either direction, and quiet music playing through the overhead speakers.
“How’s the assignment going?”
Lucy eyed him over her wine glass. “The therapy assignment? Yeah, it’s fine.”
“I’m looking forward to our session tomorrow.” Ian gave her a bright smile and touched his glass to hers. “Here’s to us.”
Lucy didn’t say anything as she set her glass down and picked up her menu.
For the rest of the night, she barely said more than a few sentences to him.
By the end of their date, Ian was left wondering if taking Lucy out to dinner was a bad idea after all.
Chapter Six
“Why am I being transferred to another police station again?”
“Something about the information you’re providing. The DA requested you be transferred to a more secure location.”
“And miss out on our rousing and scintillating chats?”
“I’m sure you’ll survive.” Ian kept his hand on Jake’s shoulder as they walked through the station, earning more than their fair share of curious looks. “You could always call if you remember anything.”
“Officer Railings, that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
Ian rolled his eyes and strode past Marissa, who fell into step beside him. “Is the police escort waiting outside?”
Marissa exhaled and offered him a tight nod. “We’ll follow them, along with a slew of other cars.”
Silence settled around them as they stepped outside and into the early morning sun. A brusque wind blew past and made the hairs on the back of Ian’s neck rise. He led a handcuffed Jake down the stairs and into the police car parked closest to the curb.After securing Jake in the back, he gave him a quick look and slammed the door shut.
Three other police cars were waiting in the wings, ready to escort Jake to a police department a few towns over. Ian tried to ignore the tightening of his stomach as he walked over to his own car and stopped. Wordlessly, Marissa took the keys from him and nudged him toward the passenger side. Inside the car, Marissa cranked up the heat and turned the key in the ignition.
From where he sat, Ian saw the back of Jake’s head. “Do you think this is a good idea?”
Marissa eased out of her parking spot and pressed her back against the seat. “It’s for the best. I don’t think having him around was doing you any good.”
“I told you that I’m fine.” Ian slid the seat belt into place and waited for the familiar click. “Besides, he’s given me some useful information about Eric.”
Marissa gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Have you thought about the fact he’s just telling you what you want to hear?”
Ian twisted to face her and studied his partner, who was bathed in the soft glow of the early morning sun. “So, you’re telling me youdon’tthink Eric Taylor is an obsessive and dangerous man?”
“He is, but it doesn’t mean Jake can be trusted.”
“I don’t trust him,” Ian replied without preamble. “Idotrust that he wants to save his own skin, though, and right now, we’re his best option.”
Marissa cast a quick glance in his direction before turning her attention back to the road. “Is that why you volunteered to be one of the escorts? You know that’s a bad idea, right? You’re going to be under a lot of scrutiny.”
“I’m not going to do anything stupid.”
Marissa scoffed. “It’s a little too late for that. Escorting the guy who might know who is tied to your mother’s murder is as stupid as it gets. Almost as stupid as sneaking into the holding cells every night to give Jake food and chat with him.”
Ian glanced out the window. “If you’re so worried, you should report me to the captain.”
