“On the contrary, I think I’ve gained us a strategy.”
“Oh you fucking do, do you? Firing on all cylinders tonight, aren’t we Detective Doyle? In that case, why don’t I hand over the reins to you?”
“I don’t know, sir, why don’t you?”
He let out a low expletive and took another mouthful of soda. To his surprise, she spoke first.
“With due respect, I don’t think you interviewing Emmaline is the right approach. Sir.”
He slammed down his glass, flung himself back in his chair and glowered at her. “Please, do tell, what is therightapproach then, Doyle?” he growled harshly. Yes, he was being a prick, but he was angry, and his usual iron composure was close to snapping.
She gave him a look like she’d sucked on a lemon. If she dared, she’d stick her tongue out at him or give him a middle-finger salute, he was sure. The thought dispelled his irritation momentarily, his lips almost twitching into a smile at the image. A smile that her next sentence wiped away. “Let me go undercover. It’s the best way to find out more.”
“You! Undercover? No fucking way.” It was fear that gripped him, fear for her safety, but it came out like he was belittling her. And that’s clearly how she read it, because she jutted her jaw. “Hear me out. Sir.”
He wanted to bark at her, “Call me Oliver,” but that would be too reminiscent of that other night, the one neither of them could really acknowledge. Truth be told, there was also something about the way she addressed him as sir, petulant and challenging, that was a hell of a turn-on.
He shifted to minimize the action in his pants and gave a curt nod. “Go on.”
“I’ll pretend I’m a newbie human to Motham. This Emmaline woman doesn’t know me, and I can wear a full disguise. With a dark wig and make-up on, I’d look very different.”
Oh yeah, he knew how very different she could look. How seductive and mesmerizing she could be. “Then what?”
Her expression suddenly eager, she leaned over the table toward him. “I’ll approach her company, tell her I’m job hunting and find out how to attend one of these meet-and-greet cocktail parties. This one—” she tapped the card, “happened just three weeks before Natalie disappeared, and given that Edward had contact with the same company, I swear Humans4Monsters has got some link to their disappearance.”
“So you’re operating on a hunch.”
She gave him another sour smile. “Isn’t that how we detectives work?”
“And what if you’re right, and this Emmaline woman is somehow involved in the humans going missing. And suddenly our undercover agent goes up in a puff of smoke. Great move.”
“Bring it on, I say. I’ll be wearing monitors, so you’ll find out where I disappeared to. At least let me do the initial groundwork.” Her gaze met his, a tiny measure of pleading in amidst the stubbornness. She wanted this so badly, and he couldn’t deny there was merit to her idea. He thinned his lips. “I am not prepared to say yes or no at this stage. We’ll discuss it at tomorrow’s team meeting.”
“Sure.” She sat back, looking smug, like she’d won. “So you’re not ruling it out?”
“I’m not ruling it out—yet.”
She nodded.
“In the meantime, I’m taking this evidence with me.” He picked up the business card and the invitation and shoved theminto the interior pocket of his jacket. He tried for his sternest frown as he panned her face. “Can I trust you not to withhold information in future?”
“Yes. If you’ll trust me to pull off undercover surveillance—sir.”
He couldn’t help a smirk at her audacity. “Are you trying to bargain with me?”
“Just equalizing the power imbalance.” She smirked back, as their food finally arrived. He picked up his knife and fork and observed his thick, juicy steak.
She was a handful, Detective Clare Doyle—stubborn, smart, sassy.
Regardless of all the other tumultuous feelings she brought up in him, he had to admit he fucking admired her spunk.
CHAPTER 15
Clare took out her compact and checked her reflection.
Her lips were rose pink, her wig was a dark sleek bob. It looked totally real, but it made her head itch like crazy. Her eyes were dramatically accentuated with dark liner and thick, mascara-laden lashes.
She was wearing a skirt and blouse in brighter colors than usual, which made her look sophisticated and professional, and way more stylish than she normally did. The only problem were the high-heeled pumps, which pinched her toes ferociously.
