Touching Silver

by Jamie Craig

  “Did you have any questions?”

  Kahl’s expectant voice yanked him out of his reverie, and he shook his head when he looked down at her. “Sounds like you’ve got everything in hand. Good job.”

  She followed close when he started to cross the street. “Did you get anything good off the DB the other night? Is there something that can link him to this crime scene too?”

  “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

  He deliberately lengthened his strides, leaving her at the tape to go off in search of Olivia. He needed to talk to somebody who might have an actual clue. Here, that pretty much narrowed down to a field of one.

  His pace slowed as he approached the center of the fire. Plenty of people milled around, but Olivia was nowhere to be seen. He did a slow circle, his brows drawing closer together with every passing second, until he returned to where he started. Same spot. Still no sign of her.

  “Excuse me.” Isaac grabbed the arm of a young tech. “Detective Wright. Where is she?”

  “Who’s that?”

  He gritted his teeth. “Red hair, about five-nine. She’s supposed to be surveying the scene for me.”

  The tech shook his head. “I haven’t seen her. Sorry.”

  Isaac let him go. He stepped deeper into the rubble, the smoke starting to coat his throat. He was about to call her name when he saw a pale hand lying in a pile of ash.

  “Olivia!”

  He broke into a run, reaching her side in seconds, rolling her over from where she’d collapsed in the smoldering debris. Soot streaked her cheeks, but her eyes were closed, her breathing quick and shallow. Isaac scooped her into his arms, lifting her away from the ash, grateful her lashes fluttered open as soon as he moved her.

  His heart pounded as he carried her beyond the perimeter of the worst of the fire. “I’m getting an EMT to look at you. And if they say so, you’re going to the hospital. Don’t even think about saying no.”

  Olivia buried her face against his shoulder and began to cough. Her entire body shook, and she only paused to take deep, shuddering breaths before collapsing into another wracking fit.

  “I’m fine,” she rasped. “Isaac, really. It was just…a little smoke…”

  “Yeah, just the number one cause of fire-related deaths. Don’t argue with me. This one, you’re not going to win.”

  She opened her mouth, apparently to do just that, but immediately started hacking again. She turned her face back into his shoulder. He realized she was covering his shirt with ash, snot and tears, but he didn’t care.

  “Sorry. Did I pass out?”

  “Yeah. What happened in there?”

  “I don’t know. It feels like one moment I was just fine, and then I woke up…here.” She peered up at him. Her eyes were bloodshot. Probably from the smoke. “You’re not going to tell anybody I passed out like a girl, are you?”

  The corner of his mouth lifted. “You don’t tell them I got upset like a girl over a couple of dead fish and you’ve got a deal.”

  She started to laugh, but that quickly turned into another coughing attack. By the time she spoke again, her voice sounded deep and scratchy. “It’s a deal.”

  He didn’t let her go until the EMT forced Isaac to relinquish his hold. Even then, he was never more than a foot away as they carried her back to the waiting ambulance.

  Chapter Seven

  As he pulled into Olivia’s driveway, one thought pounded in his mind: And this is why I don’t have partners.

  The EMTs had examined Olivia and pronounced her well enough to go home, much to Isaac’s surprise. He’d insisted on driving her, though. She was sickly pale, and her coughing jags—while less frequent—still terrified him. He couldn’t get past the image of one overcoming her on the way home, her hands jerking on the steering wheel, her Sequoia barreling straight into a telephone pole. The eyes she’d lifted to his shouldn’t have been so blue in the dark of night, but instead of arguing, she’d acquiesced. He hadn’t been so grateful for anything in a very long time.

  Only the sound of an occasional cough broke the silence on the drive to her small house. He kept a close watch on her out of the corner of his eye, but her attention was focused out the window, her body curled in on itself without looking slouchy, her hands buried in her coat pockets. Under other circumstances, the solitude would’ve been welcome, but right now, Isaac didn’t like it. In fact, he hated it. He wanted to hear the smooth tones of her voice, even if it meant she was putting him in his place for being too bossy. He was on the verge of saying something even he knew was off the chart just to provoke her into speaking to him.

  Then it hit him.

  He thought of her as a partner. Her pain upset him. Because he cared. About what happened to her, about her, about how upset her damn dog was going to be when she walked in upset and ill.

  Damn it.

  He’d sworn after nearly losing Nathan that he would never go through the pain of losing somebody so close to him again. He still remembered every second spent at the hospital, praying for Nathan to wake up, then staring in disbelief at the stranger who wore Nathan’s skin. Gone was his fervent best friend, innocent and sure they were going to change the world. A brooding, sorrowed man took his place, one who spent more time in a bottle than in the world they’d been so determined to save. It had taken months for him to crack the hard shell and find glimpses of the only person Isaac trusted with his life, the only friend he’d give his own for. It had taken years for Nathan to find it in himself to trust falling in love again, when he’d always been the one to love so easily before.

  He didn’t want to go through all that again. Partners messed with your head, made it impossible to work to your peak efficiency. Tore your heart out when you weren’t looking, even when they didn’t mean to.

  Another coughing jag, this one harsher than any previous, made his foot slip on the brake. His muttered apology came out before he could stop it.

  Damn it. He cared.

  He jumped out almost before the engine had died completely, jogging around the front to open her door. Olivia frowned up at him as she wobbled out of the car, but didn’t argue when he slipped his arm around her waist to steady her. That was good. The first time she opened her mouth, he would throw her over his shoulder and carry her inside.

  She didn’t speak until they were at the door. When he tried to take her keys from her grasp, she yanked her hand away. “I’ve got this under control, Isaac.” To prove it, she pushed the key into the deadbolt and unlocked the door. “Stand back.”

  Tiberius barreled at them as soon as the door opened. Isaac braced himself for the inevitable crash, but she stopped the huge dog with a single word. “Heel.” He sat beside her and pushed his head into her hand. She scratched behind his ears and smiled at Isaac. “Thanks for finding me…and for the lift home. I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”

  “I don’t think so.” Her raised brow made him backpedal. “Look, I’m not so comfortable leaving you alone just yet. I know, the EMT cleared you, but you’re still coughing, and Tiberius is probably going to need a walk, and I’m sure you’re going to want to take a shower, and…” The brow wasn’t going down. If anything, it was climbing higher into her hairline. “I’m worried about you,” he finished. “And it’ll make me feel better if you let me stick around for awhile. Please.”

  “I don’t think I’ve actually heard that word pass your lips since we met.” She looked down at her clothes with a grimace. “I guess you can keep Tiberius company while I shower.”

  He was moving before she’d finished speaking, grabbing the leash he’d seen her keep by the door. “C’mon, boy. Let’s give the lady some privacy and go for a jog around the block.”

  Tiberius seemed thrilled with the suggestion, and he trotted from Olivia’s side to the door. Fortunately, large dogs didn’t make him uncomfortable. Tiberius was the size of a pony. It was very likely Tiberius would be the one jogging and he would just be dragged behind. The dog sat still as Isaac
clipped the leash on his collar, but as soon as it was secure he started jumping and pawing at the door.

  “Isaac…if I’m not out when you come back, there’s beer and food in the fridge. You can help yourself.”

  There wasn’t a hint of suggestion in her invitation, but the fact she’d issued it at all made him smile. “I think a beer might be good after the night we’ve had. Plus, we’ve still got our ribs from The Barn to finish.”

  Another yank from Tiberius had him at the door, and they were outside before Olivia responded. At least if she did, he didn’t hear it. He was too busy trying to keep the dog from tearing his arm off as he bolted down the front walk. They went so swiftly around the block that Isaac did another circuit, his breath coming in soft plumes by the time they neared the house the second time.

  “How about we go get that beer now?” he suggested to Tiberius. “And if you promise not to tell Olivia, I’ll even let you have a sip of mine.”

  The shower was still running, giving him a few minutes to look around. Off-white walls were plastered with framed photos of people and places he didn’t recognize. An older couple standing outside a lighthouse—they had to be her parents. A younger woman with her coloring and smile standing between three small children at a zoo. Several pictures marking Tiberius’ development. She didn’t have any other art on the walls, but she really didn’t have room for anything else either.

  Tiberius’ nails clicked on the hardwood floor as Isaac roamed around, navigating the toys and bones littering the room. A long leather couch dominated the living area, with two matching recliners and a solid wood coffee-table placed in the center. He pushed the kitchen door open, looking for any signs that she actually used it. The cramped space matched the rest of the small house, but she utilized every inch available. He crossed to the fridge and pulled the door open, not surprised to find it fully stocked.

  “Grab one for me too,” Olivia said from behind him.

  He glanced back out of reflex and nearly did a double take. She’d come straight from the shower, her robe cinched tightly around her slim waist. She’d scrubbed off the make-up and soot, leaving her skin dewy enough to make him want to reach out and touch it, and though her hair was still wet, she’d combed it before coming out of the bathroom. A fragile scent of citrus drifted to his nose. It had him reaching blindly into the refrigerator and grabbing the first two bottles he found, all without taking his eyes off her.

  “Are you hungry?” He watched her pull open a drawer and pass over an opener. “I can run out to the car and get the food if you want.”

  Olivia shook her head. “No, just parched.” She took the open beer bottle with a nod, then tilted her head back and downed several swallows. His gaze slid momentarily to the long, elegant column of her neck and the beads of moisture still dotting the hollow of her throat. He had to jerk his eyes away when she lowered the bottle or risk getting caught staring. At least when she spoke again, her voice sounded much stronger. “Did Tiberius behave himself?”

  He grinned. “I think there’s a tree around the corner that’s never going to speak to us again.”

  She chuckled. “We’re no longer on speaking terms with most of the trees on the block.” She leaned against the counter, absently peeling the label from the bottle. “So did the witness see anything?”

  It took a moment for him to connect with what she was asking. Witness. The arson. Right. “Complete waste of time.” Her presence made the small kitchen even smaller, and he struggled to figure out where to put himself. He finally opted for mirroring her pose on the opposite counter. It wasn’t ideal but it gave him the best viewpoint for watching her. Even if he did lose some of the delicious scent of her shampoo. “What about you? Remember anything more about what happened to you in there?”

  Olivia looked up, but her eyes quickly darted away again. “No…no, I don’t remember anything. I’m not sure what happened.” She looked up and flashed a teasing smile. “You know that officer has a crush on you.”

  “Who? Kahl?” He shook his head. “She just wants to work the glamour of street gangs. She was the one who called me in on the other arson. I couldn’t shake her until I hurt her feelings.”

  “She must be resilient then, because she didn’t seem very hurt tonight.” She tilted her head, studying him thoughtfully. “But you really haven’t noticed, have you? Most men would, in your situation.”

  “In my situation? You don’t think I’d take advantage of the fact that she’s got something rosy stuck in her eye just to get her to go out with me, do you?”

  “No, I don’t think you’re like most men.”

  He grunted in agreement, taking a long sip of his beer as he watched her through his lashes. “Kahl wouldn’t want to go out with me anyway. I mean, you’ve seen it. You and I haven’t been able to finish a meal yet.”

  “I’d like to think if we ever went on a real date you’d make more of an effort to stick around for an entire meal.”

  He couldn’t resist treading a bit on dangerous ground. “Why do you think I keep asking you to meet me over food? I figure one of these times we’ll make it through to dessert.”

  Olivia set her bottle down, the humor gone from her eyes. “Isaac…I like you, and that’s why I’m going to tell you that I can’t date you.” She looked at him, almost apologetically. “Well, not you in particular. I don’t date anybody in the department. Ever.”

  For a second, it stung. He hadn’t actually asked her out on a date, though the way the conversation had been heading, he probably would have said the words sooner rather than later. Was it nerve-wracking knowing she was the first woman he’d even entertained the notion of a proper date with in years? Hell yeah. Casual one-night things didn’t count. He had plenty of those.

  But Olivia was different. Well. Had been different. She didn’t date people she worked with. They worked together. Ergo, she didn’t date him.

  The slight hurt fled in the face of the new challenge. She liked him. She’d already admitted as much. That was the worst of the battle.

  “That’s a good policy to have.” He gave her an easy smile. “Keeps things simple.”

  “It does. Simple and professional. You know how gossip travels in the department. They’re worse than my grandmother’s sewing group.”

  “And yet another great reason for me not to have a real partner.” Tilting his head toward the doorway, he nudged her foot with his. “You look tired. Why don’t we go sit down?”

  After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded and led Isaac out of the kitchen. Tiberius waited for them in the living room, and she settled on the corner of the couch, her feet curled beneath her legs. Tiberius stared at her with his big doggy smile, like he was waiting for something.

  “No.” Olivia pointed at the ground. “You’re not coming up on the sofa. Lay down.” She looked at Isaac. “You better sit down fast, before he jumps up here and stretches across the entire couch.”

  Isaac stifled his grin as he sat down on the middle cushion, deliberately choosing a spot close to Olivia to avoid the scenario she warned against. He angled his body and bent his knee so that his brushed against hers. “Can’t blame him for being territorial. I’d probably be doing the same if I was used to being the only man in your life.”

  She ran her hand through her damp hair, letting the strands brush against the back of her neck. A few drops of water clung stubbornly to her skin, just below her ear. “Are you still worried about me?”

  That wasn’t what he’d call it. Not when the sight of a bead of water inching down the side of her neck was forcing him to shift slightly in order to hide his growing erection.

  “Are you going to go all Gloria Steinem on me if I say yes?” he countered.

  “No. Well, not tonight. I’m too tired to argue with you.” She chewed on the tip of her thumb, her gaze sliding around the room. “And I don’t really feel like being alone.”

  “That’s good. I don’t really feel like leaving you alone.” Carefully, he stret
ched his arm across the back of the couch, his hand coming to rest next to her shoulder. “I’m out of practice. I’ve always worried about Nathan, mostly because he’s useless at taking care of himself. But it’s been a long time since I’ve had a partner to think bout.”

  Olivia shifted, turning to face him, her shoulder brushing against his thumb. “So, what exactly do Nathan and Remy hope to find in Argentina?”

  “More information on that coin she handed over to Gabriel last summer. Supposedly, that’s where it came from originally.” He snorted. “I’m not sure what more they’re going to find. It was a dumb story with a crap ending.”

  She smiled. “I like dumb stories with crap endings. How does this one go?”

  Though he knew how much it consumed Nathan, Isaac hadn’t given much thought to the actual story of the Silver Maiden since Remy had given the coin to Gabriel. He had to stop for a moment and think, focusing on the details.

  “According to the story, some slave hundreds of years ago wanted to buy her freedom. So she started keeping all these slivers of silver from the work they made her do and, at night, she worked on making these coins she thought would do the trick. The way she figured it, she’d get in touch with this cult who’d help her get free, but by the time she actually finished the coins, she was old and the cult was defunct.”

  “So there’s more than one coin? Not just the one Gabriel has?” Olivia leaned forward. “What happened to the slave?”

  “Yeah, there’s supposed to be two of them, but Remy only ever had the one. Oh, and listen to this. After all her hard work, the slave didn’t even get to have a peaceful death or anything. She got mauled and then eaten by some wild animal. You see what I mean about a crap ending?”

  She frowned. “That does sound like a pretty crappy ending. So what? They’re trying to find out why the coins are so valuable to Gabriel? Or some other connection to him?”

  Quicksand here. He had to tread lightly or risk getting pulled under by the insanity that was Remy’s life. He wasn’t sure yet if Olivia would throw him a branch or anything to help him get out again.