Ghost Walk

by Laurel Pace

  As Dani had expected, a horde of photographers was lying in wait outside the courtroom. A murder trial was always big news, especially in a city where the ugly event was a rarity. Fortunately, one of Derek's attorneys had attracted the brunt of the press's attention today. While the lawyer offered the reporters a string of noncommittal remarks, Dani seized the chance to blend into the crowd exiting the courtroom. After the ordeal of taking the stand that morning, she was relieved to slip unnoticed past the photographers and reporters. She was halfway down the courthouse steps when she heard someone call to her. Dani wheeled to see Officer Joe Simpson climbing out of a patrol car parked at the curb.

  "Miss Blake." The police officer tipped his cap to her.

  "Good afternoon, Officer Simpson."

  The policeman's dark eyes traveled to the door that had just opened on the flock of media people surrounding the attorney. "I'd like to talk with you, if you have a moment."

  "Of course." Dani felt a great debt of gratitude to the policeman who had played such a critical role in apprehending Cannaday—and possibly saving her life.

  Simpson nodded toward the street. "It might be a good idea to get away from this circus."

  They walked along the car-lined street, stopping when they were a good half block from the boisterous crowd. "There's something I've been meaning to give you," the tall policeman began. He frowned as he dug in his pocket. Then he handed Dani a small plastic bag. "Just thought you might like to have that. We don't have any use for it anymore."

  Dani held up the bag and recognized the tiny yacht pin that Richardson had given her. "Thank you, Officer Simpson," she whispered hoarsely.

  "Thank you, Miss Blake." He stepped back, looking shy for all his proven physical prowess. "You take care."

  Dani nodded, unable for the moment to budge any words from her tightening throat. She opened the bag, carefully removed the pin, and then cradled it in her palm. Just holding it made her feel oddly close to Richardson. Close to my father. The thought made her bite her lip, holding back the flood of bittersweet emotion. In the end, Richardson had done his best not to leave her alone in the world. Perhaps if you cared enough, you could overcome any obstacle. At that thought, a handsome, strong-boned face loomed in her mind. She couldn't afford to think about Ken right now, had to keep telling herself simply to take one day at a time.

  She looked up in time to see Simpson climbing into his patrol car. The policeman threw up a hand, and Dani returned his wave. Her hand froze in the air and then fell to her side as she watched another man climb out of the passenger side of the cruiser. The police car pulled away, leaving Ken standing on the sidewalk.

  Dani was so startled, she could only wait, immobile, as he walked to her. "I thought you were still in Washington," she managed to get out when he stopped short of her.

  "That's the second time you've mistakenly thought that, if I remember correctly." A smile threatened to break the serious cast of Ken's face. "I knew you were going to testify today, so I hustled back on the first plane. I said I'd be down this weekend, but I didn't think you'd mind my showing up a few days early."

  Dani was making a valiant attempt to recover her equilibrium. "Well, I certainly don't."

  Ken glanced down the street at the throng still massed outside the courthouse. "I suppose some people are not particularly happy with the disclosures being made at this trial. Though it's all for the best, I'm sure it's nonetheless painful for the Whytes. How are they taking it?"

  Dani paused and looked back at the courthouse. "The Whytes have been in Charleston since the late eighteenth century. The family has been through scandals before and emerged as solid as ever. This won't be any different."

  "Even having such intimate family secrets made public?" Ken raised his eyebrows.

  "No family likes being put on display. But you know, I can't help thinking that now, finally, Richardson can genuinely rest in peace. As bittersweet as the circumstances may be, he's finally able to share the secret he thought he never could—with me, with everyone. And for me to know him now that way and to know myself, I, too, am at peace. I'm glad it's over. But how about you? Did you get everything settled with Associated?"

  Ken's slow nod had a suspicious air of finality to it. "Swift and clean."

  Dani gave him a questioning sidelong glance. "What do you mean?"

  "I quit, kiddo." Ken brushed his hands together. "Wham, bam, and it was over."

  "Quit?" Dani wasn't sure she had heard correctly. Only the past week, Ken had seemed dead set on persuading his employer to find him an assignment near Charleston.

  Ken looked adamant as he shook his head. "Derek was right about one thing, Dani. I'm a sorry excuse for a security specialist. Of course, I don't want Joe Simpson to ever hear me say that. He's promised to recommend me if I decide to open my own firm in this neck of the woods."

  Dani made an effort to subdue her grin. "I didn't think you were all that bad."

  "That's because I work well in a team," Ken countered. "We were a pretty damned good team, weren't we?"

  "Uh-huh." Dani looked down at the cracked sidewalk. "Pretty damned good."

  Ken cleared his throat, folding his hands behind his back as he glanced across the street. "It's too good to break up, Dani. That's what I was telling Joe on the way over here from the airport."

  "Hold on now." Dani lifted both hands to caution him. "I know you're all set to launch a new career, but I'm not interested in any more detective work. One big case will hold me for a lifetime."

  Ken's mouth twisted to one side. "That doesn't mean we can't be partners." He paused, waiting for her to take the cue and make it easy on him. When she didn't, he drew a deep breath. "I'm talking about marriage, Dani. You don't really think I came back to Charleston simply to make a career change, do you? I'm here because you are, darling. I want us to build a life together, the life I've always wanted and never thought I could have until I met you."

  "You and me?" Dani knew her dimples were giving her away, but she did her best to look incredulous in spite of them.

  Ken glanced down the street and then back at her."I can't think of any other likely candidates. For either of us. Can you?"

  Dani lifted her arms to encircle his neck. "No, I can't, partner. Not if I were to think for the rest of my life." She felt his hands close around her waist, pulling her within range of his lips. Dani closed her eyes, meeting his mouth with a warm, lingering kiss of her own.

  "Of course, I might want your advice if I ever get a sticky case." Ken's lips pecked her chin lightly.

  Dani bestowed a quick kiss on the tip of his nose. "I'm sure we can work something out. Since I'll be turning the South Battery house into a bed-and-breakfast, I'll need some help. We could trade—my investigative consulting in return for your lending a hand at the inn."

  "Sounds reasonable enough." Ken cuddled her against his chest, contentedly nuzzling her hair. "But on only one condition."

  Dani's cheek brushed his tweed jacket as she looked up at him. "What's that?" She watched as the man she loved with all her heart broke into a big smile.

  "Just promise me that you won't ever, ever ask me to tend bar."