Detective Brown gave a little nod. “That’s when your date… combusted.”
“He wasn’t my date.” She jerked her head. “But yeah—in a flash. Nothing but dust and charred clothing left when the fire went out.”
Detective Brown held her gaze for a long moment, long enough Melanie stiffened her back in answer. This was when he’d give her the look. The one that said he thought she needed meds.
Instead, he looked down at the folder and flipped up a page. “The man with the pointy stick… what did he look like?”
Melanie shrugged. “Cute, but hard, ya know? Hispanic, with long black hair to his shoulders.”
“What happened then?”
She frowned, remembering her confusion and fear. “He kicked me out of the club. Told me to go home and lock my doors. Had me walked out to the cab stand. As soon as I got home, I called the police. They told me to come in to make a statement.” She shrugged again, pretending her stomach wasn’t still trembling in the aftermath of what had been a hellish night. “So now I’m here. What’re you gonna do?”
He sat so long, his dark gaze boring into hers, that she began to fidget, biting her nail again. Although she’d thought she’d kicked that habit in high school. Embarrassed, she slid her hands into her lap. “I’m not crazy.”
“Didn’t say you were,” he murmured quietly.
His dark gaze continuing to bore into her until her anxiety built to a crescendo. “Do you believe me?”
“You need rest.”
“But do you believe me?” Her fingers tightened on the table edge.
“I need rest.”
She blew out a breath in exasperation. “Yeah, it’s hours after freaking midnight. We both fucking need rest. Do you believe me?”
“I’m comin’ home with you.”
He said it so quietly, so calmly, that she blinked, wondering if she’d only dreamed the words. Like she dreamed so many unlikely things these days. “What’d you just say?”
“You might not be safe. And we both need rest. To wait out the day.” His head shook with a snap. “I’m not leavin’ your side ‘til we figure this out.”
Tears clouded her vision, but she wiped them away. He believed her. Or at least believed part of what she’d said. Relieved, she didn’t think before she blurted, “Do you want the left or the right side of the bed?”
Table of Contents
Her Soul to Keep
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
About the Author
Latest Releases
Coming Soon
Moonstruck
Her Soul to Keep Page 5