Blue Jeans and a Badge by Nina Bruhns Read Free Book Online

too.
    He dropped the subject and drove in silence until they reached Dulce, to give her some space. He didn’t want to push her too far and risk losing her cooperation.
    â€œI need a Starbucks,” she said as they drove through town. “Can we stop?”
    He couldn’t prevent the chortle that escaped at the thought of one of the pricey, trendy gourmet cafés in a place like Dulce.
    She scowled at him. “What?”
    â€œSweetheart, the closest Starbucks is probably in Taos. Maybe even Santa Fe. Is a substitute okay?”
    Her face fell. “I suppose, if I have no choice.”
    â€œTrust me,” he said, and pulled into the Apache Oil gas station. “You don’t.” He took a twenty out of his wallet and handed it to her. “Get me one, too. Black.”
    She looked in horror from the twenty to the gas station. “You’re kidding, right?”
    He just smiled.
    With a long groan, she snatched the bill and got out of the Jeep. “I hate this state,” she muttered.
    â€œIt grows on you,” he called after her with a grin. City girl. Maybe she was a little prissy, after all.
    Upon her return, she wordlessly handed him a tall styrene cup.
    â€œFind what you wanted?”
    â€œNo decaf. No half and half, either.”
    He clicked the edge of his cup against hers. “Good stuff. It’ll grow hair on your chest.”
    She shot him a withering glare. “Just what I need.”
    Steering the Jeep back onto the highway, he ventured, “I have a cappuccino maker at home.”
    She blinked. “Yeah?”
    â€œYou could come over tonight. I’d make you some.”
    â€œPhilip, I’m mad at you,” she said patiently. “There’s no way in hell I’m going to your house tonight.”
    â€œNo need to get testy. It was just an offer. But we really should discuss our strategy for tomorrow.”
    â€œWhat strategy?”
    â€œYou mentioned you’d learned something today that may be relevant to the case.”
    Her expression turned incredulous. “You can’t seriously think I’m going to share information with you after this?”
    â€œSure I do.”
    â€œAnd what makes you think that?”
    â€œYou called me Philip. First time ever. You must still like me.”
    She covered her eyes with a hand. “I am not hearing this.”
    â€œYou need me. You want me. You can’t live without me. You also know I’m right about Clyde.”
    â€œI can’t even imagine how to begin to respond to that.”
    â€œYou could start by sharing what you found out. Or…” Heflicked the handcuffs hanging from his rearview mirror and waggled his eyebrows at her. “I could arrest you for deliberately impeding an ongoing investigation.”
    He could practically hear her mentally count to ten. But he also spotted the beginnings of a reluctant smile. “Anyone ever tell you you’re a real pain in the neck, O’Donnaugh?” she mumbled.
    â€œNeck?” He pretended to consider. “Nah.”
    There. That was definitely a smile. “God, you’re obnoxious.”
    He grinned over at her. “That’s why you like me so much. Now, go on. Tell me what you found out.”
    She took a long sip from her cup, then grimaced in distaste. “All right. But I’m not going to your house.”
    â€œFine. Spill.”
    â€œI heard about a place he might be hiding out.”
    â€œNo kidding? From one of the women?”
    â€œYep.”
    â€œSo why didn’t the lieutenant know about it?”
    â€œHe does.”
    The guilt Philip had been feeling earlier ebbed a bit. “You mean he lied to me?”
    â€œNo. He just doesn’t realize he knows. And he’s not really looking for Tafota, so it probably never occurred to him.”
    â€œExplain.”
    â€œSome of the old women were telling stories today. About the tribe.”
    â€œYes, I saw you