Deadly Lover by Charlee Allden Read Free Book Online

me?”
    “OA wants an investigator looking at these crimes as related. Right now Metro isn’t tying them together.”
    “How can they if you buried the first murder? Does Sean know?”
    “No. Detective Jasper was on call for the last incident.”
    The incident . Lily didn’t like the term. It seemed to be used to sanitize all manner of ugly things and it sounded way too clean for violence. The memory of her own incident twisted in her belly like an angry boa constrictor. “So, you tell them and let them figure this out.”
    “Even if we do that, they don’t know the Ormney like you do.”
    Lily felt the blood drain from her face. How much did he know about her work with an Ormney? “One encounter doesn’t equal knowledge.”
    His full lips pressed into a thin line. “I know about the Ormney trainee. That whole program had to be cleared through our offices. I’ve kept up with you.”
    But he hadn’t gone to see her when she was in recovery. Hadn’t called or brought her sister to visit her. “You haven’t told—”
    “No,” he said. “Not my place.”
    “Thanks, but I can’t help you. I’m not an investigator. Metro—”
    “There’s anti-Ormney sentiment at Metro,” He spoke over her. Determined. “We don’t want someone on this who might have their own agenda.”
    “Metro isn’t anti-Ormney, and in case it’s slipped your mind, I’m still working for Deepwater.” Lily eyed the water on the side table, but wouldn’t ask him to get it.
    “We don’t have a problem with Deepwater getting involved, and your call on the drugs thing makes it clear you’re not anti-Ormney.” Switching tactics again, his tone softened as he released the footboard and came around the bed to pass the water to her. “We need someone who’ll appeal to the Ormney Continuation Council if we need their cooperation to resolve this.”
    Lily sipped drawing in the cool liquid to sooth her throat. “You think the drug thing will negate me killing one of their people today?”
    “Yes, I do. They’re fair and reasonable.”
    “Saints. I know.” She couldn’t stop her eyes from rolling. Lily knew the Ormney were probably more ethical than Earthers as a whole, but worshiping them like they were all good was just as dumb as demonizing them.
    Bradley’s jaw twitched. “I didn’t say that.” Soft and subtle hadn’t lasted long.
    “I’m not even active.” The thought managed to heap on more fatigue. She could feel it pressing her into the mattress.
    “I understand your final evaluation was today.”
    Lily huffed out a breath. “Yeah, well I didn’t exactly make it to that.”
    “You’re cleared,” he said.
    “No, I—”
    “It’s been taken care of.”
    Lily stared him down, but he met her gaze with steady confidence. After seconds ticked by, his black eyebrows drew together as if her doubt perturbed him.
    “Well, damn.” Lily shook her head. “You can do that?”
    “OA can do that. We’ve got a good working relationship with Deepwater at the top level.” Bradley’s determination sat between them, as undeniable as the moon in the sky. “Lily, you could consider this a transition to a local position. You wouldn’t be back in town if you weren’t considering a transfer request.”
    Let Bradley think what he liked about her choice of local for her rehab. “I’m not sure fat-fingering a case like this would be a great way to win friends at Metro or in the regional Deepwater offices. Bradley, I’m not trained for this sort of thing.”
    He stretched and all his annoyance slid off as he relaxed. “I want you...”
    Lily’s muscles tensed to rigidity.
    Bradley sat tentatively on the edge of the bed, near her thighs. “I want you on this assignment. I won’t take a no on this.”
    She pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes, giving him her best eat-dirt-and-die face.
    He reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, face softening. “How can any woman look so beautiful in a med