Nowhere To Run (To Protect And Serve) by Mary Eason Read Free Book Online Page A

the morning after they’d made the mistake of screwing up their friendship by sleeping together.
    “Deb -- Riley. What’s new in Fed Land?”
    A chilly silence greeted his attempt at humor. “Aw, cut the crap, Donovan.” Deb sounded pissed off still. He couldn’t blame her for that either. He and Deb had been friends longer than they’d been lovers. Since their university days. He respected the hell out of her. Which was why sleeping with her, even if it was that one time, had been a huge mistake. One he still wasn’t so sure their friendship would survive. “I can’t discuss the Scott case.” She’d seen right through his lame attempt at small talk.
    Riley spewed out a heavy sigh. Dammit. He’d known from the beginning that Deb wanted more from their relationship.
    “Deb, I’m sorry , okay. But we both know it was a mistake.”
    “ Oh, whatever, Donovan. As if I still care about what happened after all these years. Don’t flatter yourself. For your information, it wasn’t that memorable.” She blew out a breath to empathize her annoyance. Riley realized he’d behaved like a jerk. He should have called. But the reminder of those awkward moments the morning after where they’d tried to find something to say to each other kept him from making that call. It was the reason he’d switched careers as well. Given up a promising future with the Bureau.
    “ Deb, I mean it. I behaved like an ass, okay. I’m sorry.”
    “Well, you finally got something right,” she snapped. At least now she sounded more like his friend. “What do you want, Donovan. I’m kinda busy here. Things have gone crazy, as you can imagine.”
    “Got time for breakfast?” He glanced at his watch. It was barely seven.
    “ No...Where?” She over-emphasized the word.
    “That little spot a couple of blocks away from you. I’ll buy.”
    “Y ou bet you will.” She sounded close to hanging up.
    “See you in twenty. Oh and Deb—“He started when she interrupted.
    “I know. Don’t tell anyone. Believe it or not, Riley Donovan, I can do my job without your help.”
    By the time he ’d maneuvered through morning rush hour traffic, Deb was seated and waiting for him.
    He faced his friend for the first time since that morning. The same awkwardness stood between them. Should he kiss her ? Shake her hand? Give her a hug? Riley finally realized he was behaving like a fool.
    He bent down and kissed her cheek. After a moment, Deb relaxed enough to pat his shoulder uncomfortably.
    The y waited in awkward silence for the waitress to take their orders.
    “I don’t know much.” Deb intercepted his first question. “ I’m not working the case. It’s very high level.”
    “ Alright.” He accepted her answer reluctantly.
    Deb looked nervous. And it had nothing to do with their relationship.
    For a long time Deb didn’t say a word. Riley’d begun to wonder if this meeting with would prove to a major waste of precious time he couldn’t afford to lose.
    Deb’s next words only served to emphasize the uneasiness he’d seen reflected in her eyes. “If anyone finds out I’m talking to you Riley, I could lose my job. Or worse.”
    “Who’s going to find out you talked to me? No one comes here. What are you really afraid of, Deb?” The very fact that Deb looked this anxious told him there was something more in the works here than just the Scott murder.
    “You think my boss won’ t remember you and I were friends.” Her choice of words struck him as odd. Was that just Deb’s way of getting back at him by referring to their friendship in past tense or was that how she saw it?
    She leaned close r. “Riley, this thing has the top brass screaming and everyone else scrambling all over themselves to keep a lid on it. I’m telling you, it’s weird. I’ve never seen anything like it. Something’s up.”
    Questions raced through his mind like wildfire. Before he could ask the first one, the waitress arrived with their meals.
    He waited