You Can't Hide by Karen Rose Read Free Book Online

she said, annoyed that he’d come here, invaded her space looking like he owned the damn world. Annoyed that in the light of day he was even more compelling. Annoyed that she’d even noticed. “How can I help you?”
    Murphy appeared at Reagan’s side. Together the two of them formed a wall that blocked her view of the street. “We need to talk to you about Cynthia Adams, Tess.”
    “I have her file right here,” she said evenly, patting her briefcase. “I honestly expected you to call hours ago.” She looked from Reagan’s stony face to Murphy’s careful y expressionless one and her annoyance rapidly slid into apprehension. Something was very wrong. Still, she kept her voice cool. “I’m rather busy now, gentlemen. I’m on my way to a lunch meeting. Can I call you when I’m finished?”
    His jaw hard, Reagan offered her his cell phone. “Cancel it.”
    Tess’s eyes flew to Murphy’s face. There wasn’t a whisper of familiarity or softness in his eyes. “What’s going on here, Todd?”
    “We need you to come with us, Tess,” he said quietly. “Please.”
    She tilted her head toward Murphy. “You gonna cuff me, Todd?” she murmured. Reagan opened his mouth, but Murphy gave him a sharp look and he closed it. “Tess, let’s just get this over with, okay? Then we can all go on with our day.” Murphy took her elbow and led her to his beat-up old Ford. “Please.”
    She slid in, conscious of Mr. Hughes still standing at the curb, his mouth agape. Ethel would have an earful of this before they hit the next block, she knew. “Can I make a phone call?” she asked acidly as Murphy pul ed into traffic.
    He met her eyes in the rearview mirror. “To who?”
    To whom, she thought, but bit back what would have been a snarled correction. “To cancel my meeting, as Detective Reagan so hospitably requested.”
    Reagan turned, pinned her with his angry eyes, even bluer in the daylight. “Just one call.” He lifted a sardonic brow. “Thank you for your cooperation, Dr. Ciccotelli.”
    She closed her fingers around her cell phone, fighting the urge to throw it at him, unsettled by the flash of pure fury that left her white hot and trembling inside. “Anytime, Detective Reagan.” She focused on punching numbers, wishing she weren’t visualizing punching Reagan’s stony face. Last night she’d felt sympathy for the man who’d been so obviously scarred by finding Harold Green’s last little victim. That was before he’d pul ed the bad cop routine on her. He can just go to hell and take all his issues with him. His eyes watched her as the number she’d called rang in her ear.

    21
    Karen Rose

    [Suspense 5]

    You Can't Hide
    Thankful y Amy answered on the third ring. “Where are you?” she asked without preamble.
    “You’re late.” Tess could hear the activity of the Blue Lemon in the background as well as Jon’s worried voice asking what was wrong.
    “I’m not going to be able to join you,” she said formally. “I’ve got an emergency.”
    “Tess.” Amy stopped just short of her predictable whine. “We all said we’d hold this time sacred. We all have client emergencies.”
    Tess met Reagan’s eyes in a stare of pure challenge. “Not like this one,” she said. “I’l come by if I can, but just go on without me.”
    “Tess, wait.” Jon had taken Amy’s phone. “I got your message last night but I was out and didn’t get home until after three. Are you all right?”
    She’d called him to go with her, to be a witness to what she’d hoped would be a consultation with a live patient. “I’m fine. The issue has been resolved.” By Cynthia Adams herself. It was only Reagan’s cold stare that enabled her to control the shudder at the memory of Cynthia’s body on the sidewalk the night before. She’d be in the morgue now, on a cold slab, a number on a toe tag, but at least she’d found some peace. At least Tess hoped so. “Jon, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later, okay?”