Sharon Hartley - To Trust a Cop

As the car slowed down for the tenth floor—his stop—he said, “Last chance, Merlene.”

She threw him an unreadable look. “Good luck, Detective.”

Tucking his arm into hers, he drew her out of the elevator with him.

“Hey...” She pulled away, but the doors had already closed behind them.

Cody released her arm and threw her a grin. “Now you know how it feels to be abducted.”

“This is not the same and you know it.”

“No?”

“No.” Merlene jabbed the call button, but at this busy time of the morning in this old building it would take forever for another elevator to arrive. She was already nervous about testifying, and now she’d probably be late. Damn Cody.

“I need to be on the twelfth floor in about two minutes,” she said, “and now—thanks to you—I’ll be late.”

“Maybe you should have left home earlier.”

She punched the button again, knowing her impatience wouldn’t hurry the machinery in the least, wishing she could jab her finger into Cody’s chest instead.

“What’s going on, Merlene? I know you have something to tell me.”

“And how do you know that?” Furious, she turned to confront him but was stopped by his probing gaze, a look that brought all of her senses to full alert. Warmth spread outward from the spot on her arm where he had touched her.

“Because I’m a detective,” he said.

“Yeah? Well, so am I.” And she had never been as aware of a man as she was of Cody Warren at this moment, of his height a full foot over her, of the confident way he stood, of a muscular body full of power and authority. Sexy as hell, and infuriating.

Turning back to the elevator, she looked up at the light. At least a car was descending. But of course it stopped on twelve—her floor.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly to calm herself. “Did you ever find Dr. Johnson?”

“No. We still don’t know where the hell he is.”

“I might know.”

He took a step closer. “Yeah? Where?”

“His wife thinks he’s in Ocala. I’m driving up this afternoon to check it out at her request.”

“She thinks he’s staying at the ranch?”

“Exactly.” So Cody knew about the ranch. Of course he did. She took a sideways glance at him and decided he looked confused. Yes, this was fun.

“Why would the doc go to the ranch in the middle of the week? He had a calendar full of patients.”

“I don’t know why, but a friend spotted him in town and my client wants me to investigate. She thinks he’s there with Nurse Cole on some sort of romantic getaway.” Merlene shrugged. “We know different, of course, but I couldn’t convince her.”

Cody ran a hand through his thick, sun-streaked hair. “Going to Ocala right now makes no sense.”

“What do you mean? Why doesn’t it make sense?” She’d given Cody some good info. Maybe he’d share some in return.

“Did you tell Pat Johnson about the police investigation?”

“I know better than that.” She sighed. Cody loved to answer a question with a question. Great strategy to wiggle off the hook. And once again, she learned nothing.

“I was wondering if that’s what made Johnson disappear,” he said.

“Well, if he knows, I promise that info didn’t come from me.”

“Thanks,” Cody said. “I appreciate it.”

“I can tell you this, though,” Merlene said. “Pat suspects her husband is into something illegal and that our Nurse Cole led him down that crooked path.”

Cody laughed. “Yeah, women are a bad influence.”

“Not funny. She’s worried about her kids.”

“Yeah, I’m aware he has kids.” He shook his head and after a pause said, “Ocala doesn’t add up.”

“Maybe not,” Merlene agreed, “but as long as my client pays my bill, I do what she asks.”

Cody jammed balled fists into his pants pockets; body language that told her he was really worried about something. What was it? Damn. Why wouldn’t he tell her anything?

“Do you carry a gun?” he asked.

“A gun?” She stabbed the lit elevator button again. “For surveillance? I don’t think so.”

“Surveillance is all you do?”

“That’s all I’m interested in doing. Besides, D.J. says don’t carry a gun unless you plan on using it.”

He nodded. “Good advice. Listen...watch yourself.”

That unexpected comment caused her to face him again. “Do you know something I don’t? Is there something special I should look out for?”

His blue eyes searched her face. For a moment she thought he was going to give her something, but then he tightened his jaw. “You’re in a profession that could be dangerous. Just be careful.”

“I’m always careful.”

He nodded, looking doubtful. “Call me when you get back.”

“What for? Wait. You actually expect me to report in? Tell you what I found in Ocala?”

“Cooperation is a good thing, Merlene. Remember?”

The elevator doors bounced open, and she stepped into the crowded car.

“You have my card,” he said. “Call me.” He held his hand to his ear, mimicking a phone.

She stared at him as the doors closed between them and wanted to stamp her foot in frustration. She would have, too, if this elevator hadn’t been as full at the last one.

So this overbearing man screws around with not only her license, but D.J.’s license, and then expects her to call him with a report? Amazing. The nerve. Especially since he hadn’t shared a thing of use with her.

Detective Cody Warren was driving her crazy.

CHAPTER THREE

CODY CHUCKLED AS he pushed open the door to the tenth-floor conference room. No question an encounter with feisty Merlene Saunders always lightened his mood. Too bad they’d met under the strained and tense circumstances of this serious case. Maybe he could look her up later and they could start over.

He’d like that. The question was: would she?

Inside the room, he found Assistant County Attorney Rafael Alvarez at the head of a long wooden conference table cluttered with files, books and paper. The prosecutor had summoned Cody and his partner to the courthouse this morning for a strategy session on the Johnson case. Jake Steadman, his partner, was tied up in a deposition but would join them later if he got finished in time.

Alvarez wasn’t looking at his papers, though. He stared out the window wearing an solemn expression.

“Hey, Rafael,” Cody said. “What’s wrong, man?”

Rafael turned to face him with a grimace. “Cody. Yeah, well, I’ve got some bad news. I’m not sure I quite believe it myself yet.”

Cody sat down beside Rafael. “What?”

The prosecutor used a pen to nudge his cell phone on the table before him. “Just got off the phone with my supervisor.”

“I’m listening.”

“We’re done, man.”

“Done?”

“They’ve pulled the plug on the Johnson case.”

Cody felt blood drain from his face as he stared at Rafael. He’d thought this meeting was to discuss an arrest, not an ending to the investigation.

“Pulled the plug? Is that some kind of a sick joke?”

“It’s no joke, man,” Rafael stated with a shake of his head. “Believe me, I wish it were.”

“But you can’t end this investigation. My partner and I have put in six months of hard work.”

“And you know the hours I’ve logged,” Rafael said. “It’s not me, Cody. It’s coming from the top guns. As of now, I’m off the case. Reassigned.” Rafael stood and jammed his scattered papers into a brown leather briefcase. “I’ve got to get back to my office. I suspect when you return to your station you’ll find that you’ve been reassigned, as well.”

“What’s going on?”

“Off the record, I think Dr. Johnson got to someone. I saw him leaving the federal building early this morning.”