Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
RedHotSavvySleuth: You have valid points. Sometimes, I’m impulsive and it gets me into trouble. When I see something that needs to be done, I tend to want to do it right this minute and cross it off my list, you know? Or am I the only crazy one like that?
JasperThePrivateDick: I’m all for getting things done, but I tend to be somewhat measured. But maybe that’s age. I seem to recall a few years ago—well, maybe more than a few—that I was fairly gung ho, too. But I do agree with your ex on one thing. You need to stay safe. You can’t do anyone any good if you’re hurt—or worse.
He wasn’t wrong, Haisley supposed. She wasn’t trained for interrogation, much less combat. If someone needed a boost to their Instagram, she was the woman for the job. Sure, she liked investigating murders…from the safety of her living room. She wasn’t afraid of life, but she wasn’t stupid, either. She knew her limitations.
RedHotSavvySleuth: Point taken. I’ll stay in tonight. It’s not like I don’t have a lot to think about.
JasperThePrivateDick: Got your ex on your mind?
RedHotSavvySleuth: Yeah. I mean, I’m thinking about this case, too, but I haven’t seen him in a couple of years. All of a sudden, he’s popped up twice in the last few days. I wasn’t braced to see him either time.
JasperThePrivateDick: You in love with him?
RedHotSavvySleuth: It’s complicated. And pointless to dissect now. I was just a fun convenience for him.
JasperThePrivateDick: Are you sure it wasn’t more?
RedHotSavvySleuth: Positive. The feelings were all one-sided, but whatever. When he figures out I won’t be his anything with benefits again, he’ll give up…and that will be that.
JasperThePrivateDick: From where I sit, you deserve more than to be someone’s occasional toy. Are you sure he’s not more serious about you?
RedHotSavvySleuth: Trust me. But the good news is, we’re both dedicated to solving these abductions, so we’ll work well together. Thanks for listening.
Now if I can just figure out how to keep my feelings out of it…
JasperThePrivateDick: Anytime. But one piece of advice? Don’t write him off yet. Take it from someone who would give everything to spend even another moment with his beloved. Cherish every day. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
CHAPTER TEN
The next morning, Haisley hustled into the office—latte in one hand, briefcase in the other—with a lot on her mind.
Her conversation with Jasper played on repeat in her head. She’d almost called Nash last night to fill him in on everything she had learned, but setting a precedent where they talked after work hours, even about work, seemed…risky. Heaven forbid, he wanted to chat about personal stuff or persuaded her to get together to examine some clue she found in the future. Where he was concerned, she was already weak. Relying on her restraint was a recipe for disaster.
This morning, Nash was apparently eager. When she stepped off the elevator and around the reception desk, he was already leaning against her desk with steaming coffee and a smile. At least she’d arrived before Angela, Curtis, and Blake. Now she prayed Nash would respect the boundaries she’d set yesterday so she wouldn’t have to haul him back to the coffee cubby for another chat.
“What are you doing here so early?” She set down her java and bag, then gave her totally professional attention to Nash. She didn’t at all notice his well-muscled body as he oozed masculinity in a hunter-green T-shirt, distressed jeans, and steel-toed boots.
“Morning. I wanted to tell you about progress I made in the case yesterday and see if you’d discovered anything new I should be aware of. I only need a few minutes of your time.”
His response took her aback. No flirting? No innuendo?
“Sure. What did you learn?”
“About an hour ago, I tracked down the detective assigned to investigate these disappearances. Haskins is very experienced, over twenty-five years with the force.”
“That’s good.” But his face said otherwise. “No?”
“My read? He’s a few months from retirement, and he’d rather slide by and hand this case off to someone else. So he’s doing the bare minimum to avoid negative scrutiny. Last year, he went through a divorce. His kids barely speak to him.” Nash shrugged. “I think he’s burned out and we’re not going to get much help from him.”
That was a blow she hadn’t seen coming. “Damn it. I’d ask if he just doesn’t give a crap about all the women who have been taken and what they’re suffering, but I’m guessing after a quarter century of crimes, he’s numb to that.”
Nash nodded. “His attitude seemed to be that none of these women would survive long, and after what they’ve probably endured, they’ll wish they were dead anyway.”
“That’s a horrible outlook.”
“Yep. I was able to get some information out of him that we can run with…” Then Nash proceeded to tell her pretty much everything Jasper had imparted last night.