Pulse Points

“I may be frightened, Detective,” Kasey responded in a frigid voice, “but I do want to be involved, only I don’t have anything else to contribute.”

Gallain rubbed his chin. “So you’ve said.” With those succinct words, he stood and opened the door to leave.

Tanner stood on the other side.

Kasey’s eyes widened as they met his for a millisecond. But it was enough to cause her heart to skip a beat or two, which added to her irritation.

“Hart,” Detective Gallain said in a clipped tone, passing him by.

Kasey watched as Tanner nodded, then responded, “Detective.”

Neither said anything until Gallain had left. Then to cover her own nervousness at his unexpected appearance, Kasey asked, “Have you two met?”

“That we have, and you can bet I won’t get his vote.”

“If that little exchange is anything to judge by, I wouldn’t think so.”

“Ah, he’s pissed because I went over his head concerning an incident with one of his friends. He over-stepped his bounds, and I reported him.”

When he didn’t offer more, she didn’t ask, disconcerted that he had just showed up unannounced.

“Why didn’t you return my call?” he asked in his low, rusty-sounding voice.

She maintained as much composure as she could. “I haven’t had time. I’ve been busy.”

“Is Gallain giving you a hard time?”

“He still thinks I’m the key to solving Shirley’s murder, if that’s what you mean.”

“Don’t let him get to you. He can be a royal pain in the ass.”

“I can hold my own.”

His eyes perused her, and he gave her a lopsided grin. “I’m sure you can.”

She turned away, feeling her heart do funny things again.

“Mind if I sit down?”

“Huh, sorry, you’ll have to forgive my manners, or rather the lack of them.”

He whipped around, his eyes dark and probing. “You’re doing it again.”

“What?”

“Treating me like a stranger with an ulterior motive in hiring you.”

His arrogant assumption infuriated her. “I don’t think you want to go there, Tanner. I know I don’t.”

His face lost its color under the lash of her tongue. “I thought we could be friends.”

“Friends?” Her laughter bordered on hysteria. “I don’t think so.”

“So, do you have anything to show me?”

The sudden change of subject caught her off guard, slowing her response. “I’ve been working.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Actually, it’s a no.”

He threw up his hands and smiled, but it disappeared just as quickly and his gaze smoldered into her.