Corpse Whisperer

Chapter 9: Pregnant?

Zach's friend faltered in his steps. “Yours?"

Not unless my old partner slept with her again.

“She says so."

Ed nodded. “You believe her?"

“I have no reason not to."

“How about that she slept with your partner."

Ed had never forgiven Dolores for that. Zach had, maybe. He shrugged. “Don't know what I'm going to do."

“Don't get hooked into her web again."

“No, I don't think I will."

***

A visitor in uniform appeared at Zach's desk as soon as he took a bite of his protein bar. He hated the taste of it, but they got him through the day. His gaze traveled from the dark blue pants to the belt holding trauma shears, latex gloves and a stethoscope.

Grace looked ready to spit nails at him. How did she find him?

He dropped the bar on his desk, wiping his fingers on his pants. “You ready to talk?" He motioned for her to sit. e He

She shook her head. “No, and I don't appreciate prowlers spying on me in the middle of the night. At least have the balls to identify yourself."

What was she talking about? “Miss Harmony, trust me. If I were spying on you, I'd have walked through the front door or you wouldn't have known I was there."

“Don't snow me. I've dealt with you law enforcement types before. You were on the driveway last night."

“I was not. I was deep in sleep after I left Lors' house."

“And what time did you leave? Abruptly at midnight?

“Did you see someone in your driveway at midnight?" he asked, shifting a pad of paper to the center of his desk. “Was that the exact time?"

eWhat

She looked at him as if he'd just walked out of a space ship. “You know what time you were there."

“Please sit and listen carefully to what I have to say. I was not on Dolores' driveway at midnight. I was having a very lewd dream, probably right around that time if you must know. So I'll take notes and you should file a police report."

She plopped herself down in the chair, her radio hitting the side of his desk. “It wasn't you?"

He liked that she didn't blush at his comments. Since working mostly with men she probably heard s****l comments all of the time. “No. What time exactly?"

She ran a hand over her face, the momentum out of her anger. Her radio squawked and she turned down the volume. “My clock said 12:15."

“What did you see?"

He scribbled the time at the top of his page. Who would be scoping out Dolores' house so late at night? He'd check with the local PD to see if there were any burglaries in the area.

“A man was standing on the driveway," Grace said. Her gaze looked over his shoulder as if she were reliving the incident. “I assumed it was you."

“Where?"

“First at the end then he moved down the driveway. He seemed to be looking up at my apartment. I backed away."

“Did you feel threatened?"

“I was naked. I put on a robe and went outside."

He resisted the urge to throttle her. “You went outside when you thought you saw a strange man?"

“I thought it was you. As strange as you may be, I don't see you as a threat."

He glanced up at her. The thought of her naked clouded his mind for a moment. Dolores is carrying my baby, he said to himself. “You don't see me as a threat?"

She swallowed visibly, her hands holding onto each other. One booted foot tapped on the floor. “No."

Her gaze didn't waiver, but he didn't believe her. Her body language said the opposite of her words. She sat with both feet on the ground, ready to take flight. He could smell her fear. Why did he make her afraid?

“Really."

“At least not a physical one."

He put down his pen. “Am I a threat in some other way?"

This could be good.

“No," she said, too quickly.

He wasn't going to crack this tough nut. How did she get that haunted look in those beautiful eyes? “What'd the guy look like?"

“You, I guess. Couldn't see well. The moon was out, but the house cast a shadow and he stayed in it."

“How close did you get?"

“Not very since he was gone by the time I went out. I heard a car start down the block."

“You didn't think to call the police?"

“I thought it was you. If I called the police, who would have believed me?"

“I see you have some trust issues with cops."

She snorted. “You could say that." With a deep sigh, she stood. “I have to get back to work."

“You're a medic?"

“Yes."

She didn't elaborate, but stared at him for a moment as if deciding to say something.

“I think Dolores is in danger."

His radar went up. “Why? Did this guy do anything last night?"

“No, I just think she is."

Great. He needed another psychic like a fish needed swimming lessons. “A feeling?"

She shrugged. “If you want to call it that."

“Does your feeling have a name?" he asked, arms crossed over his chest.

“Nope."

“Any ideas?"

She stood, her hand on her radio. “You."

***

Grace's idea that Dolores was in danger propelled Zach to her house. Even though his ex-wife wasn't home.

He had to talk to Grace. If he had to shake the details out of her he would.

She answered the door in running shorts and a tank top. His gaze went down like an elevator then back to the top floor. Her breasts didn't spill over the front of her shirt like Dolores'. Instead they remained discreetly behind her baggy top, daring him to imagine them.

And he spent a moment doing just that. How would they feel in his hands, on his chest, in his mouth? His friend in his pants awakened.

Grace frowned at him. He shook himself from his daydreaming.

“We need to talk," he said, brushing past her into her apartment. This was business. No ogling suspects.

The smell of pizza permeated the small room and Zach's stomach rumbled. The protein bar had only held him part of the day.

“Come in, please. Don't be bashful."

She slammed the door. When she turned around her eyes held fire. “Who the hell are you to come barging in here?" The words escaped from between clenched teeth.

He pulled himself to his full height. He had no ulterior motives here. “I'm an ex-cop and you've informed me of a threat. One to someone close to me. I'm following up."

A frown creased her forehead. She shook her head. “Forget I said anything."

He leaned closer to her. “Why? You changed your mind about hurting Lors?"

Her mouth dropped open. “I'm no threat to anyone."

He strode back over to her, standing within her personal space. She didn't flinch. She was a threat. To him with her sea-green eyes and innocent face. Despite her hard attitude she could easily be a damsel in distress. The worst kind. The kind that didn't know they needed to be saved until too late.

And he'd be just the chump to jump in be a knight. He gritted his teeth. Not this time.

“Why do you think there's a threat to Dolores?"

Her shoulders rose as she drew in a deep breath. “I spoke out of turn."

The words came out as a whisper. They threatened to go away on the wind as if they'd never existed.

Why did she back down? “So there isn't a threat? Then the guy on the driveway is after you?"

Relief went by him like a tumbleweed on a windy day.

“Why would you think that?"