The Gray Detective by Stephen Burdick

Author:Stephen Burdick [Burdick, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Down & Out Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Victoria was unable to disguise the look of surprise on her face. She tentatively walked into Joe’s condo, glancing at the detectives before speaking to him.

“I wanted to talk to you about tonight,” she said.

“Excuse us, ma’am, but we have to run,” David said. “I’ll call you later, Joe.”

“Never a dull moment,” Carly said, and smiled at Victoria.

“Please don’t leave on my account. I invited Joseph to supper. We can talk when it’s convenient.”

“We just got a call,” David said.

Victoria stepped aside and the detectives disappeared into the hallway.

“Now what is so important that you came all the way up here and chased off my friends?” Joe asked. He tried not to grin.

“Joseph, I am so embarrassed. I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I hope it wasn’t police business.” Her blue eyes brimmed with sincerity. “I haven’t seen you in a couple of days—alone, I mean. And I…” She reached forward, pulled him into an embrace, and kissed him.

Not expecting the passionate overture, Joe wavered between astonishment and appreciation. His body was starting to warm when she eased him back.

“But if you’d answered your damn phone then I wouldn’t have made a fool of myself.”

She must have called while I was in the shower, he thought. “I do have a bad habit of—”

His explanation was cut short as Victoria pulled him close and kissed him again—hard. The warming trend intensified.

“Now I want you to be on your best behavior tonight,” she whispered, “and in a few days when Cecily goes home, I’ll show you how appreciative I am.”

Joe felt his living room getting warmer. “Victoria, you don’t have to―”

She kissed him again. “Don’t talk, Joseph. Imagine.”

Caressing his cheek, she eased him away, and left him stranded in fantasy.

Joe took a deep breath and released a long, slow sigh. I haven’t felt this good since Foster and I solved that double homicide in ’99. I should call ole Bill and see how he’s doing.

He walked to his sofa, sat down, and propped up both feet on the coffee table. Wiggling his injured toes, he noticed they were no longer sore. Magic, he thought. Amazing what a little TLC can do. He laid back and closed his eyes, feeling Victoria’s tender hand on his face. A lingering trace of her perfume filled his nostrils. I may have to open the windows and let some cool air in.

He chuckled when he realized the windows were already open. The moment of ecstasy was shattered by his cell phone.

“I knew it was too good to last,” he mumbled.

“Joe, it’s Carly. Is Victoria still there?”

“She left a couple of minutes ago. Why?”

“The white car is gone. David told me that you saw Cecily driving it.”

“Maybe she forgot something and went back to the grocery store.”

“Would you call Victoria and find out?”

A frosty shard of anxiety ripped Joe’s insides. “I’ll need a minute to come up with a good excuse. I don’t want her to think I’m―”

“Right! I got it! I’m sorry to drop this on you, but if I call her then she’ll know that we’re looking for her daughter.

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