LITMIR.BIZ

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haven’t seen him for a few months, Jackson. It’s not just the grades—he’s changed. He won’t talk to me at all and when he does, his attitude is surly. And the music he listens to…you wouldn’t believe it.”

      “Do you think he’s doing drugs?”

      “No.” If there was one thing she was sure of, it was this. “We’ve had a lot of discussions about drugs and he’s always talking about the ‘stupid’ kids he knows who do that.”

      “Things can change.”

      “Of course,” she agreed, “but not that. I’m sure.”

      “Have you tried talking to him?”

      “I’ve talked until I’m blue in the face. But he doesn’t talk back.”

      “Then you’re going to have to find another route. You’ve got to get the lines of communication open, Maria. That’s the key.”

      Frustration filled her voice…and her heart. “I know,” she said. “But what I don’t know is how.”

      “Bring him out here. He and I have always seen eye to eye. Maybe he’ll talk a bit to me and that’s all it’d take.”

      The suggestion immediately sounded like a good one, but Maria hesitated. “Are you sure? He’s not exactly fun to be around….”

      “Neither am I right now,” Jackson snorted. “We’ll get along just fine. Bring him out.”

      They talked about the situation a few more minutes and Maria ended up promising Jackson that she and Chris would visit soon. Just before they finished, almost as if by afterthought, she spoke casually. “By the way, I’ve got a new client who seems interesting…or at least I should have a new client. He’s the countersniper for the SWAT team. He didn’t show up for his appointment today.”

      “The countersniper? That should be a fascinating brain to examine. Wait just a minute….” She heard the sound of a paper rustling. “I see him,” Jackson said over the noise. “The team’s photo is in the Log today. Something about a rally they’re holding.”

      Maria walked from behind her desk to a table by the window, cradling the phone between her shoulder and ear. She’d brought the local newspaper, the Destin Log, with her this morning and stuffed it into her briefcase, hoping to scan it at lunch. Lena had already told Maria about the event—and was holding tickets for her at the station. Maria reached into the case and brought out the paper.

      “Page five,” he said.

      She quickly flipped to the proper page. The photo was front and center, and Ryan Lukas’s face immediately jumped out at her. Except for Beck Winters, a blond giant who was the team’s former negotiator, Ryan was the tallest person in the photograph. Dressed in the black uniform of the team, his hair ruffled in the wind, he wore a stony expression.

      Maria realized without warning that Sher’s description had been accurate. Ryan Lukas was a hunk. Dark hair, compelling eyes, a body ready for anything.

      Jackson’s words jarred her. “He does look the part, doesn’t he?”

      “What do you mean?”

      “He’s got a thousand-yard stare, for one thing. But for another…”

      “But for another…what?”

      “Just something about him, that’s all. He looks like trouble.”

      “That’s what he’s been so far. He’s certainly not been too cooperative in session.”

      “How’d he get in therapy?”

      Maria gave him a brief case description, including the death of Ryan’s wife. She and Jackson consulted on so many of her cases they almost had a special language of their own to describe clients.

      “I guess that explains everything,” Jackson said after she finished. His voice changed slightly. “You sound as if you’re worried. Don’t you think you can handle him?”

      Not surprised by his perception, Maria started to answer then stopped. She was more worried about Ryan Lukas than she should have been. She spoke slowly. “I think he’s in a lot of pain but he’s made it clear he doesn’t want my help. I guess I just hate to see anyone suffer like that.”

      “It’s nothing else?”

      “Why do you ask?”

      A slight silence built. Jackson finally broke it. “You aren’t thinking of mounting a rescue attempt, are you?” He chuckled then. “So to speak…”

      It took her a minute to understand. “No, God…Jackson, it’s nothing like that. I’m not attracted to him, in any way.”

      “He’s a handsome man.”

      “He’s a client,” she protested at once. “And that’s all he is. And all he will be, I assure you.”

      Jackson took a second too long to answer and she realized her mistake. She was being too defensive. Jackson might be retired but his clinical radar was still intact. He’d think she was covering something up. He started to come back at her, but she said goodbye and hung up quickly. She didn’t have the time to explain, she told herself later. Her evasiveness had nothing to do with Lieutenant Lukas being so attractive. Nothing at all.

      RYAN SPENT the weekend doing household chores and trying to read the latest David Lindsey novel. By the time Monday rolled around he was actually glad to see it even though it meant another torturous day at the desk. Heading into the station that morning, he thought again about the kid he’d seen at the call-out last week. He hadn’t said anything to Lena and still didn’t intend to, yet something about the incident continued to bug him.

      His mind was focused on a blue backpack and a black baseball cap when he rounded the corner to see Maria Worley in the corridor.

      She was standing next to Lena and she had on a dark-gray suit with some kind of silky blouse beneath the jacket. Ryan knew little about women’s clothing, but the way it flattered her figure meant the outfit had to be expensive. Snuggled against one hip, she held a black leather notebook. As he watched the two women talk, Maria lifted her right hand and absentmindedly tucked a strand of her dark hair behind one ear. The movement was graceful and fluid, full of the kind of femininity he had once appreciated seeing in a woman. Once.

      He wasn’t conscious of it, but he must have made some kind of noise. Both of them looked up. He met Maria’s eyes and ignored Lena. As she recognized him, the doctor’s gaze went from startled to wary.

      “Hello, Lieutenant,” she said in a neutral voice. “How are you this morning?”

      He ignored her question. “What are you doing here? Haven’t you done enough damage already?”

      Lena held up a warning hand. “Ryan, don’t start—”

      Maria cut her off. “It’s all right, Lena. Let him talk.”

      Her support, even as insignificant as it was, made Ryan angrier, although he would have been at a total loss if asked to explain why.

      “Well?” he continued rudely before she could say more. “What are you doing here? Ruining someone else’s career or just bad-mouthing me?”

      “Actually I came by to pick up my tickets for the rally this weekend. I also stopped to tell Lieutenant McKinney that you failed to make your appointment last week.” She looked at him coolly. “Which concerns me greatly.”

      “These sessions are mandatory, Ryan.” Lena spoke sternly. “If you don’t intend to keep them, then we need to talk—”

      “My appointment?” Ignoring Lena, he stared at Maria and drew a complete blank.

      “I gave you a card the day you were in my office. It had the date and time of our next scheduled conference, which happened to be last Thursday but you never showed up.” She

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