LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

crossing her face. “I can’t go. I’m due at the Children’s Hospital for story time. I have to be there.”

      “I’m sure they can find someone else to read Green Eggs and Ham this morning.”

      Unyielding, she stood with her hands braced on her hips. “No. There isn’t anyone else. The nurses are too busy. The children look forward to my being there. It’s important to them and to me.”

      Her sudden display of backbone interested him. Was it disappointing the kids that had her all charged up, or the fear of going to the station?

      Tony stepped forward. “Why don’t I accompany Miss Morgan to the hospital, then bring her by the station when she’s done?” He offered one of his smooth Italian smiles. “That way, Riley, you can go see the captain and she can still read to the kiddies.” He gestured wide with his hands.

      Always the diplomat, Riley thought, but this time it wasn’t going to fly. “I’ll take her to the hospital,” he insisted. “We’ll come in to the station right after.”

      Tony’s mouth twisted with disapproval.

      “I’ll get my purse,” Devra said.

      Riley watched her hurry down the hall. Once she rounded the corner, he lowered his voice. “Look, Tony. You and I both know what the captain is going to say the moment I walk through the door.”

      “Yeah, what I already told you this morning. You shouldn’t be working this case. You’re too involved to be objective.”

      “Exactly. That’s why I’m going to accompany Miss Morgan to the hospital. She knows something and she’s this close to breaking.” He pushed his thumb and forefinger close together. “I won’t let her out of my sight. After she’s done, I’ll bring her in to give her statement.”

      “And what am I supposed to tell the captain?”

      “You’ll think of something. I can’t let this slippery little fish slither off the line. Not after I so expertly baited the hook. She knows something, Tony, and I mean to get it out of her.”

      AS RILEY parked the car, Miss Morgan leapt out and all but ran to the front of the building. He followed her into the hospital, easily keeping pace. She could run, but she couldn’t hide the truth from him for very long. Discovering secrets and solving mysteries were his forte and he wasn’t about to let this case be any different. He entered the sliding glass doors and followed her into the elevator.

      She pressed the button for the fifth floor, then kept her gaze glued to the flashing lights as they rose. “How long have you been coming here?” he asked, trying to get her to open up. The more she talked, the more that deep sultry voice of hers gave away.

      “Three years,” she answered without taking her eyes off the illuminated panel.

      “Impressive.”

      She didn’t respond.

      “Which floor is the cafeteria on?”

      She turned, irritation pursing her lips.

      “You know. Coffee?”

      “I don’t know. I’ve never been.”

      “Don’t eat or drink?”

      She turned back to the doors, ignoring him. He smiled at the back of her head. He was getting to her, making her mad. That’s when she’d give away the game. He’d give her a little line, let her think she was slipping away, then jerk back and reel her in.

      The doors opened.

      Placing a hand on her rigid elbow, he walked her to the door of the Child Life Center where a group of kids—some in pajamas, some in wheelchairs, some sitting on the floor—was expectantly awaiting her arrival. He tightened his grip before she could enter the ward. “Can I trust you alone for a minute? I need a cup of joe.”

      Her gaze shifted slightly, and he knew she was considering bolting. But she nodded, her eyes locked on his, a beseeching vulnerability shining in their dark blue depths. The look unsettled him. She’d looked that way earlier, like a lost and scared kitten stuck high in a tree. And, for a minute, he wanted to rescue her, to cuddle her.

      To protect her.

      But he wasn’t in the protection business. No matter how tempting the idea sounded, no matter how tempting she was playing Little Miss Scared and Innocent, he would bet his lunch money she was anything but.

      She pulled free from his grasp and entered the room, smiling briefly at one of the nurses. It was a nice smile that brightened her whole face. He watched as she transformed once again into a different person—warm and friendly, with sincere hugs and bright smiles. No little lost kitty here.

      He was about to leave when a nurse with bouncy brown curls and a white cotton shirt stretched tight across her breasts walked into the hall, shutting the door behind her. “Are you waiting for Devra?” she asked.

      He nodded, and smiled as he read the name tag pinned to her blouse. “I sure am, Betty.”

      She smiled back, deepening her dimples to craters. “She’s wonderful with the kids. They really look forward to her visits.”

      He leaned against the wall. “How long has she been coming?”

      “Every Saturday for years now. She’s never missed a day.” She glanced over her shoulder at Devra through the glass. “The kids are very important to her, and vice versa. We’re lucky to have her.”

      “She’s a very special person,” he drawled. “But then I think anyone who devotes their life to helping people is special,” he added, cranking his Irish charm up a notch.

      “Aren’t you sweet to say so,” she cooed and flapped her hand at his shoulder.

      “And Devra,” he prompted. “She’s just so busy with…”

      “Oh, yes. Her writing, I know what you mean. And she must be a very good writer, too.”

      “Really? Have you read…”

      Betty’s mouth puckered into a pretty pout. “No, she promised to bring something in, but it must have slipped her mind. And I didn’t find anything under her name, so I assume she uses a pseudonym. I keep forgetting to ask her what it is, though.” She brightened. “Do you know what it is?”

      “No.” He paused. “I just thought since you said how good she is…”

      “Oh, well she must be because she entrances the kids so. They retell her stories to one another at night before they go to sleep, changing the endings and the characters, acting them out, just as Devra has encouraged them to do. And sometimes, for these kids, that kind of distraction is just what they need.”

      “She sounds like a saint,” he said dryly.

      The nurse laughed. “Saint Devra. Has a nice ring to it.”

      Too bad he was having so much trouble hearing it. “She must have a lot of admirers. Other than the kids,” he prompted.

      “Well, they certainly do love her. It’s funny you mention it, though. In all the time she’s been coming, I’ve never seen her with anyone. And here she’s had two gentlemen stop by in the past week.”

      “Two?”

      “Oh, yeah. Though, maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.” A worried look crossed her face as she once again glanced over her shoulder at Devra through the glass.

      “It’s okay,” he assured her. “Miss Morgan and I are just friends.” He smiled and dug his hands deep into his pockets, giving her one of those I’m-available-if-you-are looks.

      The nurse tilted her head coquettishly. “Well, then, I suppose it’s all right if I let the cat out of the bag.”

      He gave her a wink of encouragement.

      “Just last Saturday,

Скачать книгу