Jamey frowned. “What’s your bright idea, then?”
Grayson spread his hands meaningfully.
Reece’s eyes widened.
“Oh no,” said Jamey. “Absolutely not. Over my dead body.”
“There are worse things than dead bodies, Detective,” Grayson said. “Worse things than Dead Men, even.”
Their eyes locked over Reece’s head, and he had the uncomfortable sensation they were having a second, unspoken conversation that he didn’t understand.
“Do you think I’d consider taking an empath with me if I thought I had a single other option I could count on?” said Grayson. “It’s temporary, until I have a better solution, but Seattle can’t wait while I’m working on that.”
Jamey set her jaw. “And why would Reece ever agree?”
“Because if he goes with you, he’ll be stressed all day about your job and the people he’s scaring. He goes with me, he only has to worry about his own safety, and he’s an empath so he probably doesn’t even know how. You know which one he’ll pick.”
Jesus. Apparently Grayson called himself aspecialistfor a reason. Reece had been naked with people who hadn’t seen him that clearly.
“You want to protect your brother. That’s admirable,” Grayson said to Jamey. “I’m sorry your best option is the Dead Man.”
There was nothing snide or smug in Grayson’s tone. If anything, his apology seemed sincere.
Jamey narrowed her eyes. “Fine.” She stepped closer to Grayson. “I’m not going to make a threat in front of Reece,” she said. “Just remember that he’s soft, but I’m not. And I’m not scared of you.”
Grayson seemed to consider that. Consider her. Then he simply nodded once. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell either of you how confidential the nature of our suspect is.”
“You’re right, you don’t,” said Jamey.
“I’ll make sure they’re expecting you at Dr. Owens’ home, Detective,” Grayson said. “Be careful who you talk to. Not everyone on the team knows the truth.”
“Like I’m going to talk toanybodyfrom Stone Solutions,” she said.
Reece tensed. He glanced up at Grayson. “Are you and I also—”
“You saw more of a homicide scene than you should’ve already,” said Grayson. “I’m not about to take you to another one so you canwander offagain. What wearetaking is your car.”
Reece tried to pretend Grayson’s brusque reassurance hadn’t made his shoulders relax. “Mycar?”
“Mine’s getting detail work on the passenger door.”
Reece wrinkled his nose. “What, the Southern gentleman doesn’t like mud splashes?”
“Something like that,” Grayson said.
As he was following Grayson out the door, Jamey caught Reece by the wrist. He could tell what she was thinking from the set of her mouth.
“I know,” he said. The Dead Man could never learn Reece could hear lies. “I’ll be careful.”
He tried not to wince as the words soured in his ears. He hadn’t realized that would be a lie.
Cedrick Stone was callinghim?
“Mr. Stone, sir,” Nolan said, trying not to sound surprised. “We’ve been trying to reach you all morning. I called Stone Solutions several times myself and heard you weren’t available.”
“Yes, my lawyer informed me Detective St. James was being quite persuasive. Despite her counsel, I find myself disinclined to leave my current location.”
Nolan tried to think of how to politely saythere’s talk of your arrest. “Measures like subpoenas and warrants have been floated.”
