We might’ve exchanged a few words, but it was like she was truly seeing me for the first time. Her eyes landed on the badge clipped at my hip. I thought that would be reassuring and that she would feel safe.
I was wrong.
“You called the damn cops on me?” she hissed. “What? Did you decide you couldn’t handle me, so you took the coward’s way out? I’d heard you were a heartless asshole, but this is low.”
“Daisy—” he tried.
“It’s your loss.” She shook off the apron, letting it fall to the ground with a heavy thud. Unconcerned, she put her hands on her hips, standing tall and proud.
I didn’t blame her for the exhibitionist attitude. I wasn’t exactly short at five-five, but she had a good few inches on me thanks to her long legs. If I had them and her lean body, I wouldn’t ever put on clothes.
“Let’s take a deep breath and sort this out,” I said, glancing at Matthews for backup.
It was a lost cause. His attention was locked on the woman so intently, it was a wonder his eyes hadn’t bugged out of his head. Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if steam came out of his ears while his tongue unfurled—completing the cartoon trifecta.
I expected the same distracted reaction from Walker, but when I looked his way, his focus was on me.
“Matthews,” I snapped. When he slowly dragged his gaze away from the stunner, I jerked my head. “Take Mr. Walker to the break room.”
My temporary partner opened his mouth like he was going to suggest we switch places. He smartly thought better of it and started down the hall.
Without Mr. Walker.
There’s green, and there’s Chicago-River-on-Saint-Patrick’s-Day green.
And then there’s Matthews, apparently.
No wonder Cap put me on babysitting duty.
I wanted to close my eyes as I searched for patience, but I was actually good at my job. Distractions were how shit went sideways.
Or worse.
I was about to order Mr. Walker away, but he went without prompting.
Once he was out of the doorway, the woman’s bravado crumbled. She muttered to herself as she snatched the clothes I offered. Her legs were as wobbly as a baby deer’s, and her hands shook as she redressed.
I gave her a minute before saying, “I need to ask you some questions.”
“Can’t we forget this ever happened?”
“Sorry, no.” I gestured to the lush couch against the far wall. “But we can take this slow.”
She plopped down with a sigh. “That’s worse. I just want to get this over with.”
Carefully sitting on the coffee table in front of her, I pulled out my notebook and pen. “Let’s start with your name.”
“Daisy Brak,” she muttered before spelling it.
“Date of birth?”
“Too old to be this stupid.” She cringed before giving me her birth date, phone number, and address.
Once I had those details, I prompted, “Tell me what happened tonight.”
“I was working out front when I got a text.”
“Wait, you work here?”
