Page 60 of Long Past Deadly

Frank stood, sighing in exasperation at the file now spread on his desk. “Yeah, we’ll check missing persons, old reports, and older crimes and see what we can find. I’ll call you. But keep me in the loop this time, and tell your boss. I don’t want to get accused of poaching on FBI territory.”

“Deal.” Alanna rose and put her hands in her suit pockets. “Thanks, Frank.”

He pointed at Quaid. “And for future reference, don’t bring this shit into my neighborhood.”

“Understood.” Quaid handled the admonishment with grace, but remained noncommittal.

They walked to the elevator. He pushed the down button. “Will this help?”

Alanna rubbed the bridge of her nose, a headache incoming. “Yes. We need more information to find what’s relevant, but I’m overwhelmed at the moment.”

“Then, let’s go home, put it down for the night.”

It was Quaid’s home, but she agreed.

She was leaning heavily on his support and his wealth, but she needed the comfort, she needed the backup, and she needed the safety net of his arms. And she wanted to hold and kiss him again.

There’d been times when pep talking herself into the professional persona was the only way she had to be confident in who she was. To have Quaid stand with her left her banishing all her doubts.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Standing with me.”

“You’d do the same. Have done the same when we believed it was about me.”

But it wasn’t the same thing.

She brought her brains and experience to the table, but this man brought more, and she didn’t understand how she could have mentally reduced him to a playboy.

She didn’t see him that way anymore.

&&&&&&&&&&

Quaid’s home sat beachside of the Pacific Ocean in one of the older moneyed neighborhoods north of downtown San Diego. The houses were large without being ostentatious, and the landscaping was discreet layers of blooms and greens while being private. The two-story coastal contemporary charmed with pale stone, weathered cedar, and smooth lines. Wide windows faced west to the ocean, catching the waves and the sunset, but not curious eyes. A low wall and steel gate enclosed the property with olive trees shading the drive, their twisted trunks older than the house.

His connection to the house with its beach front, big patios, lush gardens, and roomy interior had been instantaneous, and he’d leveraged all he had to secure the property. He’d never been sorry. Especially not tonight with Alanna by his side. Only the second time here, and her presence felt right and promising.

Quaid waved off Braun and slipped out of the SUV, then took Alanna’s hand and helped her out.

“Two nights in a row I’m stumbling into your home like I don’t have one of my own.”

“Yours is a ninety-minute drive away.”

Alanna groaned. “Don’t remind me.” She kept his hand in hers.

Too soon to ask any major relationship questions, he stifled a response. That she was here soothed his tired soul.

“Do you want a reminder to call your boss before dinner?”

“I’m going to do that next if Niles will hold dinner for a minute.”

“I’m sure he’d do anything for you. Me, on the other hand, I’d get scolded.” He reached for the knob, but the door opened and the man in question stood unflappable and silent in a dark gray suit.

“Niles.”

“Sir.”