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“It’s what I do,” he said patiently. “I know things about people. How they talk, how they walk, what hand they write or shoot with. I’m an observer of people. Call it a skill set.”
Her glare could have cut glass, and she straightened her shoulders and started to walk away, but she changed her mind and came back as a police officer headed in her direction.
“Not a fan of the police?” he asked. “You’re going to have to come up with something. There’s going to be questions.”
“Just leave me alone,” she said, unable to hide the panic in her voice. “I’ve got to get out of here. Everything I owned was in that apartment, and now it’s gone. I have nothing.”
“Which is just part of the reason you’re going to need my help, sugar.”
“I don’t want or need your help,” she said. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I’ve been doing it a long time.”
“Obviously,” he said. “You did a bang-up job at hiding from whoever is trying to kill you. You move to a new place, but you don’t know how to hide. All you’re doing is leading them on a chase. Why don’t you tell me about your uncle?”
Her body jerked with surprise at his question. “Wha—what are you talking about? I don’t have an uncle. I don’t have any family.”
“Lord, you’re a bad liar. That’s another one of my skill sets. I can spot a lie a mile away. Though you’re so bad at it I suggest never going down that path. So let’s try again. When you first saw me come into your room you said very clearly that your uncle was trying to kill you. Moments of life and death are the times we’re most honest with ourselves and other people. So one more time…why don’t you tell me about your uncle. The cop that’s headed your way is going to want some answers, and I could make things pretty difficult for you. He’s going to want to know who did this.”
Anger brought color into her cheeks and her eyes darkened. “The more people involved the worse this will get. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt. It’s not law enforcement’s problem,” she said, licking her lips nervously. “Or yours.” She moved closer to his side when the cop approached. “I just want to get away from here.”
Shane wanted to smile. He guessed he was the lesser of two evils. He’d already saved her life once, and she couldn’t trust anyone else.
“That’s an unusual request for New Orleans,” he said. “Most people never want to leave the Crescent City. It’s the birthplace of jazz. The Big Easy. The City that Care Forgot.”
“What are you? A travel agent?” she asked, rolling her eyes.
“Just trying to get you to stop shaking long enough to talk to this nice officer,” he said. “Looks like I’ll have to try another tactic.” He put his arm around her and pulled her into his heat. Her body shivered uncontrollably from the adrenaline overload and the cold night air.
“And to think I just thought you were a rude and surly neighbor,” she said.
“I am,” he assured her. “But it’s too hard to take the New Orleans out of the man, and we’re generally well-mannered and polite here. Southern hospitality at its finest.”
Shane didn’t recognize the cop who approached. His business and expertise put him in a position to know most of the top law enforcement officials in the city. If he didn’t know them then they sure as hell knew him by reputation.
The cop nodded at both of them as he approached. “My name is Officer Broussard and I need to ask you a few questions about the incident tonight.” His uniform was pressed and starched severely so raindrops slid off the fabric in big fat drops. The stiffness could be nothing but uncomfortable against his considerable bulk. The night air was cool, and the stinging rain made it even colder. Shane was only wearing his sweatpants and running shoes and Rachel the thin cotton boxers and T-shirt she’d slept in. She didn’t even have shoes.
Shane pulled her even closer and she burrowed into his warmth. It had been a long time since he’d had that kind of human connection, and he was surprised the rain didn’t sizzle off his sensitized skin.
Shane made a decision, and he squeezed Rachel’s arm lightly as a signal, hoping she would follow along.
“Officer Broussard,” he said. “It’s been a rough night.” An uncontrollable shiver wracked Rachel’s body, and Shane was pretty sure she wasn’t that good of an actress. At least he hoped she wasn’t. The shiver did the trick though because Broussard’s eyes softened and he looked at her with pity. “All she has left are the clothes she’s wearing. She doesn’t even have shoes. Is there any way we can come into the station tomorrow to answer your questions?”
Officer Broussard looked both of them over and then made his decision. “First thing in the morning,” he agreed. “This was no accident, and the longer we wait the less likely we are to catch whoever did this. You’re very lucky to be alive the way that fire spread.”
“Fortunately, I have kind neighbors,” she said.
He nodded and said, “Be careful,” and headed to his cruiser.
“Listen,” Rachel said, pulling away from him. “I really appreciate your help. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you, but you don’t understand what you’re dealing with. I have to get out of here, and I have to do it alone. They’ll kill you too if you’re with me.”
Shane was glad she was finally starting to give him a little honesty. “I don’t think you know who you’re dealing with, sugar. But this isn’t just about you anymore. Whoever did this could have killed everyone in the building tonight. Me included. I can take care of myself, and I can track down who’s responsible a hell of a lot faster than Officer Friendly over there.”
She was shaking her head and looked ready to run as far away from him and New Orleans as possible. “I can’t ask you to do that,” she pleaded.
“You don’t have to. Besides, this is our very first date. It’ll be a hell of a story to tell our grandkids. I’m not quite ready to let you get away now that I’ve met you and put a name to that stunning face.”
“You’re out of your mind. Leave it to me to move in next door to a complete lunatic.”
Shane didn’t acknowledge her statement. Maybe he was out of his mind. He wasn’t one to act on impulse. Not ever. He’d been trained to think out scenarios for every situation. He didn’t even know what this situation was yet, but it didn’t matter because his priority had become keeping Rachel alive.
