“Had you seen them in here before?”
“Not that I recall.” He shrugged. “Usually I’m too busy to notice anybody unless I’m serving them at the bar. Unless they’re like Judy. Everybody knew her.”
“Did anybody hassle the two women last night?”
“Not that I noticed.”
“How about your servers?” Will said. “Were the same ones working last night?”
“Yep,” Jack said. “You want to talk to them?”
Jen and Will showed the pictures to the six young women and two men who worked the floor. The women all remembered Judy and not with affection; the men remembered her as well and swore they never had anything to do with her even though she’d offered them the chance. One thought she’d served Carla once but couldn’t say more than that.
Jen and Will finished their coffee and left the club. As the double doors closed behind them, the sudden quiet made Jen feel as if she’d gone deaf.
“That is one noisy place.” She rubbed her ears. “You don’t realize how noisy till you come out.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t like the meat markets, Detective Dillon.”
“Don’t tell me you do, Agent Anderson.”
“No, I don’t.” His voice was soft. “I find that the most interesting women are to be found where you least expect them.”
He took her arm and guided her across the lot. She could feel the warmth of his hand through the sleeve of her jacket and was surprised at the conflicting urges she felt to both pull away from his touch and lean into it. Before she could decide which urge to follow, they were at the car, and he was opening the passenger door for her.
The last traces of twilight had disappeared while they were inside, and Jen suddenly felt very nervous sitting in the darkened car so close to this man. Daylight had kept him on his good behavior. What was even more important was that it had kept her on hers. If he wasn’t as controlled now that no one could see what was going on in the car, how would she react?
She sighed with relief—or maybe disappointment—when he started the car and pulled out of the lot. It felt as if she’d been granted a reprieve.
“Apparently Ms. Sams led a double life,” Will said. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the people who knew her claim she never went to bars?”
“You’re not wrong. It’s not unusual for single women to hit the bars with girlfriends. The fact that Judy did her trolling alone indicates a problem. Whether it was with alcohol, sex, or both, who knows?”
“The connections are finally starting to show,” Will said. “All three victims patronized the same health club at one time or another, and at least two visited the same nightclub.”
They drove the rest of the way in silence. As he shut off the engine in the parking lot of the municipal building, Will turned to her.
“After we report in, how about that sandwich and beer?”
“I don’t know.” She hesitated. “I should get home to Brandon.”
“How long will your neighbor keep him?”
“She doesn’t exactly ‘keep’ him. She’s just across the hall, and they kind of go back and forth between the two apartments.” She smiled, thinking of Ada. “Now that both of them have gotten older, I think Brandon sits Ada as much as she sits him. They’ve even watched out for each other all night when I’ve been called out.”
“That’s good to know.”
Jen’s face grew warm as she realized it had sounded as if she were letting him know she could stay out and play all night.
“I really think I should get home.”
“I’d appreciate it if you’d show me a good place to eat,” Will said. “I mean, considering as how I’m new to the area.”
“I’m sure Agent Hawkins could show you around.”
“Don’s got to get home to his wife and kids—if he hasn’t already.”
He was leaning against the driver’s door, his blue eyes amused, his lips curled at the corners. She felt her body responding to him. Part of her wanted to run as fast as she could from the car, while the rest of her wanted to throw herself on him. If I had any sense, she told herself, I’d stick to my guns and head for home.
“I guess we could go to Tango’s,” she said, wondering when the last time was that she had displayed good sense. “It’s kind of a department hangout. Good sandwiches and cold beer.”
At least at Tango’s she’d be on her turf, with lots of people around who knew her. Not wanting everyone to get the wrong—or would that be “right” idea—should make it easier for her to resist the charm he was sure to turn on her.
“It sounds great.” Will opened his door before looking at her, smiling. “Especially considering the company.”
Oh, Lord, Jen thought, as she opened her own door. What have I gotten myself into?
CHAPTER 14
Jen insisted they take separate cars to Tango’s. She pulled into the lot a few seconds ahead of Will, parked, and hurried to the door. Once there, she stopped and waited for him to cross the lot, and when he was a few feet away from her, she stepped inside. The place was crowded, but a booth came empty within seconds after they walked in the door. Jen hurried to the booth and sat down on the outer edge of the seat facing the door. From the amused look on his face, Will recognized her choice of position on the bench seat as the blocking maneuver it was and took the seat opposite her. They ordered two draft beers, and when the waitress returned with the drinks, Jen ordered a Reuben and Will decided on a steak sandwich.
Tango’s was a comfortable place with peanut shells on the floor, cold beer, and good sandwiches. It was a favorite hangout of the lot of the officers,
