“You still look lucky to me. If you’re not too tired, you and I could go somewhere and… talk.”
“Thanks, Vicky,” he said. “But I’m afraid I’ve a prior engagement. I’m sure we’ll run into each other again soon.”
“I’ll make sure of it,” she said. Then she swayed out of the room in her stiletto heels. Corky shook his head and sighed.
“What’s the problem?” Erin teased. “She seems like just your type.”
Corky turned to her with apparent surprise. “You think so? I prefer to put in a bit of effort. Besides,” he added in an undertone, “the woman’s a man-eater. She’s had me in her claws once. I had bruises after, and you don’t want to know where.”
Erin couldn’t think of anything to say to that.
“Thank you, Maggie,” Carlyle said to the dealer. “You’ve done a grand job, as always.”
“You’re welcome,” she replied. Those were practically the only words she’d said the whole evening. She disappeared into a brown wool overcoat and took up position a little behind Evan. The O’Malley chieftain worked his way around the table to Erin. He extended his hand. It was clean and well-manicured, with a Notre Dame class ring on the fourth finger.
“It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Miss O’Reilly,” he said. “I look forward to our further acquaintance.”
“Thanks,” she said, shaking hands. His grip was firm. Their eyes locked for a moment. Erin had to steel herself not to look away. The icy force of the man’s will hit her almost like a physical blow. This was the first time she’d been up close to the head of a major organized-crime family. This was no two-bit hoodlum.
“It’s unusual to have a peace officer at one of these gatherings,” he said. “I trust you’ve found your experience educational and rewarding.”
“Educational,” she agreed. “Not so rewarding. Your guys got all my cash.”
Evan smiled and for an instant he looked almost human. “I wouldn’t worry,” he said. “I’m sure you’ll come out ahead in the end, if you look to your interests. Good night, ma’am.” He turned and left. Mickey went out just ahead of him, acting the part of a bodyguard. Finnegan and Maggie followed.
“I’ll be on my way,” Corky said. “I think I’ll just stop in the pub and get one for the road.”
“Caitlin gets off duty at midnight,” Carlyle said.
“Is that so?” Corky pretended to be surprised. “I’ll take that into consideration. I hope your luck improves, Erin.” He winked at her and headed for the bar. Then it was just Carlyle and Erin in the room.
“Well, darling,” he said. “What did you think of the lads?”
She took a long, deep breath and let it out, trying to relieve some of the tension knotting her shoulders.
“I don’t know how you hang out with these guys,” she said. “Jesus, I thought Mickey and Corky were gonna kill each other.”
Carlyle nodded. “I’ll have a word with Corks,” he said. “He shouldn’t have let himself be baited so easily. I fear he was trying to impress you.”
“I don’t need a white knight,” she retorted.
“I know that, and so does he. It’s a reflex for him. He’s not even trying to get you in bed.”
“Maybe not anymore,” she said.
He chuckled. “Aye.”
“Mickey’s a real asshole.”
Carlyle nodded again. “I can see why they made you a detective,” he deadpanned.
Erin had to smile. “I can’t believe he’d act like that in front of his boss, though.”
“Really? I thought it was obvious.”
“Obvious, huh? Enlighten me.”
“He was doing exactly what Evan wanted him to,” Carlyle said. “You’re a K-9 officer, Erin. Surely you know an attack dog when you see one.”
“Evan was using him to test me,” she said. “Without committing himself.”
“He was testing both of us,” Carlyle said. “Evan likes to understand the weaknesses of the people around him. He was probing for your buttons, to see which ones he could push.”
“Did Corky screw up the test?” she asked.
“Perhaps.”
“Did I pass?”
“We’ll know in a day or two.”
“How will we know?”
“If no one tries to kill you, you’ve passed.”
Erin looked sharply at him, looking for a hint he might be joking. He didn’t seem to be.
“Jesus,” she said again. “How do you live like this?”
“The same way everyone does,” he said. “You’d be surprised what a lad can get used to. In a way, it’s no different than growing up in Belfast during the Troubles. You never knew when some lad would take a shot at you, or perhaps throw a petrol bomb. It was good practice for the Life.”
“I guess I should go home,” she said. “And try to get some sleep. That’s assuming no Irish hitmen are waiting for me.”
“I’d not worry about it,” he said. “I think Evan liked you.”
“How can you tell?”
“I work with gamblers. Everyone has tells, even the best. And I’ve known Evan for years. He doesn’t trust you, of course. I’m not certain Evan O’Malley trusts anyone on God’s green Earth. But he invited you in the first place, and that’s promising. Small steps, darling.”
“This whole thing would be a lot easier if you’d just taken me home to meet your parents instead,” she said.
“You’re only saying that because you’ve not met my mum,” Carlyle said.
“She’s worse than a mob boss?”
He smiled. “Perhaps you’ll have the chance to judge, one of these days.”
Chapter 7
“You look like shit,” Vic said.
“I had a late night,” Erin replied. “What’s your excuse?”
“You kidding? This is me on a good day.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“That I look good?”
“No. That you’ve ever had a good day.”
He considered that for a moment. “You’ve got a point. So, what were you doing when you should’ve been getting your beauty sleep?”
“Hanging out with thugs and murderers.”
Vic smiled. “Hey, you get to do that at work. Why waste your down time on it?”
“Because the sex is good.”
He laughed. “Another good point. Except now you’re expecting me to believe you’re getting any action
