Count to Ten

Wright's eyes hardened. "I didn't do anything wrong."

"Illegal, no. Immoral, plenty. She was your neighbor and you profited from her death. You stood there with tears in your eyes. Were those for the camera, too?"

"I told you what you wanted to know. Besides, it was my son that took the video. Duane. He's in high school. It was… homework."

Mitchell's mouth twisted. "You can call it what you like while you're handing it over."

Wright's mouth dropped open. "You can't do that. It's private property."

"It's evidence. There are a few ways to do this. You can wait here while I call in for a warrant. Or"-she held up a finger when Wright would have protested-"you can go to your office and then I can show up with a warrant in an hour or two once everyone is at their desk. I've got to go to a press conference this morning, so I'll still be in full uniform, escorting you to the door. Or, you can give me the video now and go on with your day."

Wright's jaw tightened. "Are you threatening me, Detective?"

Reed vividly remembered the scene with Wheaton the night before. This was the same song, second verse. And the more he'd thought about Wheaton, the more he realized Mia had been right. He had usurped her authority. It wasn't the way partners behaved.

"Yeah, she is. Which is it going to be, Mr. Wright? Door number one, two, or three? And I wouldn't think of trying to destroy the videos because then O think she'd make sure she hauled you downtown and the charge would have more teeth. Like obstruction."

Mia nodded. "Sounds good, Lieutenant. Obstruction it would be."

"Wait here." He slammed the door in their faces.

Mia looked up, her eyes once again full of respect. "Well, done, Monty Hall."

The door opened and she turned her attention back to Wright who slapped a videocassette into Reed's hand, barely waiting for Mitchell to write him out a receipt before slamming the door so hard the house shook.

"Thank you for doing your civic duty with such a cheerful spirit," she murmured. "Let's get these back to the office and see if we can figure out who our mystery lady is."

Reed followed her back to his SUV. She frowned at him. "Are you okay, Solliday?"

Reed nodded, grateful he'd regained some of the moisture in his mouth. Because the moment she'd looked up, so serious, his mouth had gone completely, utterly, bone dry. He clenched his jaw as they headed back to the city. This was damn inconvenient and a totally bad idea. She was a totally bad idea. But the images that had taunted him during the night returned and with them a yearning that left him breathless.

It was Lauren's fault, he decided. She'd put the idea in his mind, that he needed someone. That he'd be alone. Of how long it had been since he'd had a relationship. It was just bad luck that fate had paired him with a woman detective at the same time. He damned Lauren and damned fate. And wondered how Mia felt about strings.

"Solliday, your face is… pasty. If you need to throw up, let me drive."

Grimly he laughed. Mia Mitchell did have a way of articulating the obvious. "I'm fine. Besides, your feet won't reach the pedals."

She made a sarcastic face. "Smart ass. Just drive, Solliday."

Wednesday, November 29, 10:10 a.m.

Mia sca

"Wheaton looks like she wants to do you some serious harm," she murmured.

"She said some things after you left. I suggested she might… reconsider."

Something in her warmed. "You took up for me?"

His mouth curved inside his goatee. "Something like that."

"Okay. Thanks, I guess."

"You're welcome."

Mia rocked slightly on her sore feet as she studied faces. "See anybody you know?"

"No known firebugs, if that's what you mean. But check out the back. Ten o'clock."

Mia had to bite back a scowl. "One blondbitch with a braid," she muttered. "I'm still pissed that she printed Pe

"But she did give you DuPree. You said she was on your Christmas list forever."

"I lied," she muttered and heard his deep chuckle. The warmth inside her spread. Soothed, even though she wanted no part of it.

Spi

A Trib reporter stood. "Can you confirm the first victim was the child of a cop?"

"This is true. The deceased is Caitlin Burnette, a nineteen-year-old college student. We ask that you respect her family in this time of mourning. Next?"

Holly Wheaton rose gracefully and Mia gritted her teeth. "The second victim was a social worker. It's hard not to make a co

"At this time, the motive behind these homicides is not known. Next?"

"Smooth," Solliday murmured.

"That's why he wears the stripes." Mia kept her eyes trained on the crowd as the reporters asked the same questions a dozen different ways. Spi

She went completely still. Beside her, Solliday tensed.

"What?" he demanded in a low whisper.

Mia swallowed hard, unable to break eye contact with the blonde across the crowd just as she'd been unable to look away when their eyes had met over her half-brother's gravestone. The woman just looked at her, her expression unreadable.

"Who do you see?" he asked. "Is it the woman from the video?"

Mia managed to shake her head. "No."

He pushed out a frustrated breath. "Then who?" he hissed between his teeth.

The woman touched her fingertips to her temple in a small salute and slipped away. "I don't know," Mia said. "Cover me." She stepped behind Solliday's body, grateful for his size as she slipped to the sidelines, her radio in her hand. "This is Mitchell. There's a woman walking west. Five-six, shoulder-length blonde hair, dark suit. Stop her."

Mia made it to the back of the crowd and looked around. The uniforms stationed at the looked puzzled. "Nobody matching that description came through here, Detective."

Mia swore softly and set off at a jog when she saw her. She was walking fast, a scarf covering her head. And now… She was getting into a white Chevy Cavalier. Mia started ru

Mia stopped abruptly in the middle of the street. Dammit. The woman was like a damn ghost. Disgusted, she headed back. Spi