Count to Ten

Mia swallowed hard, a wave of relief and gratitude overwhelming her. "A lot of people wouldn't have done that much."

"You've sacrificed for this department, this city countless times. I'll be damned if I let Wheaton or anybody else use this department to threaten you or your family."

She closed her eyes, moved. "Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome," he said softly.

His voice returned to its normal briskness. "Murphy's still sweeping the area where they found the car White used to get away from Brooke Adler's apartment, but he hasn't turned anything up yet. They'll keep canvassing for the next hour, then resume in the morning. I had math teacher White's picture faxed to the local news teams and the newspapers. It's the best way to find him."

"I know."

"You guys find the real White at any of those Atlantic City hotels?"

"Not yet. We'll keep going until we do."

Spi

Her eyes narrowed. "What?" He couldn't possibly know about her and Solliday. The words "it was just a supportive hug" were on the tip of her tongue.

"Your address was in the paper, Mia. Find another place to live. That's an order."

"You can't tell me where to live. Last I looked, I'm a cop. 1 can take care of myself."

"Last I looked, you were a cop and I was your boss. Find another place, Mia. I don't want to worry about you all night." When her mouth set stubbornly, he exploded. "Goddammit, Mia. For days I sat next to Abe's bedside wondering where the hell you were. 1 thought I might lose two of my best people. Don't put me through that again."

She looked down, feeling suddenly small. "Well, when you put it like that."

He sighed. "It's just for a little while. Howard and Brooks are close to pulling Getts in. They've closed off about all the rat holes he can crawl down."

"He already knew my address."

"True, but now every punk wa

"I have a gun. Kelsey doesn't."

"And you both have to sleep sometime."

She ran her tongue across her teeth. "I don't want to admit that you have a point. But," she hurried on before he could say more, "who would you have me put in danger? Dana? She's got kids. Abe? He's got Kristen and the baby."

Spi

Mia's mouth dropped open. "What?"

Spi

He shrugged his wide shoulders. "It makes sense. I've got a duplex. My sister rents the other side. Lauren's on my side taking care of my daughter more than she's on her own side, anyway. Detective Mitchell can stay in the other side, have her own place."

Mia found her voice. "You were spying on me. Again."

He shrugged. "I was waiting to talk to Spi

She glared at him. "I'm not staying with you."

"Not me." He smiled i

She just bet it would. The very thought of what would speed up sent new color to her cheeks. And Solliday just stood there, smiling like a damn choirboy.

But if Spi

She drew a breath. "I want to formally stare my opposition to this stupid plan."

Spi

"What about Solliday's kid? I'm putting her in danger, too. They'll follow me."

"Mia, if you can't lose a tail by now…" Spi

"Aren't you kind?"

His mustache bunched and his eyes darkened, a sure sign his patience was spent. "We have to get a co

She knew when she was beaten. "All right. You'll make sure they move Kelsey."

"You have my word."

"Fine. Then I'll stay on Lauren's side of the duplex."

Spi

Mia looked at Solliday, her jaw cocked. "Yeah. Thanks a lot, Solliday."

Something flickered in Solliday's dark eyes and she knew he knew she was pissed. "You're welcome," he told Spi

Thursday, November 30, 6:15 p.m.

He'd nearly finished his di

As he fought to control his shock, his temper began to boil. The bitch. This was the work of the Mitchell woman. Now he couldn't move around the city without people knowing who he was. Today it was Chicago. Tomorrow, CNN? He'd be recognized wherever he went from sea to goddamn shining sea.

He had to get out of this restaurant. Now. With a casual-ness that came only through superior self-control, he rose, threw the contents of his tray in the trash, strolled through the restaurant door and to his car.

She had to go. He patted his pocket where he still carried pretty Caitlin's gun. Mitchell had to go. With her gone, the focus would be shifted to the gunman who'd tried to kill her once before. Melvin Getts was his name. It would be Getts's face on the news.

A cop killer trumped an arsonist any damn day of the week.

Chapter Seventeen

Thursday, November 30, 6:45 P.M.

Reed hung up the phone. "Found him."

Both Mia and Aidan quickly hung up. "Where?" Mia demanded.

"The Willow I

"We don't know if it was the real Devin or Math Boy," Mia said. "Now we know where he stayed, but we still don't know which casino he went to. So many people go through the casinos. It's hard to think anybody would remember a college kid."

"But all the casinos have cameras," Reed said. "We know the days he was there. We should be able to find him on video. At least to know if it's Devin White or…" He winced a little. "Or Math Boy. Can't we find a different pet name for him?"

"It works for now." She frowned. "There are dozen casinos. Where do we start?"

"You familiar with Atlantic City?" Aidan asked.

"Never been there," Reed answered and Mia shook her head as well.

"Tess and I went to the Jersey shore on our honeymoon just a few weeks ago. One of the days we drove to Atlantic City and did some of the casinos, so it's still fresh in my mind." Aidan brought a map to their desks and the three of them stood, studying it. "Willow I

"He probably went to the Silver Casino, at least once or twice since it was close." Mia said.

"And it's one of the smaller casinos, so it should be easier for them to locate him."