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Darby
Mark wasn’t at his desk when I got back. Between my general fatigue, what had happened that morning, our ongoing fight, and Genova’s mind probe, I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him.
I dumped my bag into my coded drawer and unholstered my weapon, placing it next to my bag.
Everything Genny and I had talked about hadn’t set well the whole way back.
I had no idea what I was going to do about Mark—or Will—but for the moment, I had a case, and I had to set it all aside.
Something had been nagging at me since my face-to-face with Genova, and it was time to set the computer on the task. I signed in and found the file holding all the notes and documents from our case.
Mark had obtained a list of all the employees at the DSHA office in Kansas City, plus the support offices in Topeka, Columbia, Des Moines, Wichita, and Omaha. I ordered the system to run a cross-reference with all available superhuman databases—the DSHA, for sure.
It would be the most complete, but secondarily, I had it cross with the SHS. They were much smaller, but it would hold information on the more active supers. Most of the members of the SHS, from what I could tell, were those who were more interested in the protection of superhuman rights and advancing the cause of superhumans around the country and the world.
The computer confirmed the run, and I approved it, then sat back and stared at the screen.
My stomach rumbled, and I finally looked at the clock. After noon. Drat, I should have picked something up on the way back.
Maybe that’s where Mark was.
But I wasn’t going to call him to find out. I’d give him another twenty minutes, then I’d go snag something from vending, or maybe dart out to the noodle shop a few blocks away. I wasn’t feeling like having a huge lunch.
I watched the computer work for a minute, then stood and stretched, seriously considering whether to head out for a bite. About that time, Mark came out of a conference room down the hall, paused, then another man came out and led the way toward our desks.
When they got closer, I recognized Ian Brecunier, and I frowned. Why was he here?
Mark met my eyes, then glanced away, passing by with Ian. They went to the bank of lifts, spoke for a moment, and I almost followed them to hear. The two shook hands, with Mark putting his free hand on Ian’s elbow briefly. Mark waited until the lift doors had shut, then he turned, stepped into the men’s room, then stalked toward me a few minutes later.
He lifted an eyebrow. “Can’t stay put?”
“Heading down to vending.”
“You can do better.”
“I’m trying to save up for a stupid car.”
“I’ll buy.” His exasperation filtered through. “Come on. Let’s get out of here for a few minutes.”
“Mark,” I protested.
He grabbed my elbow and propelled me toward the lifts. “Knock it off, Darb. We’ll talk shop.”
I spun out of his grasp, stopping the electrical charge before it had a chance to intensify. It wasn’t totally painful this time. “I’ll go, but I need my things first.”
He waited, arms folded, while I got my bag and holstered my gun.
We ended up getting noodles from the place a few blocks away, then sat in the car slurping them down in the office lot. We were both silent most of the time. When I finished up, I finally spoke. “What did Ian want?”
“What do you think? He was checking progress on the case.”
I snorted. Pretty typical.
“I tried to get him to tell me more now that the shock’s worn off.”
“Were you successful?”
Mark slurped broth. “Not especially. I leaned on him some, but nada.”
“He must know something.”
“I agree, but he doesn’t think he does. That, or he’s afraid of something.”
“Or someone?”
“It’s possible.” He sipped his tea. “What about Genova?”
I stared at the brick building. “Not much either. Though to be honest, I think she may have been lying.”
He stabbed a piece of pork and bit it off his chopstick. “What makes you say that?”
“A feeling. She shut me down cold, actually questioned my investigative methods.” I put my box down, leaned my elbow against the door, and slithered my fingers deep into my hair. “Maybe I’m losing it, but I really wonder if something else is going on.”
“Like what?” His voice pitched up a little like something had gotten caught in his throat.
I slid him a glance. “I don’t know. I can’t get a fix on it. But it’s not like Genny to do that.”
“This is the first time you’ve come to her as cop to source rather than friend to friend?”
“Sure, I’ve asked her questions before. Hell, you have too.” I sat up. “Maybe I’m tired.”
He put his hand on mine. “It’s been a trying week.”
Immediately, my skin sizzled.
I pulled away. “Mark, after this morning...would you mind not doing it for a while?”
I could feel his eyes on me. His advances had set me on edge, and I couldn’t bear the idea of him touching me, especially now that he knew what it cost me.
He was my partner.
He was also my friend.
Not my lover.
And the electricity we shared confused the hell out of me.
His face fell. “Sure,” he said quietly, pulling back. “But none of this is going away by ignoring it, Darb.”
“I need some time.” I gathered up my trash and bag. “See you inside.”
Back in the office, I checked the runs I’d set to work, but they were still in process. I went to the breakroom.
Someone had let the coffeepot burn down to dregs, so I took a couple minutes to clean the pot and start fresh, then fixed the additional contents of my cup while waiting for it to brew.
I heard someone come in behind me, and I turned. William had gone to the vending machine and was staring at the selections. A small smile spread. He hadn’t noticed me. I was more than happy to observe his form. His tall, lean, muscular form and long, blond hair.
It didn’t take long for him to become aware of my presence. Before selecting a drink, he straightened and turned. “Darby, what a delightful surprise.”
“We do work in the same building.”
He crossed to me, abandoning his quest for refreshment. “So I shouldn’t take pleasure in bumping into a beautiful woman if she works with me?”
Heat poured into my cheeks.
“I didn’t say that.” I turned to the coffee pot and pulled it out long enough to pour my cup, then put it back to finish.
“What are you saying then?”
I laughed and looked into my drink. “I’m not entirely sure, honestly.”
“So what has you fueling up on caffeine?”
“Bit of an addict. I’ll ‘fess up.”
He smiled.
Again, I was taken with how perfectly even and white his teeth were. Good grief, he was gorgeous.
“But you’re working a case?” he asked.
I nodded and took a sip. Then I turned back for more cream. Still a bit too bitter for my taste, even though I didn’t mind the strength. “Same one as Monday. Mind if I bounce it off you? It’s puzzling.”
He followed me to the counter and leaned a hip against it. “That’s why I’m employed here, to assist officers with their cases, plus provide psychological support.”
I stirred my cream in and filled him in on the details.
William sidled in closer and brushed his fingers against mine. “What’s her background?”
“Grew up in Oklahoma, parents still married. Brother is a nutjob in Texas, but from what we can tell, basically harmless. She’s been here about fifteen years. Boyfriend, long-term. Quiet life, besides the DSHA aspect.”
“Which means she probably has the animus of the vast majority of the supers in the region who have crossed her path.” He swept his free hand up and pushed aside his silky blond hair.
Thoughts of running my fingers through those silky straw-colored tendrils tried to boil to the surface. Good grief, Darby. You’re on a case! Now is not the time.
I swallowed hard. “Yeah. Though a couple of my super friends knew her and liked her, so I’m guessing she was one of their more congenial agents.”
“They have quite a few that can make life difficult.”
I snorted, remembering my own first experience with the agency. Between them, the CIA, and the National Health Institute, I’d had my hands full with alphabet soup-types. “You’re telling me. You probably didn’t have them fighting to try to take you to some lab when you discovered you were a super.”
“No, I didn’t have that. Sure, most of them are trying to do a job, but there’s going to be some bad apples in the mix.”
“Most of the ones I’ve met have felt like the bad apple type.”
“You haven’t met the right ones.” He inched closer. “Just like you haven’t met the right supers who appreciate who and what you are.”
He’d inched into my space, and normally, I’d feel uncomfortable. This time, I didn’t. He smelled of cologne, something spicy I wasn’t familiar with. It smelled expensive. Hard to put my finger on why, but something about it made me think it had a hefty price tag. My thoughts clouded, and I couldn’t figure out what I should say next.
Barely after I realized what was happening, he wrapped his free arm around my waist and pulled me to him.
His face neared mine.
I closed my eyes. I wanted this.
Then someone cleared their throat behind us.
I pulled away and looked, heat filling my cheeks.
It was Mark.
Oh no. After everything we’d hashed through this morning, he walked in on me nearly kissing Will? What kind of ill luck was this?
I grabbed my coffee. “Excuse me.” I kept my eyes down as I scurried off.