Mad, Bad and Blonde - Cathie Linz [44]
“That sounds more like something you’d do. I don’t need false evidence,” he said. “The truth works for me.”
“So you do think we should work together.”
“I never said that.”
“Then what is your suggestion?”
“That you go home and keep your nose out of my business,” Caine said.
“That’s not going to happen. I’m here to stay,” she said. “Get used to it.”
“What about your job?”
“What about yours?” she countered.
“I don’t trust you,” he said.
“I don’t trust you either, so we’re even on that one. What are your other objections?”
“Too many to list them all.”
“Let’s try to reach a middle ground here. I’m willing to listen to your suggestions. How do you suggest we work together?”
“The same way porcupines have sex. Carefully.”
“It always come back to sex with you, doesn’t it,” she said indignantly.
“I don’t know. Does it?”
“Never mind. Let’s just keep our minds focused on the facts here,” she said.
“How can we, when we don’t agree on the facts? You think my father is guilty. I know he’s innocent.”
“We both agree with the fact that Weldon was your father’s lab assistant and that therefore he’s a person of interest. Don’t you think it’s strange that he’s moved so many times in such a short period? And had several employers? Why do you think that is? Do you think he has something to hide? Or is he afraid of something and wants to keep on the move?”
“If he was really afraid, he’d have skipped town. He hasn’t as far as we know.”
“Good point. Which leaves us with him having something to hide.”
“Hold on, Sunshine. Maybe the guy just doesn’t like putting down roots.”
“Why has he disappeared now? What has him spooked? He hasn’t been back to his apartment for several days now.”
“Maybe he’s on vacation.”
“His coworkers don’t think so. They said he was on a family leave of absence but hadn’t traveled out of town.”
“He doesn’t have any family.”
“I know. So what’s the plan? To wait for the movie to let out and see if he’s there in the crowd?”
“The crowd?” he said. “It’s not like people were lined up around the block to get in to see this flick.”
“Why don’t you go home, and I’ll stay and watch for him.”
“Yeah right, like that’s going to happen,” he said.
“Then you’re agreed that we both stay.”
“I’m not agreeing to anything.”
“We’ve got over an hour before the movie is over. Why don’t you tell me what you’ve come up with so far in the case?”
“Yeah right,” he repeated. “Not going to happen. I’m not getting into a game of you-show-me-yours-I’ll-show-you-mine with you.”
“Because you’re afraid that I know more than you do.”
He just laughed.
She glared.
“Hey,” Caine said, “if you don’t want me laughing at you, then don’t say such funny things.”
“I wasn’t trying to be funny. I was being analytical.”
“Is that why you were fondling the placket of my jeans when I kissed you? Were you trying to analyze me? What were your findings?”
“That you’re not as big as you think you are,” she shot back.
“No? I think your findings are faulty.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her again.
This time she did push him away, only to haul him back and kiss him on her own terms.
Then she stepped away and gave him a cool stare.
“No,” she said. “My findings were accurate.”
He gave her a wry look. “You know, Sunshine, sometimes you surprise me.”
“Get used to it,” Faith told him. She couldn’t get used to the way she practically burst into flames whenever Caine touched her. She’d never felt this way before. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she keep her cool?
At least she’d sounded like she was totally together when she’d shot that comment at him. She needed to prove that she could be focused on the case and not distracted by his seduction techniques.
“So we’re agreed that we will work together, right?” she said curtly.
“Wrong,” he said. “Go home and let me get back to work.”
“Not going to happen. So let’s go across the street to that Starbucks and get a table near the window to wait for Weldon.”
She took his arm and tugged him toward the coffee shop entrance. Maybe touching