Mad, Bad and Blonde - Cathie Linz [54]
“I’ll tell you one thing I do know for sure. Your father has raised my stress level. He was always impatient, but now . . .”
“Gloria!” he bellowed from his office. “Where’s that file I asked for?”
“I e-mailed it to you five minutes ago,” she yelled back before returning her attention to Faith. “You see? It’s little things like that. The straw that breaks the camel’s back. And I’m not the only one who has noticed. Your uncle made a comment about it. A very oblique comment, because that’s how Dave is. But still . . . you know it has to be pretty noticeable for Dave to see it, because he’s off in his own math world most of the time.”
“Thanks, Gloria.” Faith grabbed her uncle’s arm as he left her father’s office. “Let’s talk.”
“I’m really busy . . .”
“I know you are, but you have to eat lunch.”
“I eat lunch at my desk.”
“That’s not good for you.”
“Has Megan been talking to you?” he asked suspiciously.
“No. Why would she? Is something wrong?”
“My cholesterol levels were a little high. Tell her I’m eating a healthy lunch, even if it is at my desk.”
Faith was alarmed by this news about her uncle’s health. “Did the doctor put you on medication?”
“No, no. My numbers are slightly elevated, that’s all. No need to get upset.”
“Is my dad upset because he’s worried about your health?”
“He’s upset because he’s your dad.”
“So it is my fault.”
“No, that didn’t come out right. What I meant is that your dad is always upset. That’s just the way he is. And, yes, he seems a tad more . . . irritable, shall we say.”
“Do you think it’s because of Vince King?”
“I’m sure their vendetta isn’t helping.”
And it probably wasn’t helping that Caine was out there accusing her father of having botched the Karl Hunter investigation. That meant the sooner Faith proved Caine wrong, the better.
Friday night, and Faith had a big date. Not with a hot guy but hopefully with Weldon. She’d dressed for the occasion. Her colorful batik halter top showed off her tanned shoulders, while the black skirt she’d paired with it showed enough leg to keep things interesting.
The weather had turned hot and muggy, and storms were predicted for later in the evening. Her favorite WGN weatherman had warned viewers that some could turn severe. Her outfit was designed to keep her comfortable in what could turn into an uncomfortable situation, depending on so many things out of her control.
Faith was not surprised to find Caine casually lounging a few doors down from a northside Indian restaurant celebrating its grand reopening tonight.
The small eatery was a favorite of the elusive Weldon’s. Faith could only hope that the third time of trying to find him would be lucky. She also hoped that Caine wouldn’t repeat his previous distraction technique of grabbing her and kissing her or giving her an under-the-table orgasm.
She needn’t have worried. Caine’s scowl wasn’t the least bit welcoming.
“Are you trying to irritate me?” he growled.
“I’m trying to solve this case,” she said.
“No, you’re trying to convince yourself that your father didn’t botch it.”
“My father may not have actually conducted the entire investigation himself—”
“Doesn’t matter. He signed off on it.”
“Because it seemed like an open-and-shut case—”
“Seemed like? Are you leaving some room for doubt here?”
“I’ve got plenty of doubts, and most of them center around you.”
His scowl disappeared as he gave her a slow, sexy smile. “Been thinking about me again, huh?”
She looked away to prevent herself from kissing that smile off his lips. “Get over yourself.” That’s when she caught sight of a young man with a White Sox cap pulled low. The baseball cap got her attention, but the face beneath it cemented the deal. “Hey, that’s him.”
“Wait here.” Caine took off.
“No way.” She took off right after him. She was wearing athletic shoes meant for fast chases. She’d come prepared tonight.
“Hey Weldon, can I talk to you for a minute?” Caine said.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” Faith reassured the nervous-looking