She raised her brow. “All right.” She walked to the elevators.

  When the doors opened, Matthew Hawkins stood on the inside. He nodded to both Ash and Kelly.

  “What are you doing here?” Hawk asked Ash.

  “Chatting with the A.D.A., per your recommendation,” Ash replied, glaring at his ex-partner.

  Kelly remained quiet.

  “I heard about Steve Carlson. Makes things messy. Was it a murder or suicide?” Hawk asked.

  Ash met Kelly’s gaze, then turned to Hawk. “That’s not clear. Kelly and I are going to talk about the case.”

  Hawk’s gaze pinned Ash. “That’s interesting.”

  The elevator stopped on the ground level and the doors opened. Kelly plunged into the waiting crowd. Ash nodded to Hawk.

  “See you later.” Then Ash followed her into the sea of bodies.

  She walked out of the courts building and crossed the street to the offices of the D.A. He followed her into her office. Teresa smiled at him.

  “Hello, Detective.” The woman put out signals. He wasn’t in the mood. “It’s nice to see you.”

  Ash walked into Kelly’s office. She placed her briefcase on the desk.

  “So tell me about the Carlson case.”

  It had taken the coroner a week to do the autopsy on him. Ash held the file up. “Ted was his effective self and put a rush on it.”

  She leaned back against her desk and crossed her arms. “So what does it say?”

  He handed her the file. “There was gun residue on his hand and temple.”

  Kelly opened it and studied the file. “So he ruled it a suicide?”

  “No.”

  She looked up from the report.

  “There was a bruise on the back of Carlson’s head. Coroner can’t say if the blow to the head was before or after the gunshot. Also, the powder residue on his hand indicates something else was covering the victim’s hand.”

  Her brow arched. “Like another hand?”

  “It’s possible.”

  She looked down again at the report. He stepped closer to point to the paragraph he wanted her to read. He could smell her shampoo, soap, the natural aroma of woman. And felt his reaction in his gut. He cursed.

  “So the ruling is inconclusive?” She glanced up. Her lips were inches from his.

  “It is.”

  Her eyes sparked with the knowledge they’d been right. “So that means we might have a murder.”

  “It means that the Carlson case isn’t closed even if the suspect is dead. We still need to investigate Catherine Reed’s murder. It’s likely that the two murders are connected.”

  Kelly Whalen still had the power to take his breath away. When her eyes lit with excitement and she smiled that knowing grin, he was powerless to resist her. Ash wanted to reach out and run his fingers over her cheek and down her neck. She had a little place on her shoulder, right at the base of her neck, that if he kissed it she would melt. Her small breaths and moans when he licked that tender skin thundered through his memory.

  “You’re a dangerous man, Detective.”

  His knees nearly buckled. Concentrate, he told himself. “Sometimes you’ve gotta use the system to your advantage for the good guys.”

  She leaned forward and, for an instant, Ash thought she would kiss him. Suddenly she jerked back and turned away, but there was color in her cheeks. “All right, Ash. Let’s see if you can turn up any evidence of a murder.”

  “Which one?” He wanted her to face him and tell him which murder they were going to do.

  She turned. “Both. I think I owe it to Steve Carlson to unravel this mess.”

  She was in her crusader mode, fiery and sincere. And it reached deep within him. He wanted to help, slay this dragon for her. Besides, he didn’t like attempted cover-ups.

  “You got it, Kel.”

  Her smile sent a jolt racing through him, making him want things that couldn’t be.

  Oh, he was in trouble here. And it had nothing to do with Carlson.

  Chapter 5

  K elly glanced at her watch as she walked into the police headquarters building. Ten o’clock. She was on time for the case law session that she was required to teach this morning. Instructing any policeman who wanted to update their knowledge of current law. It was Kelly’s turn to lecture to the department, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

  It had been a long morning already. Everyone in Houston had an opinion about the Carlson case. She’d heard from certain individuals more than once. But she hadn’t heard a peep from the grieving husband.

  Every media outlet in the city wanted to talk to her. She’d told them that the ruling from the coroner was inconclusive and the police would continue to look into Carlson’s death. She didn’t doubt once that information hit the public, she’d have another round of displeased prominent citizens yelling at her.

  As she walked toward the elevators, Ash emerged from a side hall. Beside him was the little girl who had told them about Steve Carlson being in his apartment. A woman, probably the girl’s mother, held the child’s hand.

  Ash nodded at Kelly. She stepped to his side and smiled down at the little girl. “Hello, young lady.”

  “Kelly, you remember our young witness, Sarah Mendoza.” He squatted and looked directly into the girl’s wide eyes. “Sarah, this is Assistant District Attorney Kelly Whalen.”

  Sarah shyly looked at Kelly and nodded. “I remember her.”

  “And this is Sarah’s mother, Rosa,” Ash continued.

  Kelly offered her hand to the young mother. Rosa Mendoza didn’t look happy with the situation, but she shook Kelly’s hand.

  “Sarah just spent the past hour with the police artist,” Ash explained. “And she did an excellent job.”

  The news encouraged Kelly. “So we have a picture of the suspect?”

  “We do. Sarah was very helpful.”

  The little girl beamed. Ash lightly squeezed Sarah’s elbow.

  The action touched Kelly’s heart. Ash had always been good with children. “Thank you, Sarah, for your help.”

  Rosa Mendoza pulled Sarah’s hand. “It is time we go home.”

  As they walked toward the front door, Sarah glanced over her shoulder and waved at them. Kelly felt her heart jerk. Her little girl would have been four. A knot settled in her throat. Turning to Ash, she noticed a hint of longing in his eyes. Was he thinking about their daughter?

  He quickly buried the emotion. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  “I’m giving the monthly case law session today. Are you going to attend?”

  A speculative light entered his eyes. “What’s your topic?”

  “Current rulings on traffic stops and search and seizure.”

  “I kinda got the benefit of your knowledge of the law when we were at Carlson’s apartment,” he teased.

  “Yeah, and I’ve heard no end of complaints about that,” she grumbled, and started toward the elevators.

  “What’s happened, Kelly?”

  Before she could answer, the elevator doors opened. She walked into the interior. “You coming?”

  “I can’t. Stop by Homicide before you leave, and I’ll show you the picture Sarah came up with.”

  As the doors closed, she saw Ash glance at the main entrance where Sarah had disappeared. She had the oddest feeling that little girl had touched his heart. She certainly had Kelly’s.

  Ash walked to his desk. The bank of windows gave him a panoramic view of the city of Houston. Fifteen floors up allowed them to see the ship channel. Julie McKinney glanced up from her desk across from his.

  “You got the picture of the suspect?”

  He handed her the composite drawing that the police artist had done. Julie took the paper from his fingers.

  “I can understand Rosa Mendoza’s reluctance. He looks like a nightmare.” She returned the picture.

  The suspect had long hair, penetrating, deep-set eyes, and a scar on his left cheek. “I’ve given the composite to the watch commander. Patrol will be on alert for this guy.”

  “What about having patrol keeping an eye on the apartment complex in case the suspect goes back to cover his tracks.”

  “I’ve already made that request.”

  She leaned back in her chair. “Did the mother give you a hard time after I left?” Julie had talked the mother into coming to headquarters to allow her daughter to work with the police artist. Julie had been called out on another case, and Ash had to take over. Rosa Mendoza hadn’t liked it, acted as if he would eat her child.

  “Let’s just say that Mrs. Mendoza doesn’t care for male policemen. I probably couldn’t have talked her out of a burning building. I was lucky the police artist was a woman.”

  Julie grinned. “My heart bleeds for you, Ash. Poor man couldn’t charm a woman.”

  He blew off her sarcasm and glanced at his watch. Forty minutes had passed since he and Kelly talked in the lobby.

  “Has A.D.A. Whalen been by?” he asked.

  Julie rested her arms on her desk and studied him. “Now why would she stroll by Homicide? Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “You’re treading on thin ice, partner,” Ash warned.

  She arched her brow.

  “Kelly is giving this month’s case law session. I see you didn’t take advantage of our continuing education,” he admonished.

  Julie rummaged through the papers in her in-out box. Finally she pulled out the month’s lecture topic. “You’re right. She was scheduled.” She put down the sheet and went back to her work.

  So much for his partner’s continuing education. When Julie McKinney had first been assigned to be his partner, he hadn’t wanted any partner. She was his third partner. His second partner, the one after Hawk, had died of colon cancer. Ash hadn’t been in the mood to team up with another detective, but he hadn’t been given a choice.

  Julie hadn’t taken any static from him. She pulled her weight and had a finely honed intuitive radar. More than once, she had picked up on something that he’d missed and given them the key to solving a case. Now he couldn’t imagine working without her.

  Ash sat at his desk and pulled out the Carlson autopsy. He’d bet a month’s salary that Carlson had been murdered.

  “Well, if it isn’t A.D.A. Whalen. What are you doing here at police headquarters?” The sarcastic voice belonged to Ralph Lee.

  Ash’s head jerked up. Kelly stood in the hall facing Ralph.

  “I gave the case law session, Detective.” She spoke in that lawyer tone that usually made Ash grind his teeth. Oddly enough, he found it funny that Kelly used that tone with Ralph. “I didn’t see you there.”

  Ralph’s eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry I missed it. I’ll be sure to make it to the next session.”

  She nodded and walked into the large room. Ralph Lee followed her. The militant look in Kelly’s eyes told Ash that she was fighting her temper. He knew not to cross her at this moment. She stopped by Julie’s desk and held out her hand.

  “Kelly Whalen.”

  Julie took her hand and introduced herself.

  Kelly turned to Ash. “We need to talk to your captain.”

  Alarm shot through him. In her present mood, he didn’t know what to expect. “Why?”

  “Because I want you back. Exclusively to finish the investigation of Catherine Reed’s murder. And Carlson’s, too.”

  Chills raced over his skin and his heart hammered.

  Everyone in the room stilled and every eye settled on them.

  Ash stood. “Let’s go.”

  The door to the captain’s office was closed. Ash knocked.

  “Enter.”

  He opened the door and motioned Kelly inside before him.

  Captain Jenkins stood. “Ms. Whalen.”

  “We need to talk, Captain.” She took the seat he indicated.

  Jenkins flashed a look at Ash, silently asking what was going on. “What’s the problem?”

  “I need Ash back, full-time. I want him on the Reed case and the Carlson case, exclusively.”

  “Why?” Jenkins asked.

  “Because, Captain, our questions have raised hell. The D.A.’s catching it, and I know the police are getting it, too, having just run into one of the devils. The more Ash looked into things before Carlson was killed, the louder the protest.” She sat forward. “Something stinks, worse than the chemical leak we had last spring. I’m not going to be intimidated.” Her jaw flexed.

  Damn, she was something. When his mouth lifted in a grin, Captain Jenkins glared at him.

  Jenkins turned to Kelly. “Is your boss in on this?”

  “I’ll convince him. He’s got more on the line than any of us civil servants. Don’t worry, I’ll make my case. Besides, Jake doesn’t like being jerked around any more than the rest of us.”

  Captain Jenkins didn’t look convinced.

  “I’ll take the heat, Captain,” Kelly offered, “and shoulder the blame.”

  Captain Jenkins looked from Kelly to Ash. “You in on this?”

  He would have no problem working exclusively on these two cases. It would be a luxury…because he’d see Kelly. He tried to ignore that thought, but couldn’t. “Yeah, I want in.”

  “I’m not sure your partner’s going to be crazy about this.”

  “Let’s ask her,” Ash suggested. He stood and called to Julie. She appeared at the door.

  “Yes, Captain.”

  Jenkins explained about reassigning Ash back to these two cases exclusively. “You got a problem with that?”

  “No. I’ve been working some cases with Hayes, so Ash isn’t up to speed on them. I’ll just finish those without him.”

  Captain Jenkins nodded. “A.D.A. Whalen, have the D.A. call me. I don’t want to be blindsided with this situation. I want to know we all have the same goal.”

  “You’ve got it.”

  As they left the captain’s office, Kelly murmured, “It looks like you’re mine now, Ash.”

  Oh, that brought a different image to mind than he was sure she meant.

  Ralph Lee stood outside the door, his expression cold.

  Kelly pushed open the lobby door of the police building and sailed outside.

  “Let’s eat,” she called over her shoulder, suddenly ravenous. “Why don’t we eat at Jim’s? I’ve found myself craving one of his burgers, again.”

  Kelly didn’t even question why, after three years of abstinence, she had a craving for the big greasy burgers at the diner by the jail. She didn’t wait for Ash’s response but plowed into the bodies on their way back to work.

  Within two strides, Ash was at her side. “You’re in a big hurry. Are you that hungry?”

  She glanced at him. “I am.”

  She knew what that revealed about her. Always after a big test or, later in their marriage, after a high-profile case, Kelly had an enormous appetite. And food hadn’t always satisfied that craving.

  She felt Ash’s gaze on her. She didn’t doubt he wondered what was driving her.

  People filled the coffee shop. Kelly looked around for a table and smiled when a couple stood and walked out. Ash motioned Kelly before him. She collapsed into the chair.

  “Well, look who’s here again,” the waiter commented. “What’s going on? I don’t see y’all for years, then suddenly you’re a hot item. Have anything to announce?”

  Kelly wanted to strangle the guy.

  “C’mon, Mark, give us a break,” Ash grumbled. “I told you the other night we’re working on a case.”

  Mark nodded. He took their orders, then cleaned off the table. Once they had their coffees, Ash leaned forward. His gaze snagged hers.

  “What’s going on, Kelly? What set you off like a Roman candle back there in the squad room?”

  She stared into her coffee.

  “And don’t try to fob me off with some polite excuse. I’ve got my butt on the line just like you do.”

  The problem working with Ash was that he knew her, knew her true feelings.

  “C’mon, Kel. Be honest with me.”

  When she glanced up, his gaze captured hers and electricity raced through her body. That look could drag secrets out of her, and she didn’t want to own up to the anger driving her. But he deserved to know.

  She forced her eyes away from his. “I ran into the Procters’ lawyer outside the lecture room.”

  “Who would that be?”

  “The estimable Walter Moen.”

  “The son?”

  “Nope. Daddy. He was very polite, but told me in no uncertain terms he wasn’t happy that we were still asking questions about the Procters’ darling daughter and her marriage. What could I possibly gain from the exercise except to feed my prurient interests?”

  “Prurient?” Ash asked.

  “It still irks me that miserable, shriveled-up old man—”

  Ash laughed. His humor punched a whole in her anger. A responding laugh bubbled in her.

  “I wanted to tell that man I wasn’t interested in Andrew and Catherine’s sex life because I didn’t have—”

  “Yes?”

  Before she could say anything more, their burgers arrived. She busied herself with pouring ketchup on her fries.

  “What did you tell Walter Moen?”

  The knowing look in Ash’s eyes made her crazy. She couldn’t just tell him that she’d dated a couple of times since they divorced but no man had pierced the wall she’d built around her heart. And she certainly hadn’t slept with any of those men. Ash was the last man she’d made love to. But not in a million years would she admit that.

  Neither was she going to back down from the challenge in his eyes. “I told Mr. Moen that he knew as well as I that ninety-nine times out of a hundred, when there’s a murder like this, there’s a problem in the marriage. And in the majority of those cases, it relates directly to sex. Or money.”

  Ash took a bite of his burger. “And what was the exalted lawyer’s response?”

  Kelly grabbed a fry, dipped it in the ketchup and popped it into her mouth. Oh, the comforting taste. When she opened her eyes, Ash’s gaze stabbed into her. “Uh…he assured me this wasn’t the case.”

  A snort of laughter burst from Ash’s lips. “You need a scorecard to keep up with those rich folks. And I don’t doubt the hypocrite has his own liaisons.” He took another bite of his hamburger. “So, you’ve decided to pursue this thing, come hell or high water or the society set.”