Page 21 of Only You

“She has a boyfriend?”

Sandy shrugged. “He was new. Maybe she overslept.”

“Probably,” he said, but he didn’t tell her what he was really thinking. It was entirely out of character for her. “Just let me know if you hear from her.”

She nodded, then hurried off to get to work.

That was when he noticed there was someone at the door. He was frowning when he realized who was there, and his entire body jumped back to life. Eileen was standing there next to an Asian man. Declan thought the guy might be her partner.

She cocked her head as she studied him through the front door, and he realized that he was staring at her like some moony-eyed goof.

He walked over and unlocked the door. He smiled, but neither of them returned it.

“Morning. Didn’t expect to see you this early in the morning.”

She was dressed in one of her badass suits. He knew many men didn’t like them, but when Eileen strode into his bar for the first time, she had been wearing one. Each and every one of them fit her perfectly, and damn, but her ass looked good in them. She also looked like one tough detective in them, which was a turn-on for him. Not the fact that she was a detective but that she understood her worth.

“Can we talk?”

There was something in her voice, something…distant. He had never heard her speak like that before. Declan studied her and her partner. They wore the same grave expression and sported identical dark circles under their eyes. Whatever case she had last night must have been a bad one.

“Sure. Come on in. We can talk in my office.”

They followed him back to his office, and he felt the weight of the stares. He had a few people in setting tables and making sure they were ready for the brunch crowd.

“Can I get you anything to drink?”

Both of them shook their heads.

“Please, have a seat.”

They both sat, and Eileen waited for him to sit down.

“When was the last time you saw Irene Adams?”

That knot was back between his shoulders.Dammit.

“Yesterday afternoon. We shut down at two for the party prep, and she had the night off. She was supposed to be in today, but she never showed up. That’s why I’m here.”

“Declan, I’m sorry, but Irene was found murdered last night.”

He blinked. “Murdered? You’re sure?”

“What do you mean?” her partner asked.

Declan looked at him. “I mean, it wasn’t an accident or anything?”

The man shook his head.

“Sorry, I forgot to introduce you to Eddie Francisco, my partner.”

Declan nodded to the man. “Is there anything you can tell me? Anything I can do to help?”

“Irene has been working here for a few months, right?”

He swallowed, thinking about the day he’d hired the younger woman. She had been a go-getter with excellent references and shadows in her eyes.

“Yeah. Well, almost nine now. She’s originally from Richmond.” He closed his eyes, then opened them again. “Her parents are on an anniversary trip.”

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