Page 51 of Only You

“What time did you feed her?”

“Before five.”

She nodded. “Send her lunch. Normally, she only has chips or a candy bar for lunch. I have to get going. Ma and I are hanging out today.”

He leaned over the bar and kissed his sister on the cheek. “Thanks.”

“No worries. Only, just be sure about Eileen. I like the two of you together. She needs someone to take care of her.”

“She can take care of herself.”

“Oh, I know she can. But having someone to take care of you, not because they want something in return, now that is fantastic. And, Declan, you need someone to take care of. Just be careful. Her job is high-powered, and I know there is talk of moving her up in the ranks. I know she wants that. It means a more public image, and you have to be sure you want that.”

Like that would scare him away. He saw the two of them out, then locked up as he started to plan. He knew he seemed obsessed with food, and that was what had led him to be a chef. Now, though, he seemed to be obsessed with feeding Eileen.

By noon,almost every news organization in the DMV—the DC, Maryland, and Virginia—area had jumped on the Arnie bandwagon. It was only a matter of time before the national news picked it up. It could blow their case up, and Eileen wasn’t in the mood for the press or their insanity.

“O’Reilly. Francisco. My office,” Captain Mathers said. They followed him into his office. Mathers was a demanding boss, but he was solid. The older African American had served in the Army before donning the same uniform his father and brothers wore. Another legacy.

“Thanks for the heads-up earlier,” he said as he sat behind his desk. Both she and Eddie took a seat. “I told them no, but is there a connection?”

She shrugged. “We have nothing to link the murders except the knife and where they were found.”

“That could be enough.”

“It could be,” Eddie said. “Could be a copycat, although we have kept some things out of the news. The knife in particular.”

“Don’t get me wrong. You’re my best two detectives. I just need this cleared and soon. I do not need this city going to shit because of tabloid reporting.”

“Noted,” she murmured. “We’re going through CCTV and running searches on the knives. ME has sent it to forensics, but I want to see if the designs are similar.”

“That sounds like a good start. The first one had a boyfriend you were looking at?”

“He was in jail the night of Irene’s murder,” Eddie said. “Drunken brawl.”

Mathers sighed. “That sucks. Any other leads?”

“Still looking for the guy she was dating,” Eileen said.”

He nodded, and then he glanced at Eddie. “Can you give us a minute?”

Her partner looked at her, then back at their captain. “Sure.”

He headed out of the office, shutting the door behind him.

“You two seem to be working out well.”

She nodded. “Eddie is fantastic.”

“So, why do you want to leave?”

She frowned. “What? I never said I wanted to leave.”

“You don’t have to lie to me, Eileen. I’ve known you since you were a senior in high school.”

He had. Her father and the captain had been acquaintances. “I’m not lying. I worked too hard to get homicide. Truth is, have my eye on your job when you retire.”

His smile came and went. “I hoped those were your thoughts because you would make an excellent captain.”

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