Page 52 of Scorched

“I know. She says she doesn’t like me hanging around, but I think she feels safer when I’m there. She’s more afraid people will start asking questions and find out about her past.”

“It’s a tough past to live with. But maybe if she would let her secret out, others around her would be on the lookout for her and keep her all the safer.”

“It’s hard convincing her.” Paul paced the length of the office again, needing the release of exercise or hitting something, someone.

“Okay, tough guy. If you think you’re needed here, why aren’t you sitting at your desk pushing paper like a good supervisor should?” Melissa’s words acted as a finger poked in a wound, gouging a hole in the thin veneer of reason he kept on his tightly strung control.

Sitting behind his desk would make him want to crawl right out of his skin, and damned if Melissa didn’t know that. He couldn’t leave Elise exposed to whoever was killing women in Breuer. “I’m going back to the school. I have a feeling there’s something we’re missing.”

“How so?”

“The first note appeared in her box at school.”

“Did you find out how it got there?”

“No. Elise didn’t want me nosing around the school, alerting the staff to her situation. But I want to know how that note got in her box.” Paul glanced at the paperworkpiling up on his desk, a twinge of guilt eating at his gut, but not enough to stop him.

“Leave the drudgery.” Melissa waved at the documents and reports. “It’ll still be there once we’ve apprehended the Breuer Killer.”

“You sound confident we’ll get him soon.”

“I know you,” Mel said with half a smile, “and you’ve got that look in your eye.”

“What look?”

“That look you get when you’re on the trail of someone and won’t let it go until you find him.”

Paul shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He stepped out of his office, Melissa following close on his heels. “So tomorrow, while I’m out of the office, you’re going to keep up with Cain.”

“Yes, sir.” Mel followed him. “You know, I’ve never known a person Paul Fletcher couldn’t get along with.”

Paul strode past Cain’s empty desk, noting the papers stacked in neat piles and the pens standing in an FBI coffee mug. The guy liked things orderly. If he handled his cases like he did his office, he’d be thorough. So why was he skipping out on his assigned duties? Paul made a mental note to review Cain’s past cases to get to know his style more and have a talk with him in the morning. He wanted his people to work as a team.

“I have another assignment for you this afternoon. I told Elise and the boys that you would be at their house when the boys get off the school bus. She insists on being at the school for parent-teacher night.”

Mel’s brows rose. “What do I know about babysitting boys?”

“About as much as I do.”

Mel lifted her chin. “Why don’tyoupick them up?”

“I’m going to the school to keep an eye on Elise.”

Mel grinned. “You get the girl. I get the kids. One of the perks of being the boss, right? Just don’t take all night, will you? I might have had plans.”

“It’s business,” Paul insisted. Although what they’d done last night had nothing to do with business. His jeans tightened at the memory. “And you? Plans? When was the last time you had a date?”

Mel bristled. “I’ve had dates.”

“Yeah? When?”

“Well, I could have had a date if I wasn’t working.” Mel’s lips twisted into a wry grin. “Okay, so I haven’t had a date in a while. What’s it to you?”

Paul shook his head. “Just be there, will you?”

“Yes, boss.” She pulled her gun from inside her jacket, checked the clip and slammed it back into the handle. “I guess I can pick up pizza on the way. Kids like pizza, don’t they?”

“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like pizza. Leave the stinky fish off.” Paul smiled at Mel as he shot through the door leading out of the office. “Thanks, Mel. I’ll let you know if we’re going to be really late,” he called out over his shoulder.

---