Page 35 of Veiled Justice
‘What is what?’
I wagged a finger in his direction. ‘The flirting thing.’
‘The flirting thing?’ he sounded amused. ‘I believe you have accurately surmised that my behaviour is flirtatious.’
‘Yes, but why?’
‘Is it so rare for a male to flirt with you?’
I blinked. ‘Yes.’
He chuckled. ‘No it isn’t, Inspector Wise. You are many things, but unobservant isn’t one of them.’
‘And what am I?’ I challenged him.
‘Spiky. Clever. Fun. Caring.’
‘Spiky?’
‘You have cactus energy,’ he said solemnly. ‘You don’t need much, you don’t overly care for flowers and you could definitely hurt someone.’
I stared at him. ‘I’m not sure if you’re being insulting or complimentary.’
He grinned. ‘The latter. But if you’re still not sure whether I’m flirting with you or not, I’ll try to be more obvious.’
If he was any more obvious my brain – or other parts of me – would implode. I couldn’t quite comprehend the fact that the rich, handsome and indescribably sexy king of the ogres seemed to fancy me. ‘I’m not into casual sex,’ I blurted.
‘Good. Me neither.’
Oh hell. Now I had no idea what to say. Luckily, we arrived at my flat. He parked up, and I jumped out of the car like it was on fire. The sound of his laughter – and Loki’s – followed me out.
I shut the door to my flat with relief while Loki sulkily fluttered around and turned his back on me at every opportunity. I ignored the bird’s antics and called Channing to give him the rundown of my interviews with Krieg and the results from Kate’s autopsy. She’d send her own report across soon, but I asked him to type up a quick summary and forward it to Thackeray so he’d know we were onto it.
I hadn’t secured an invite for Channing to the Carnforths’ big bash so I didn’t tell him about it; I could fill him in after the fact. I told him to finish the report and clock off for the day.
I’d barely had four hours’ sleep; if I was going to be sharp for the party later, I needed more. I made myself a sandwich and gaveLoki some ham. He took it but he was still visibly sulking. I sighed. ‘What gives, bird?’
‘What?’ he snapped.
‘Why are you mad at me?’
He made a huffing sound and turned his back on me again. I wracked my brains but I was totally coming up empty. ‘Honestly, Loki, give me a clue.’
‘You say “friends”.’
‘What?’ I was now totally bemused.
‘You say “friends” but not Loki.’
I stared at him. ‘You’re mad at me because Krieg asked me who my friends were and I didn’t include you on the list?’ He bobbed his head a little. ‘You call me Pigdog,’ I said a little inanely. Loki ruffled his feathers in agitation. ‘We don’t even know each other that well yet,’ I continued.
‘You feed ham and leave light on,’ he said.
I fed him ham and I left the light on for him at bedtime; it made my heart hurt that those two pathetic things were enough to qualify as friendship in his book. How badly had others treated him that his bar was set so low? ‘You’re right,’ I said slowly. ‘I do. I guess we are friends. Next time, I’ll make sure you’re on the list. Okay?’
Loki flew to my shoulder and pressed his soft head into my neck. ‘Friend,’ he murmured.
It was definitely only exhaustion that made hot tears spring to my aching eyes. ‘Friend,’ I agreed.
