Page 75 of Forbidden Wish

“How you doing, Genny?”

Jagg. Her muscles loosened as relief left her in a sigh. “Hi.” Except, huh, the detective next to her probably knew her tells. Getting it together, she aimed for neutral. Whether she hit it or not was another matter. “I can’t really talk right now.”

“My guy got back to me.”

Ah, progress? “And?”

“Don’t know if it’s what you want to hear.” That could go either way. “He pulled more from the city cams at the time of the disappearances.”

Impatience quaked. “And?”

“False plates and… Ludlow’s driving.”

“In all of them?”

“So far,” he said. “He sent us the footage.”

“Okay.” She sighed. “Thanks.”

More to trawl through. The answer was one she expected and it strengthened their case. It also gave authorities something to look for. Any other women getting into that cab would be at risk too.

“I wanna be with you.”

Her lips reacted. Was that “with” her like sleep with her? Be with her while the investigation was going on? Or could he mean with her like to be with her? Be together? With Lachlan in earshot, she couldn’t ask. Not that the phone was the best way to have that conversation.

Even after a few days, instinct wanted answers. She wouldn’t push, couldn’t, shouldn’t. But, damn, if he could just hold her for a minute, everything would be better. She would be better. Stronger.

“We’re making progress.”

“You’ve got Ford on porn duty?” So he’d talked to her brother before he talked to her? “How come that wasn’t an option for me?”

If Lachlan wasn’t within earshot, she’d ask if she wasn’t good enough, but teasing was too risky. Her ex knew her too well.

“They’re waking Mila up; I’m going to the hospital with Lach.” Her way of telling him who was with her. “I really want to talk to her.”

“Give it time. Don’t rush her.”

“I won’t—”

“I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

“She’s alive. That’s all that matters.”

“Want me to come be with you?”

More than she could express, but there was just no way. Ford thought he was babysitting, and she’d told him it wasn’t necessary. She couldn’t now call Jagg in to take over the task.

“My dad took us to Sersha. She knows a lot about the Manzanis.”

“That’s good. You want me to let you go?”

“Yeah,” she said while every atom of her being begged him to stay. “I’ll call you later.”

“I’ll see you later,” he said. “For some off the books stakeout duty.”

She wouldn’t mind an official stakeout. Watching the hotel had been helpful. Though that wasn’t what he meant. Some of the unofficial kind could be exactly what she needed.

The line died, and she put her phone back in her purse.

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