His partner nodded acknowledgment, and, men being men, they let the subject drop, reverting instead to the current investigation of an unnecessarily brutal jewelry store holdup. Fortunately, no customers had been in the store. The owner had tried to flee out the back to get help, leaving his assistant behind the counter, but one of the two masked men had caught him and beaten the shit out of him while the other pepper-sprayed the assistant. They’d smashed glass cases and left with sackfuls of gold pieces set with diamonds and other precious stones.
The store was new this last year, in a strip mall of businesses that were higher end than usual for Stimson and environs. Some years back, the city had annexed a whole lot of land, but opposition from an organized group of homeowners had kept them from including an area that had since seen extensive development including half a dozen condominium complexes. Lots of new people and businesses meant a swell in crime and a headache for county law enforcement.
A jewelry store heist, though, that was unexpected. Jewelry could be hard to unload for anything close to value. The men had worn heavy boots, dirty jeans and hooded sweatshirts as well as black ski masks, which didn’t sound like members of a sophisticated ring. Even more telling, they had fled in a white van that belonged to a local electrical company. Reported stolen that morning, it was found abandoned half an hour after the heist beside an often deserted road leading to the county’s solid waste transfer station. Interestingly, the thieves had left the key in the ignition, which Ben thought was remarkably considerate.
It also happened that Ramstad Electrical Inc. had recently fired an employee named Ken Hardison who was reportedly disgruntled. He’d been assigned that particular van and could easily have copied or even kept a key.
Ken Hardison had been home when Ben and Seth came knocking on his door, but had proved to be surly and unwilling to say much more than, “If you found my fingerprints, it’s because I did the wiring on that store.”
“Is that why you think we’re here?” Seth had asked blandly.
“Why else would you be?” He’d glowered at them. “I never stole anything in my life.”
His girlfriend had left him after he’d apparently taken his rage at being fired out on her, following a couple of previous accusations of domestic violence. Sweet-natured, he was not.
Ben really wanted to talk to the girlfriend, but they had as yet failed to locate her. Who could blame her for going into hiding? He just hoped she hadn’t left the area.
Ben parked outside the sheriff’s department headquarters and was reaching for his door handle when he thought of something. “You ever deal with Eve on the job?”
Seth already had his door open, but didn’t get out. “Sure, that’s how we met. Don’t let her fool you. Some of her ‘kids’ are juvenile delinquents. I arrested one of them for setting a fire at the high school.”
“I remember that. Eve was his caseworker?”
“Yep. She was disappointed in him, but also way more understanding than I was.” He grinned. “We had some spirited debates. I was actually kind of surprised she agreed to go out with me after that. Why’d you ask?”
Ben waited until they were walking across the parking lot to answer. “She’s having some issues with another of her kids. Thinks he’s good as gold.”
“Sounds like Eve,” Seth said tolerantly. “She’s deeply committed to those kids.”
“She has the right background for her job.”
“I’d say so. Gives her a bias, too, though.”
“She admitted the arsonist was guilty, though?”
“Yeah, that wasn’t the issue. Her goal was to see him get help instead of time in lockup.”
“Did she win?”
Ben thought the other detective looked embarrassed.
“Pretty much. He did thirty days in juvie, then went to a group home for intensive counseling. When I asked, she told me Friday that he’s doing really well. So, hell, maybe she was right and I was wrong. Kid was only fourteen.”
Ben laughed. He had no trouble picturing Eve Lawson firing up in defense of a troubled boy. He’d seen a hint of that passion when she talked about how inadequate the foster care system was despite the best efforts of everyone who worked in it.
And, damn, he’d felt her passion when he kissed her. His intention had been to keep it light, but when his touch seemed to ignite her, he’d had a hell of a time making himself back off and leave.
The chemistry was there, no question. She intrigued him, too. That was one complicated woman. He’d thought about her all day and had every intention of calling her as he’d said.
He was still bothered by her ties to Seth, however. With Eve being Bailey’s sister, Ben had a feeling Seth wouldn’t like anyone hurting her.
Ben mulled over the idea of sounding her out on whether she had her eye out for an engagement ring or was open to something less serious. He could do it subtly. The idea of screwing up a solid partnership on the job because of a woman didn’t sit well with him.
Back when he was with Nicole...well, that would have been different.
Might still be, he admitted, if she needed him.
He let out a harsh breath. Nic wouldn’t turn to him if she was facing life imprisonment. Far as he could tell, what she mostly felt was resentment because she was stuck dealing with him where Rachel was concerned. He was clearly alone in feeling any lingering...he didn’t want to call it love. Okay, then: fondness. Memory of what they’d shared. Regret.
A year and a half had passed since their split, and all he seemed to awaken in her these days was annoyance. No more delusions, he told himself.
It was good he had Eve on his mind. Complications or not, he’d definitely call her tonight.
HAVING SPOTTED BEN alone at a booth at the back of the diner, Eve waved off the hostess and hurried to join him. He had seen her immediately, and before she reached him slid out of the booth to stand. He’d probably put in as long a day as she had, but that didn’t keep him from looking sexy. The badge and weapon he wore added an element of danger to the rangy, broad-shouldered physique and fallen-angel face. She wasn’t the only one who noticed. Several women diners had turned their heads to stare.
“Eve.” It was as if no one else was there. “You’re wet.”
She surveyed him. “You’re not.”
“It wasn’t raining when I got here.”
“Well, it is now,” she said unnecessarily. She shed her raincoat with his help and laid it and her handbag on the bench seat, sliding in after them.
Ben resumed his seat, facing her. It wasn’t a surprise that he’d requested the booth in the back corner; Seth had always done that, too. Nor that Ben preferred to have his back to the wall and be able to sweep the entire room with an assessing gaze. It must be a cop thing, and was fine by her. She didn’t want to see anyone, and would be just as happy at the moment if no one she knew spotted her.
“Thank you for suggesting this. What a day.”
“Bad?” he asked. Although she suspected he remained aware on some level of every single person in the café, his gaze stayed intent on her alone. Did he know how seductive that was?
“No, just long.” Distressing, too. She hadn’t liked what she’d read between the lines at her last home visit and would need to reassess that placement. Sad to say, things like that weren’t out of the ordinary. She didn’t need to talk about it. “I hope you didn’t mind eating so