Fly With Fire Read Online Free Page A

the show. He’s a player and nothing wrong
with that but even I try not to mix sex and work. Mostly. But you should have
at least done ‘im. There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun ya know. I’ll
see you at the party. Hurry it up, Deb, for Chrissakes!”
     Mo
finally got the dryer and took her time with it since she was the last in line.
She swept her thick, raven hair into a side ponytail while everyone shimmied
into their various evening dresses, leather pants or minis and wandered out. Mo
just wanted to go to her hotel room and get a good night’s sleep.  “An
hour, I will stay one hour,” she promised her reflection, slipping into a mid
thigh BeBe silk dress. The turquoise blue complimented her clear, pale skin,
the fitted bodice her athletic body. She brushed mineral makeup on her face,
added a dab of mascara and considered the job done.
    As
an afterthought she decided on a deep red lipstick. It was a party after all.
 “Karen would be proud of me.” She slipped into her new beaded kitten
heels and grabbed her clutch. It was almost eleven. The hall was dim and quiet.
She heard the noises of the cleaning crew in the auditorium. It took a moment
for her to orient herself towards the back exit. Her heels clicked on the
concrete walk. Everyone seemed to be gone. Did she miss the last shuttle?
Wasn’t there an exit sign? Wait, was it back there? Did she get left? Shit.
Should she go back to the auditorium?
    There
was a sound in the dim light behind her. A door creaked. She thought she heard
a breath sucked in. Fingers crawled up her spine and caught in her throat.
Goosebumps ran along her arms. There was the door. She sighed with relief
feeling foolish. Suddenly a man stepped in front of her. She startled and took
a few steps backward with a squeak.
    “Ms.
Whitman, I’m Zack Burnham, didn’t mean to scare you.”
    “Mr.
Burnham. Oh. What can I… do you have something to write on?”
    “Sure.”
He reached into his jacket pocket and presented a tiny tablet and pen.”
    “To
Mr. Burnham” She looked at him. She couldn’t see him very well in the dim
light. “Zack.” She wrote briskly. “Ah…’All the best.’ There you go.”
    “Car’s
outside.” He grasped her elbow but she pulled away.
    “Now
look, Mr. Burnham…”
    “Ms.
Whitman, I’m to escort you the restaurant. Mayor’s orders.”
    “Escort?
Mayor? Who are you?”
    He
flashed a badge. “Detective Zack Burnham, Chicago Police Department.”

Two
     
        A driver held the door to a
limousine. She nodded and climbed in with what dignity the tightness of her
dress would allow. He settled in beside her with a scan at her left hand. She
wore no ring. Not everyone wore their wedding band. He closed the door. “Good
joke, Mr. Burnham. Big fan, huh?”
    “I
did see the show. From the Mayor’s box. Great job but I’m glad the fire
department is ready and waiting.” He could smell a light citrus scent. He
wondered if it emanated from her hair.
    “We
thought we’d try to avoid a second ‘Great Chicago Fire’.” Mo fidgeted with her
clutch. Why didn’t someone tell her about the mayor sending a limo? Served her
right if the guy took off with her.
    “Well,
this is Greendale. I think Chicago’s pretty safe, being a few miles away.”
    “What
are you doing here, Detective? You’re a Chicago cop? Mayor Tyler. I get it.
Well mighty kind but nobody told me. For all I knew you could have been a
kidnapper.”
    “In
which case, you’ve made my job pretty easy for me.” His face was in shadows.
The lights of the traffic only gave her a glimpse of a strong chin.
    “Is
this a gravy job for you or did you pull latrine duty.”
        “As
latrines go…” His deep voice had a bit of gravel in it. It sent a shiver along
her skin even seconds after he stopped speaking. They pulled into the front of
the hotel. She still hadn’t really gotten a good look at him. He opened the
door and reached in to assist her.  His hand was large