Just Cause Read Online Free Page B

this repelled her. At least one person had already handled them. Now a team of professionals would come in and sift through them. She didn’t want to leave, but she didn’t want to watch, either. When they were done, she wouldn’t waste a moment in setting things to rights.
     
    Dan saw Laurel leave the apartment and met her on the walkway. Her shiny hair fluttered in the breeze, and her troubled brown eyes radiated hurt. Of course, she was a crime victim, but something else seemed to be bothering her. He sensed it had something to do with him.
    “I should have told you I’m a police officer,” he said.
    She shrugged and looked away.
    “Sometimes people are intimidated when they find out I’m a cop. I wanted to get to know you without that being a factor. I would have told you soon.” He tried to smile. “I ran some data just now and learned a lot about you.”
    Laurel caught her breath and stepped back. “Such as?”
    Dan watched her in surprise. “Such as, you’ve never had a traffic violation in the state, but you’ve only held an Ohio license for three weeks.”
    “That’s true.”
    “So, it leads to other questions.”
    She pressed her lips together, and Dan’s training kicked in. He had a sudden conviction that she was afraid. Not afraid of burglars, but of him.
    “Laurel, I thought the car burglary at the hospital last week was a random thing, but now your new apartment is broken into. Nothing was taken either time. That’s very odd.”
    She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I don’t have anything valuable.”
    “Apparently someone thinks you do.”
    Her mouth went hard, and she said nothing. Dan considered pressing the issue. He was walking a fine line between helping a woman he was beginning to care about and rooting out the truth. He didn’t want to break her trust, to drive her away, but he couldn’t let that cloud his judgment as a police officer. What did he really know about her, after all? Next to nothing, and that was her choice.
    He decided to take a softer tack. “You said you’d call me. How about if we get together instead? I’m off duty at five. We could grab a bite to eat and talk.”
    “I don’t think that would work.” She wouldn’t meet his eyes.
    She was shutting down on him.
    “Please?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
    “I’m sorry.” He knew she was right. He shouldn’t socialize with the victim in a case he was investigating. Maybe he should have Jessica take over Laurel’s case and remove himself from it.
    “If I weren’t the investigating officer, would that make a difference?” he asked softly.
    She looked him in the eye. He waited, sensing her mental deliberation. Had he been too official, too abrasive or just too neutral? Had the uniform and the computer check built a fence between them?
    “I…do want to see you again. I’m just…a little overwhelmed right now.”
    “Okay.” Dan took a deep breath. All was not lost. “How about if I just call you, then? I’ll use the number you listed in the police report.”
    She nodded. “Make it tomorrow. That will give me a chance to think about things.”
    Her restless eyes avoided him. There was apparently some sort of struggle still going on beneath the surface. “Okay. I need to help Jessica. If you think you’ll be all right—”
    “I’ll take Officer Alton’s advice and go out for lunch.”
    “Sure.” He smiled at her, and her wistful return smile made his stomach lurch. “Be careful.”
    Trepidation filled her eyes. “You don’t think someone would follow me?”
    He wished he’d said nothing. “No. They haven’t attacked you, just your property. But…stay alert.”
    “Will you be here when I come back?”
    “Probably not. But I’ll let you know later if we find out anything.”
    She nodded.
    “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, then.” He opened the door of her car for her, and she backed out of her spot. He watched until she turned onto the main road.
    Laurel was an enigma