Not Forgotten Read Online Free Page B

the threat he posed to her with his brute strength that would easily be no match against her. Bizarre. He held a folder in his big hand and when he smiled at her, wrinkles appeared around his eyes. She judged him to be in his mid-thirties and not married, if his bare finger was anything to go by, not that she planned on doing anything about that.
    Natalie closed the file and placed it on her desk for easy access later. She turned and gave the intruder her undivided attention, her eyebrow slightly arched.
    “Yes. What can I do for you?”
    Her gaze once again travelled the length of him, this time taking in the creased shirt, five o’clock shadow and the coffee stains on his cream tie. Her eyes widened, seeing the badge and gun attached to his hip which she had clearly overlooked during her first perusal. Her mind—and libido—obviously engaged elsewhere. She had been lusting over a law enforcement officer. If only he knew what she had been imagining. He would have arrested her, or being that he was male and breathing would have eagerly accepted her offer. Why did that thought give her such a rush?
    “Detective?”
    The man gave her a brief nod, answering the question in her voice. He pulled out his identification and showed it to her. Natalie could see the hologram imbedded on the card as it played in the light, proving its authenticity.
    “Detective Inspector Matt Murphy, Harbour Bay LAC,” he said.
    “What can I do for you, Detective?”
    She offered her visitor chair to him and he moved around to the chair facing her across the desk. She watched as he stretched out his long legs and shifted to find a comfortable position.
    “I have a case for you, if you’re interested. A delicate one.”
    Natalie nodded. “All my cases are delicate, Detective.”
    Matt handed her the file and she took it from him. He held her gaze for longer than necessary as he said, “I can guarantee this is more so.”
    Natalie licked her lips, her palms suddenly slick with sweat. His stare followed the movement of her tongue as it glided over her dry lips. Her body heated to the point of boiling and once more she was surprised at herself. When normally she would lash out at his obvious interest, she found herself wanting more of his attention. She tore her eyes away from the gorgeous detective and opened the file. As she regulated her suddenly fast breathing, she glanced down at the name on the top.
    “Hallie Walker?”
    “A very distraught young lady,” he added.
    “Any relation to Ian and Missy Walker?” she asked, recalling the article she had just read, the name popping out at her.
    “Daughter,” he replied simply.
    “Is the girl in danger?”
    “She’s in a padded room. It’s not her I’m worried about.”
    No, Natalie decided, he was more worried about the Marie Stantons of the world. She didn’t envy him in the slightest. His was a hard and unappreciative job, much like hers, but she didn’t put her life on the line every day as he did. She took a deep breath and was immediately assaulted with the unique scent of Detective Murphy, a combination of pure raw male and perspiration. The mixture was currently wreaking havoc on her senses. Her leg began to bounce up and down beneath the desk, a sure sign of her frustration.
    “Has she been susceptible to previous counselling?”
    Matt leaned forward in the chair, placing his arms over his thighs. “According to the Director of Paradise Valley, no. In fact, she can be downright antagonistic.”
    “That’s not surprising. Not everyone is interested in spilling their innermost thoughts to a stranger.” The very idea of verbalising her violent past had her quivering slightly. It was her pain alone and not meant to be shared. Natalie leaned back in her seat and regarded him. “What is it you want from her? Surely the police interviewed her back then. What more do you hope to gain from her?”
    Matt held her gaze. “To be honest, the case has gone cold, despite the recent