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The Hannaford supermarket was about five et thehts, she was beginning to think that the pair of the to spend eternity in the car

Orin her head hat made it seem like forever

"What&039;s on yourher hands on the wheel, she readjusted herself in the driver&039;s seat "If it turns out that Cecilia Barten is one of Kroner&039;s victio Are you prepared to do that?"

"Yeah I am"

As she looked over, her new partner&039;s jaas tight, his big body tense

"You sure about that" Because she wasn&039;t

"Yeah I am"

Are you a hardheaded sonofabitch who&039;s likely to do what he damn well pleases even if it screws a direct order? Yeah I a lot and started on the spot hunt, her phone went off "Officer Reilly Uh-huh, yes - not a big surprise Really? Okay, and thanks for the update Yes, please keep ed them into a vacancy between an older silver Mercedes and a blue truck

Twisting sideways in her seat, she said, "Kroner&039;s barely hanging on They don&039;t expect hi away "Shame Maybe he knehat happened"

"And the analysis is in from the samples they took off his are not one hundred percent clear as to the source There appear to be siars and wolves Hard to say for sure, but the animal hypothesis continues to look directionally correct"

He nodded and cracked his door open "Mind if I have a s a reaction, after all "Sure"

They got out, and Veck caainst the trunk and taking out a pack of Marlboros - as if aelse? As he lit up, she did her best not to think about all the bras and panties that were separated fro but some layers of sheet metal

He was careful not to exhale anywhere near her or in a direction she was doind of "Bad habit," he muttered, "but no one lives forever"

"Very true"

Leaning against the trunk herself, she crossed her arms over her chest and looked up toward the sun The warmth on her face was a benediction, and she closed her eyes to enjoy it

When she eventually opened her lids again, she was shocked

Veck was staring at her, and there was an expression on his facea sexual speculation that she was al incorrectly

Except then he looked away quick

Not so about work

Abruptly, the spring day&039;s temperature shot up into the tropical, and now she was the one staring at hi" was another word for it

As he brought the cigarette up to his lips, his e, his fore- andthe shaft Oh, hell&039;s bells, she thought S was a deadly, nasty habit she didn&039;t approve ofso it was unsettling to realize all those old Huart movies had not been insane when they&039;d done close-ups like this There was just so Especially as the smoke eased out of his mouth and briefly shadowed his laser-like navy blue eyes and his dark cropped hair

She looked away fast before she got caught -

"So ?" he prompted

"I&039;m sorry, what?"

"I asked what you think"

Right How to answer that: I think all the cherry red I&039;you against this car and riding you like a cowgirl with her hat over her head pretty da

"I need more infor up another one of those bad boys and dropping your pants - "Oh, God - "

"Are you okay?" he said, leaning in and putting his free hand on her ar for lunch?"

You&039;re all but sitting on three bags of what I had ondaddy

"You know" - she cleared her throat - "I probably should eat sohed up anything even remotely like whipped crea in for a transfer away froo inside," he said, snuffing out his Marlboro on the heel of his shoe

Good idea And note to self: No downtime with her temporary partner Ever

They walked over and went through the auto the lineup of carts in the foyer and entering the supermarket proper

When Veck paused and looked around, she ndded to the right "The er&039;s office is this way"

"You shop here?"

"These stores are all laid out pretty ether, he said, "I probably should know this one by heart My house isn&039;t far froroceries?"

"My coffee and cigarettes - healthy, huh"

He sure looked to be in great shape "You can always change your habits"

"You know, I quit for a while The cigs, not the caffeine"

"Whatthat photographer"

Ahhh, so he did have emotions "There&039;s a lot of stress in your job"

"Have you ever been a smoker?"

"No, and I don&039;t really drink I&039;ain, she could be working on one for shopping

And that was the last thought she had on any off-work subject As they went over to custoained Mrs Barten&039;s daughter co here to this store to help out her motheronly to have what should have been a routine trip for groceries turn into a nightmare

Maybe because of Kroner

As she got ready to flash her badge to the ine Veck, or even that hard-ass Agent Heron, beating the ever-loving hell out of the guy But that was not the kind of justice that was going to be served to the serial killer And she wasn&039;t fooling herself: It would not be a surprise to find out Sissy was on Kroner&039;s list of victims, and that possibility was absolutely why Veck was interested in the case

But Reilly played by the rules Always had, alould

First sign this poor girl was one of his victi her case over to de la Cruz, and she was dragging Veck&039;s attention to so else

Even if it killed him

When Veck next checked his watch, it was four thirty The s from the security caer and two cart sweepers to interview No new inforether

She knew just when to co people at ease - which meant they talked more Meanwhile, he tended to scope out the environ, but were showing in their faces

Outside the custoer&039;s hand, and then Reilly did the sauy "We really appreciate it"

"I don&039;t think we helped you at all" The her on his nose "Now or before I feel awful about the whole thing"

"Here&039;s my card" She passed it over "Call me anytime - I&039;m available twenty-four/seven And truly, you&039;ve been open and honest - that&039;s all you can do"

Veck handed his card over as well and then he and Reilly headed for the exit

"Have dinner witha o better than their first Provided he didn&039;t behave like a defensive asshole again

In response, all he got was a slon in her stride and a long hesitation And then an "Ah "

Not a good sign, so he backed the invite up with a valid rationale: "We need to go through the file together in light of the four hours of interviee&039;ve done Might as well eat at the saot to be starved by now"