What Burns Within (36 page)

Daly looked at the box Craig was carrying. “What are you doing?”

“Taking all of this stuff home.”

“You could make copies for Ashlyn to work from.”

“It’s not that. I found Lori snooping through my desk.”

Craig shut the hatch to the back of his Rodeo, locked it and looked at Daly, who was resting a hand on the spare tire on the back of the old sport-utility vehicle.

“I told him she wasn’t ready to come back.”

“For all the good it did. What’s the deal with this anyway? Lori have some kind of clout with Hawkins?”

Daly shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“But he signed off on the plan.”

“On one condition. We have to bring Paul Quinlan in on it, keep him informed.” Daly looked up and met his gaze, and he shrugged. “There’s nothing I can do about it. They don’t want the department to look like it’s dropped the ball on any of the ongoing, pertinent investigations. Hawkins wants us to reassure Quinlan that we’re taking the arsons seriously. Besides, we need someone to facilitate your new career on the department. Quinlan can do that.”

“This means exposing our link about the rape cases.”

“Which affects the fire department as well. They’ve got men on leave, one burying his wife, one hoping his daughter will be found alive. Hawkins felt that someone on the department needed to maintain confidence in us.”

“Like we’re not doing all we can…”

Daly’s fingers drummed the tire, and then he let out a deep breath. “I could call in a few favors to bring in a profiler, but if I do, Hawkins could make it his mission to see you transferred out.”

“Did he say that?”

“He’s made it clear I’m not to step any further outside the boundaries.”

“Look, Dad, we have a chance to maybe make some progress with this. I’m not trying to tell you how to do your job, but I’d hold back a card or two before exposing your hand. If we can work this thing to closure without a profiler, then you still have cards to play. And if we have to do an end-run around Hawkins, we’d better make sure we’re covered so he comes through it looking like the mastermind behind the whole thing.”

“Funny, I never thought of Dennis as one to play the political game on every big decision, particularly when he’s been so uptight about making progress after Lori’s rape.”

“There’s something odd there. If it was anyone else…” Craig shrugged.

Daly turned to walk away. “I know. Believe me, I know.”

Daly had phoned Ashlyn to tell her he wanted to see her in his office when she returned to the station. When she arrived he updated her. “We’ve already had silent alarms set up around all the windows and doors. There was a rental available behind Craig’s, one that bordered the alley. We’ve signed up for it and got a team moving in. They have all the monitoring equipment on site and a clear view of the yard from an upstairs bedroom.”

“I seriously hope they won’t sit up there with binoculars watching the patio doors.”

“Funny. No, we’re putting up a satellite dish, which is really a cover for a camera. The back entrance will be monitored visually from there, and the front entrance will be watched from a remote camera set up from Craig’s house. I still want you keeping all the exterior lights on, Ashlyn. I’d prefer it if we find this guy without him coming after you.”

“Me too.”

She watched the shadow cross his face as he glanced at his desk for a moment, his fingers tapping the surface absently, like they often did when he was thinking hard about something. When he lifted his head to look at her, she felt her gut tighten.

“Daly—”

“Hear me out, Ashlyn. This isn’t a simple assignment. And it’s complicated by the fact that you personally know your partner.”

“I don’t see that as a complication. I see that as a bonus.”

He looked at her for a moment, tried to bury his real concerns. “I just want to make sure you’re comfortable with this.”

“Daly, it’s Craig. I’m perfectly fine with this.”

“Maybe that’s the problem.”

She tossed her hands up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know Craig, and you know Tain. Tain almost covered for you the other day. Your personal relationship with both of them could compromise their judgment. And yours.”

“Personal relationship? We’re colleagues. We work together. I’ve been partnered with Craig and with Tain. Partners have to get to know where each other’s limits are and when to give them some latitude.”

“Ashlyn—”

“Daly, I’m not going to do anything.” She sat up straight as she looked him in the eyes, “I won’t compromise Craig’s safety or my own. I’m simply going to be the doting girlfriend by day and the investigator behind the scenes. I’ll relay everything to Tain, and I’ll make sure every person we come in contact with is screened. That’s it.”

“I’m still not sure about this.”

“Daly, it’s Craig. I’m in good hands. Seriously, you’ve got me working with someone I can trust. That’s all I can ask for.”

He sighed. “There’s a van scheduled to meet you at your apartment in forty-five minutes. They’ll move your stuff.”

For the first time since this idea had come up she looked uncertain.

“You didn’t think we’d go about this halfway, did you? This guy has to believe you and Craig live together, or he’s going to work it out. Guys around the department know you’re a cop, so when you’re out with Craig…” He shrugged.

“I get the idea.”

“Is there anything else you need?”

“Does Craig have Internet access?”

“I don’t know. How crucial is it?”

“I can check some things from our system from remote access, and it will enable me to do online searches for related case information. I’ve been using it at home.”

He reached for his phone. “Then I’ll make sure you’re hooked up.”

When Ashlyn came downstairs from unpacking Craig asked, “Did you have enough room?”

“How many clothes do you think I have?”

He shrugged. “It looked like a lot.”

She opened her mouth to offer a retort and then shook her head. “It wasn’t all clothes, Craig. Pictures, books, stuff that I would actually have at home. You know, to make it look like I really live here.”

“Have you reviewed all the security information?”

Ashlyn nodded as she sank into a chair. “Daly really went overboard.”

“I drew the line at having audio feeds in the bedroom.”

“How thoughtful of you.”

Craig glanced at the coffee table for a moment and then got up. “Can I get you anything?”

“So we’re still in phase one of our relationship, are we?”

“What’s phase one?” he asked as he walked to the kitchen.

“The stage where you still offer to serve me before you start complaining about all the house work I haven’t done all day.”

“I thought I wouldn’t start in about that until tomorrow. Last chance,” he called.

“Cranberry tea.”

“I meant a cold drink.”

“Thought you said anything.” Ashlyn got up and managed to straighten her face by the time she reached the kitchen door. “How do you feel about this? Really?”

She couldn’t see his face because his back was to her. He filled the kettle, located a tea bag and a mug and waited for the kettle to boil. Then he unplugged the kettle and poured the water. He opened the drawer and removed a spoon, all without speaking or looking up.

“I think my dad’s having a coronary.”

“It’s not like we haven’t shared the same roof before.”

“Not the same thing.” He passed her the mug, and she backed out of the doorway, turning on her heel, careful to avoid eye contact.

After she sat down on the smaller couch she blew on her tea for a moment and tested it. Then she looked over at him. “Daly’s not always impartial when it comes to giving me assignments.”

Craig smiled. “I know the feeling.”

There was a knock at the door, and they exchanged a glance.

“That better not be him coming over to check up on us,” Ashlyn said. Craig got up and she listened as he went down the hall and then opened the door.

When Craig returned Tain was following him.

“Have you got your computer set up yet?” he asked her.

She shook her head.

“Then you’d better get to it. Daly wants to make sure everything is working so we’re ready to go tomorrow morning.” He passed her a box. “He’s got you an e-mail account and a messenger system that you can use to relay information directly to him. Daly says he wants you to keep the phone lines clear when you’re home alone, so that the team monitoring you can call and check on any potential false alarms.”

“God. He really is going overboard, isn’t he?” she said as she looked at the laptop and folder in the box. When she got no sympathy from Tain she forced herself to her feet. “Upstairs or downstairs?”

“Phone jack or cable?”

Ashlyn turned to Tain. “Phone.”

“The spare room upstairs has an empty desk and a phone jack,” Craig said.

As soon as Ashlyn left the room, Tain sat down.

Craig frowned. “We haven’t even started. What could possibly—”

“Someone was watching the movers at Ashlyn’s place.”

“Are they sure?”

“Somebody turned down the block and parked, started to get out of their vehicle, and then Ashlyn arrived. The driver didn’t think anything of it until he realized the guy had gotten back into the car and was still sitting there. As soon as Ashlyn went into the building, this guy drove off.”

“Tell me he got a license plate.”

Tain shook his head. “When the guy pulled out, another moving van came down the street, going in the opposite direction. He double parked our guys in. They’d had some words before, and the driver was pretty choked about being held up, waiting to start loading. By the time the argument was over…” Tain shrugged.

“Shit.” Craig’s mouth twisted. Then he looked up at Tain. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs silenced both of them.

“Okay, there. Satisfied? It’s all done, it works, ready to roll.” Ashlyn glanced from Craig to Tain. “What’s going on?”

“Just wondering if you’d be a good little kept woman and get me some dinner. I’m starving,” Tain said. He gave her the most innocent smile he could manage.

Her hands went to her hips, and then she tossed them up. “As it so happens, I think there are leftovers.” She turned on her heel and walked to the kitchen.