With the paramedic gone and the captain getting briefed by the officer who’d arrived first on the scene, Kane turned his focus on Catherine. “You’re Catherine, right?”
“And you’re the dick who used my sister.”
He didn’t see any point in mentioning the using had been mutual. Kayla had been dressed and ready to walk out on him first. “You don’t know anything about it.”
“I know enough, and I doubt that official-looking guy in the suit would appreciate that you slept with a…what was Kayla, anyway? A suspect?”
“What makes you think that?”
“The way junior was grilling her.” She jerked her thumb toward the uniformed officer.
“Leave it alone, Catherine,” Kane warned her in a harsh tone.
She placed her hands on her hips. “Because you say so?”
“Because I promise you she won’t get hurt again.” He’d make sure of that.
Catherine narrowed green eyes that reminded him of her sister’s. “Prove yourself and we’ll see.”
He didn’t need the aggravation of an overprotective sister at this stage in the investigation, which was by no means over. And yet he couldn’t help admiring the fierce way she shielded her sister, and a pang of regret lanced through him. He’d never had anyone to look out for him. “Go check on Kayla,” he muttered.
“I’ll be watching you, McDermott, if that’s even your real name.” Catherine returned to her sister’s side, and Kane made his way over to Reid.
“Looks like things are heating up,” Kane said.
“It looks like a botched robbery,” his captain countered. “She walked in too soon.”
Kane shook his head, his instincts screaming in protest.
“Nothing taken, nothing missing,” the junior officer said. “But the lady claims the assailant was looking for cash she doesn’t have.”
“The night’s take?” Reid asked.
The officer shrugged. “I hadn’t gotten that far in my questioning.”
Kane pinned him with an accusing glare. “Because you need to work on your technique. Grilling victims like suspects isn’t doing your job.”
Reid glanced back and forth between the two men, settling his gaze on the uniformed cop. “Get back to work. We’ll talk later.” The younger man took the hint and headed for the room that had been ransacked. “Could be coincidence,” Reid said.
Kane shook his head.
“She help you any?” He pointed to Kayla.
“She still doesn’t know what last night was about.” And he wasn’t looking forward to enlightening her.
“You’re certain she wasn’t tipped off about us and canceled activities last night?”
“Convince yourself. Have a talk with her yourself.”
Reid nodded and walked over to Kayla and her sister. Kane made himself scarce and strolled the perimeter of the small outer room instead. By the time the captain returned, Kane realized Kayla had turned this place into a reflection of herself. Books lined the metal shelving on the back wall, the topics wide and varied.
“You’re right.”
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he turned to his superior. “She’s as much in the dark as we are,” Kane said.
“Seems that way. She’s bright and can hold her own in conversation but if she’s lying about her knowledge, I’d eat my badge, like you said. None of the signs were there. As for the sister, I wouldn’t want to fall into that mouth again, but I doubt she knows anything, either.”
“Kayla’s in danger.” The knowledge sent a flood of emotion shooting through his veins. He welcomed the rush of adrenaline but not the depth of caring she drew from inside him. But he meant to keep his promise to Catherine. He’d keep her safe.