The Silence That Speaks (Forensic Instincts 4)

That’s it. Emma was done. Bad enough that she’d wasted her entire night out with this sketchy loser, but she didn’t need him groping her ass, looking for a hookup, too.

Furious, she stalked out of the club, slamming down those four-inch stilettos with every step. She pushed past the sweaty, drunk people congregating around the door and made her way outside.

Instead of taking the hint, Roger weaved his way out of the club, as well, grabbing Emma’s arm just as she was taking off.

“What the hell?” he slurred. “Where are you going?”

“Far away from you.” She tried to shake off his iron grip. “We came here to get to know each other, not to screw on the dance floor. Get your fucking hands off me.” She pushed him away with her other hand.

“You bitch.” His grip didn’t loosen. “You’ve been coming on to me for weeks. Now you take me to this sexy club and wear a dress that makes every guy in the place get hard. But you wore it for me. I’m just taking what you offered.”

He pulled her against him, kissing her with wet, drunken lips and groping at her breast with his free hand.

Fortunately, he missed her transmitter by about two inches.

Emma was about to slam her knee into his groin when a familiar voice interrupted her.

“Emma? Hey.” Ryan stopped beside them, a leashed Hero sitting obediently beside him. “Sorry to break this up, but I’ve been calling you for weeks. Too busy to meet with an old friend?” He winked at her.

“Ryan.” Emma moved away from Roger—whose hand had dropped and who looked totally stupefied—and stepped closer to Ryan. “You know I’m never too busy for you.” She gave him a suggestive, intimate smile. “Work and school have just been crazy. This is my first night out in ages.”

She squatted down and stroked Hero’s head. “How are you, boy?” she murmured. “Have you and your daddy been playing tug-of-war with that stuffed snake I got you?”

“Nonstop,” Ryan assured her. “He won’t put it down.” Another wink. “I know the feeling.”

Emma turned to Roger, whose face was bright red now—either with embarrassment or anger, Emma wasn’t sure. Nor did she care.

“Roger, you and I are finished here, anyway,” she informed him in an icy voice. “I’m going to take off with my friend. See you at work.”

She linked her arm through Ryan’s and, without a backward glance, walked away with him and Hero.

“Thanks,” she muttered. “I appreciate the reinforcements. Although I was kind of looking forward to kneeing his balls through his nose.”

Ryan grinned. “An interesting image. Think I’ll erase it.” He gave her that big-brotherly glance. “You okay?”

“Other than the fact that I can’t wait to take a shower and wash his slimy hands and mouth off me, yes.” She leaned over to pat Hero again. “You did a great job, Hero. You and Ryan probably kept me out of jail for assault charges.”

“That’s a plus. By the way, I’d suggest you come back to the office with me and change your clothes,” Ryan said. “Riding the subway in that outfit? Not a good idea.”

“Agreed.” Emma sighed. “I hope Casey’s not pissed, but my romance with Loser is over.”

“She won’t be pissed. You strung Roger along for more than enough time. We’re now into diminishing marginal returns. It’s not worth putting you through this charade any longer. Now he can go home and puke up his LIT.”

30

IT WAS THE middle of the night.

Janet was standing like a sentry at her window, watching the traffic thin down to near-nothing and the sidewalks become empty of pedestrians.

She checked her watch—again: 2:05 a.m.

It was time.

She turned away from the window and went to gather her things. She’d prepped in every way she could. She’d stopped at Nuthouse Hardware on her way home from Lusardi’s to pick up what she needed. Fortunately, she’d driven her car to the restaurant. She didn’t like riding subways at night. She’d rather deal with traffic and pay for parking. Besides, she was already on the East Side, so it wasn’t a major hassle.

As luck would have it, she didn’t have to pay a dime or go to a parking garage when she reached home. There was an unoccupied parking space on the street diagonally across from her apartment.

Janet had parked her sedan and carried everything up to her apartment. There’d be no leaving her purchases in the car. It was way too risky. Plus, everything needed repacking—in the unlikely event that someone saw her in her travels.