The Darkest Kiss (Riley Jenson Guardian 6)

"But he never said anything about it to you?"

"Nope."

"How soon after that did he start taking drugs?"

He puffed on the cigarette for several seconds. "I'm not really sure. I found him drunk a couple of times after the interview, but I couldn't give you a definitive time as to when he started on the drugs."

"Did he drink before then?"

"He was a teenager. We all drank. Part of the culture, isn't it?"

Well no, but that was beside the point. If Jake wasn't seriously drinking or taking drugs before Young's disappearance, then something must have happened for him to start afterward.

But what? That was the million-dollar question, and one probably only the investigator at the time would be able to answer. I glanced at my watch. But not now. Though it was barely ten-thirty, a retired police officer might get a little pissed off at being rung at this hour of the evening.

"Well, thanks again for your help, Mr. Cowden. I appreciate it."

"No problem," he said, and got back to his smoke.

I headed back out to my car. Now what? The charity event wouldn't be finished yet, but I doubted the bakeneko would appear back there. She wasn't that stupid. And I certainly didn't want to go back looking like a mess.

But I didn't want to go home alone, either.

Decision time, I thought, but knew the reality was that there was no real decision to be made. Because there was only ever one thing I could do. Only one thing I wanted to do.

I grabbed the phone and dialed Quinn's number. It rang for several seconds, then his warm voice said rather formally, "O'Conor speaking."

"Quinn? Riley."

"This is a pleasant surprise," he said, the lilt in his voice returning twofold and his tone dropping an octave. "I wasn't actually expecting to see or hear from you at all tonight."

"I need to talk to you." Need to kiss you, caress you, make love to you. God, I was making myself hot just thinking about it.

"Right away?"

"As soon as you can get away."

"That can be done immediately. These functions are a duty, not a pleasant pastime." He hesitated. "Would you like to meet for coffee, or shall we just go back to my hotel room?"

I hesitated. I actually hesitated. God, Kellen leaving me had done my heart more harm than I'd even imagined. "Hotel room. I need information on the Trollops."

"I hope that's not all you need," he said, low voice sending shivers of delight down my spine.

"Probably not."

"Good. I'll be waiting at the Langham's main entrance in ten minutes."

"I'll be there."

I hung up, flung the phone into my bag, and started up the car. For the first time in ages, excitement buzzed through my veins and I couldn't help the silly grin that stretched my lips.

Yeah, Quinn and I had problems. Yep, we could be bad for each other - but we could also be damn good together. And I needed that right now. I really did.

I made it to the Langham in record time and parked in the underground lot nearby. The rates were a killer, but I didn't care.

Quinn was waiting near the main doors. His warm gaze slid down me, heating my skin to greater degrees, then stopped when it reached my sensible black shoes.

"What happened to the pretty green ones you were wearing?"