Bayou Heat by Georgia Tribell Page A

you’re going to read all of that again.”
    Rob had flipped back to the beginning of the file and now
held a highlighter in one hand.
    “Can we please go back to my place so I can have something
to do while you work?” Eris hated the note of desperation that sounded in her
voice but couldn’t seem to keep it at bay.
    To her surprise, Rob started packing up his work. “Sorry. I
have a tendency to get a little carried away when it comes to research. I’m
ready if you are.”
    Eris controlled the urge to bolt for the door like a caged
animal being set free and forced herself to walk at a normal pace. She needed
to get a grip because these feelings were just silly and so not her. The
ringing of a phone broke the silence.
    “Hello?”
    Eris turned to see Rob answering his cell phone. He looked
at her then turned his back.
    “I can’t talk now,” he responded to the caller, followed by
a brief silence. “Look, I’ll call you when I can.”
    Rob fell into another silence and she watched as his back
stiffened then he turned to her.
    “Would you mind waiting in the lobby for me?”
    “No, not at all.” She closed the door softly behind her.
     
    The uncertainty that flashed in Eris’ eyes was like a knife
to his gut. He didn’t pretend to understand why she felt the way she did, but
it made him mad as hell that he’d been forced into that position.
    “These phone calls cannot persist at anytime of the day or
night. You’re granddaughter is one sharp woman and if you keep this up, she’s
going to figure out what we’re doing.”
    There was a moment of silence, followed by a deep, rough
laugh. “If that little speech was meant to scare me off, son, you’ve got a long
way to go.” Criswell’s voice boomed over the line.
    Rob resisted the urge to simply disconnect and put an end to
the conversation. “What is it you want?”
    “A report. Why else would I be calling?”
    “Look, I gave you one last night.”
    “That you did, and I want another.”
    “When I have something new to tell you, I’ll call.”
    “You’d better, and don’t you forget who’s paying the bill.”
Criswell disconnected.
    Rob put the phone on vibrate and dropped it into his pocket.
Out in the lobby, he found Tammie behind the receptionist’s desk, chatting with
one of the new part-time detectives they used. She smiled at him and he raised
an eyebrow, then she pointed to the far side of the room.
    Eris stood alone beside the elevators with her back to the
small group. The carpeted floor silenced his approach. He couldn’t help but
wonder why she wasn’t over with the others. As he closed the distance between
them, he realized she was swaying from side to side. Uneasiness started to take
root.
    “Eris.” She didn’t respond to his softly spoken voice. He
circled her and noticed how pale her skin was. Her large green eyes stared
vacantly into space.
    She shivered then wrapped her arms around herself and
shivered again.
    “What’s wrong?” He wrapped his arms around her.
    “Don’t you feel it?”
    Her voice was so weak that he instinctively held her
tighter. “No, I don’t feel anything.” Unless you count this deep uncertainty
in how to handle you? “What do you feel? Tell me.”
    “I don’t know how to explain it.”
    “Simple words would be best for me.” He felt her chuckle and
somehow that made him feel better.
    “Evil. I feel pure, uncensored hatred. It’s the same feeling
I picked up at Indulgence while following Orbit’s trail and last night outside
my door.”
    “You’re telling me the killer has been here, in our
offices?”
    “I’m not sure.”
    Rob held Eris at arm’s length so he could look into her
eyes. “This isn’t a game. We don’t have the luxury of tracking down ‘what ifs’
and ‘maybes’.”
    Fire sparked in her eyes as she stepped out of his hold.
“I’m not playing games, but let me see if I can explain this in words you’ll be
capable of comprehending.”
    Rob worked at hiding