Dying to Know by T. J. O'Connor

Professor Stuart.”
    Oh, really? Angel never mentioned that to me. Spence was
    scribbling again and when I looked over at Carmen, she was
    watching him too, anxious that he was taking so long making
    notes. As much as I hated to admit it, Spence was learning things
    I never knew.
    “I’m sure it was nothing,” she added.
    “Interesting,” Spence said, “another suitor?”
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    “No, Detective. You have it all wrong.”
    Clemens held up a hand. “Now, Miss Delgado, let’s get back to
    Bear. Did you ever know him and Angela to do anything un-
    usual? You know, secretive or anything?”
    “You’re saying they’re having an affair?” Carmen wagged a
    finger at him. “They aren’t.”
    “Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t.”
    Spence’s cell phone rang. He took the call and announced
    where he and Clemens were. Then he added, “And Miss Belgada
    suggested that Bear may have been involved with Dr. Tucker. In-
    teresting, huh, Cap?”
    “You bastard.” I grabbed the cell phone in his hand and tried
    to wrench it free.
    Rage overflowed from me. My fingers tingled and I felt them
    grip his cell phone. I wrenched Spence’s hand and phone away
    from his ear. Energy surged through me. The rush felt like I’d
    mainlined a hundred cups of coffee with a five-pound sugar
    chaser.
    Spence’s face flashed surprise and he twisted toward me, un-
    seeing, at the same instant I let go of his hand. For that instant, our eyes met but he recovered and returned to his cal .
    His voice was edgy and uncertain. “Yeah, yeah, Captain. I’l
    get back to you.” He put the cell on the table.
    “You bastard.” Carmen was on her feet. “I never said that. You
    twisted my words.”
    “Did I?” he said. “We never said ‘affair.’ You did.”
    Clemens frowned. “Come on, let it go, Mike.”
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    “Go to hel , the two of you.” Carmen was done. “Leave or I’l
    call security.”
    Spence laughed. “We’re the cops, sweetie. Security can kiss
    my ass. I’m not through with you yet.”
    “Yes you are.” Carmen nearly ran out the door.
    “Fine, Miss Delgado,” Spence called after her. “Have it your
    way. We’ll be back.”
    “You better lighten up, Mike,” Clemens said. “She’s pissed.”
    “Mark my words, partner. She’s hiding something. She’s cov-
    ering for Angela—or Bear—I’ll bet you anything.”
    “I think you’re out of your mind, Mikey. You better hope Del-
    gado doesn’t tell Bear about this.”
    “Screw him.” Spence winked at Clemens and started dialing his
    cell phone again. “Let’s see if Professor Stuart can spill on Angela, too. She seems to be a real popular girl around here. Real popular.”
    Enough.
    I grabbed his cell phone with one hand and swatted his coffee
    cup sitting on the table with the other. The cup flipped forward
    and dumped its steaming contents into Spence’s lap.
    “Son of a bitch.” He jumped up, swatting at his crotch. “What
    the …”
    “How did you do that?” Clemens roared.
    I went to the doorway and watched Carmen throwing office
    supplies around her desk. Her answers to Spence’s questions
    bothered me. Her body language suggested something I didn’t
    like—deception. I didn’t want to admit it, but Spence was right
    about one thing.
    Carmen Delgado was hiding something.
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    eig hteen
    Woof.
    Hercule? When I turned around to see what Spence and Cle-
    mens were doing, Hercule barked again. Instead of the confer-
    ence room, I was back in my den. Herc was sitting in the center
    of the room; head cocked and tail wagging.
    He moaned and lay down. My popping in and out was unset-
    tling him. It was unsettling me, too.
    “Sorry, pal. I’m trying to get the hang of all this.”
    Woof.
    He followed me into the kitchen where I sat at the table and
    considered Carmen Delgado’s interrogation. She had worked for
    Angel for years and her loyalty was unquestionable. Stil , she was concealing something. That bothered me. After all, this was a
    murder