Playing With Fire by Taylor Lee Page B

containers along the
conveyer belt. Pushing Erin in front of him through the security gate, he nodded
at the guard then snatched up their belongings from the trays. He handed Erin
her purse and stuffed his keys in his pocket. Grabbing hold of Erin’s elbow, he
pulled her closer to him.
    Nate was waiting for them in the center of the anteroom. He
was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Dan Coulter and Peter Maze stood on either
side of him. Nate’s voice was quiet, and laced with cold anger.
    “Since when do you interfere in police business,
Lieutenant?”
    Connor stepped back, not hiding his surprise at his cousin’s
tone.
    “What the hell is going on, Nate? What is this about?”
    Nate glanced at Erin. She looked fragile as fine glass — as
though she would shatter at any moment. When she looked up at him, her eyes
were wide, her face pale. She closed her eyes as if she couldn’t look at him,
then stared at the floor. That pained look said it all. Anger flooded him. He
turned back to Connor.
    “I repeat, Lieutenant. Since when do you interfere with the
police?”
    Connor took a half step forward, his eyes blazing.
    “What the hell are you talking about, Nate? What’s going on?
You send a squad to my firehouse to pick up one of my rookies —
who just happens to be Erin — and you don’t expect me to be involved? What the
hell is going on? Who do the hell do you think you are?”
    Nate’s voice was ice.
    “I’ll tell you who I am. I am the lead homicide detective on
this police force. Because you are an officer in a corresponding discipline,
Lieutenant, I’ll overlook your insubordination. But it is not going without
notice. In answer to your question, I asked my officers to bring Ms. McFadden
to the station because I want to ask her some questions.”
    “ Ms. McFadden ? You mean Erin? ” Connor’s voice
rose several decibels.
    Attempting to quell his fury that was threatening to flare,
Nate glared at his cousin, his stance warning him to back off.
    Connor glanced around the anteroom. A number of policemen
had stopped and were staring at them. Connor made a visible effort to control
his anger. His voice dropped.
    “What kind of questions? About what? Answer me, Nate.”
    Nate took a deep breath. He forced himself to speak calmly.
He didn’t know how much longer he could contain his growing rage. He spoke
slowly.
    “Connor. I’m gonna give you a chance to back off. I suggest
you take it.”
    Connor’s face flamed.
    Nate was at least three inches taller than Connor. But what
Connor lacked in height, he made up in heft. The electricity between the two
men zinged across the room.
    Connor’s voice was as low, as dangerous as Nate’s.
    “I’m not going to do that, Nate. I’m not going to do that to
Erin, unless you tell me what is going on.”
    Nate clenched his fists at his sides. He took another deep
breath and then nodded at Erin.
    “All right. I’ll tell you what Erin already knows. Take a
look at her face, Connor, if you don’t believe me.”
    Connor looked down at Erin and frowned. He put his arm
around her and pulled her up closer to him, then glared at Nate.
    Nate met his gaze.
    “We have new information on the murder victims.”
    “The ones in the fire?”
    “Yes. I want to ask Erin about them.”
    Connor’s expression was incredulous.
    “You want to ask her about the victims? You think she has
information? That she knows something about them that she hasn’t said?”
    Nate nodded.
    “Jesus. You mean she… she’s under some kind of suspicion?
Are you nuts , Nate? Erin? You’ve got to be joking!”
    “Do I look like I’m joking, Lt. Lang?”
    Connor frowned and looked at Nate and then to Erin. When she
just shook her head, his frown deepened. He whirled back to his cousin.
    “You goddamn better read her her rights, Nate. I don’t like
this one bit. I’m not letting her go anywhere with you. Not until you Mirandize
her. You hear me, Nate? I don’t trust you.”
    Nate managed to