Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

her. ‘Actually, that’s a dirty lie. I would love to crowd you. In every possible way. But . . . that’s not why I came. My friend, my old partner Isaac Zacharias, was killed Monday night.’
    ‘By Doug,’ Stevie rasped and reached for the glass of water on her tray. He stepped forward, putting the straw between her lips. She sipped, then fell backward. ‘Thank you. I’m sorry about your friend.’
    ‘Yeah. My friend’s wife is pregnant with their fourth. She’s due soon. She’s . . . a zombie. Just stares into space. We can barely get her to eat.’
    ‘I’m sorry to hear that, of course. But why tell me?’ she asked, the question a warning to back off. But uttered so politely.
    Her father had been right. Her fire was gone and it broke Clay’s heart to see. But he was here for Phyllis Zacharias as much as Stevie Mazzetti. And for myself .
    ‘Because you’ve been there,’ he said flatly and saw her flinch.
    She’d lost her husband and son when she’d been pregnant with Cordelia, but she’d made it through, coming out on the other side stronger by all accounts he’d heard.
    ‘I thought you could talk to her. Maybe get through to her. She’s got family to help with the kids, but that baby’s gonna need her. And she’s gonna need him. If I leave her name and number with your family, can you give her a call when you feel up to it?’
    Her eyes lifted to his. Dark, lovely eyes. Now filled with a pain that made him wish he’d kept his mouth closed. ‘Of course,’ she said. ‘Any way I can help.’
    ‘Good.’ He took a moment, just to study her face. Until she dropped her chin, her gaze fixed back on her hands and he stepped away. ‘Be well . . . Stefania.’
    He’d wanted to use her given name for a very long time. It was what he called her in his mind when he dreamed of holding her in the quiet of the night, sated and content.
    But she didn’t look up, so he turned away. He was almost out the door when she called his name.
    ‘Clay.’ Her chin still down, she looked up at him through her lashes, but not flirtatiously. She was hiding. ‘They told me that you saved my life. Thank you.’
    ‘I’d do it again in a heartbeat,’ he said quietly, ‘because I can’t imagine a world without you in it.’
    She released a ragged breath. ‘I think . . . I think maybe you should try.’
    ‘Try what?’ he asked, unable to mask his dread.
    Then she looked up and his heart crumbled. ‘You want something I may never be able to give you,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t want to hurt you. But I won’t lead you on. You should find someone else to be in your world, Clay. I don’t know if it can ever be me.’
    He stared as her words sank in. He’d come for a definitive answer. Now he had it.
    He nodded, dimly aware that it hurt to breathe. ‘All right. Be happy . . . Stevie.’
    When he got out to the waiting room, he just kept going, not caring who saw him or what they thought. He didn’t slow down until he was outside, the cold air smacking his face. He stopped then, closing his eyes, gritting his teeth through the wave of pain, grateful for the numbness left in its wake.
    He started walking. One foot in front of the other. It was time to work. Because that’s all he had left. Work. Always and only work.
    He’d left Alec and Paige waiting in his car and they looked optimistic as he approached, then sad when they saw his face.
    ‘Let’s play hooky,’ Alec said when Clay was in his car and buckled in. ‘Go play video games in the arcade. Or paintball or something.’
    ‘Or go out for ice cream sundaes,’ Paige added. ‘Something.’
    ‘Nah. Got paperwork to do. Although I appreciate the offer.’ Clay’s cell buzzed as he pulled into traffic. It was the security desk at Daphne’s condo. Time to work . ‘ This is Maynard.’
    ‘This is Tim Lasker, head of security at Inner Harbor. Someone entered Miss Montgomery’s unit earlier today and you asked to be informed. Unfortunately the clerk who’s on duty this shift just came back from vacation and didn’t know to call this in. I just realized the error.’
    ‘Who signed in to the condo?’ Clay asked.
    ‘A Miss MacGregor. Kimberly MacGregor. The time is 11.30 this morning.’
    ‘Is there a vehicle parked in Miss Montgomery’s parking place?’
    ‘Yes. It’s a black van. What would you like me to do?’
    ‘Just make sure Miss MacGregor doesn’t go anywhere. I’ll be there in ten.’ He hung up and hung a