He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not

help with the investigation?”
    “Absolutely. I’m great with computers. Is there something along those lines you need? Maybe I could help catalog the case files into a database, index them, build an algorithm to cross-check interviews for commonalities, look for patterns, something like that.”
    “You could do that?” Pierce called out from the doorway. He glanced at Logan. “Sorry for interrupting. I came back to tell you Riley has a new lead: a friend of Carolyn’s who might have remembered someone suspicious hanging around a couple of weeks before she was abducted.”
    “Someone local?” Logan asked.
    “No, someone at FSU. Riley took Clayton with him. They’re driving up to Tallahassee now. Should be back by morning.”
    “Sounds good.” Logan turned back to Amanda, a thoughtful look on his face. “Most of the data is already in a database, but that algorithm you mentioned might be useful. How long would it take to build something like that?”
    “Not long, depending on the kind of computer system you have, and depending on the amount of data. A day or two, at most. If I can remote in from home, use my own equipment, I could get it done faster.”
    “Sounds like a great idea,” Pierce said. “Nelson could show her the files and how they’re organized right now. He’s the closest thing to a computer expert on my team. And you could give her an overview of the investigation.”
    “Not so fast,” Logan said. “Can you give us a minute?” He stared pointedly at the door.
    Pierce looked reluctant to leave, but he nodded. “I’ll be in the main conference room.” He stepped outside, closing the door behind him with a sharp click.
    “Why are you doing this?” Logan asked.
    “What do you mean? I told you, I want to help.”
    “I know what you said, but I also know what happened when you saw those photographs. The data, as you called it, is just as graphic as those pictures. I’m not so sure that letting you read the reports is a good idea.”
    She straightened her shoulders, not at all pleased with the impression she’d obviously given him. He probably thought she was weak. She really couldn’t blame him since he’d seen her at her worst from the moment he’d met her. Was she weak? Perhaps, in some ways, but she truly believed she could help if he’d only let her. “I wasn’t prepared before. I am now. I can handle it.”
    He looked skeptical, like he didn’t believe her, but she could tell he wanted to.
    Irritation had her clenching her fists. “Look,” she said. “I want to find Dana’s killer as much as you do. After the attack, I kind of . . . checked out. It took a long time for me to get to a place where I could really function again. And when you came to my house the other day, I was still getting over the shock of finding out the man who’d attacked me was back in town. But I’m over that now. I’m really okay. And I’m the best damn programmer around. Please, let me do this one thing. Let me help you find Dana’s killer before he kills someone else.”
    His lips twitched and his mouth curved up in a half-smile. “The best damn programmer around, huh?”
    She couldn’t help but respond to his smile with one of her own. “The very best.”
    “All right. You’ve convinced me.” He opened the door. “Let’s go see Agent Nelson.”
    “A re you hungry?” Logan asked.
    Since he and Amanda were the only ones in his office, she had to assume he was talking to her. Was he asking her out? Dread pooled in her stomach even as her pulse leaped with excitement. The sound of crinkling paper made her realize she was crushing the computer printout in her lap. She smoothed out the paper and looked across the desk at Logan, not sure what to say.
    He held both his hands up as if to stop any crazy thoughts going through her head. “I’m not asking you out on a date. I thought you might want a bite to eat since it’s getting late. My treat, to thank you for putting up with the interrogation earlier, and for agreeing to help organize all this mess.” He pointed to the printouts of files they’d both been poring over in preparation for her to start working online with all the information.
    “I promised to take some evidence to the sheriff in Okaloosa County this afternoon to pay back a favor.” He stood and shrugged into the jacket he’d hung on the back of his chair. “You could go with me and we could stop somewhere out of the way for dinner, somewhere private