Free Fatal Tide by Iris Johansen Page A

hardly knew the man.
    No, that wasn’t true. After what they had gone through together, she realized Kelby was not the spoiled, ambitious man she’d imagined him to be. He was hard, but he wasn’t totally ruthless. “I spoke without thinking. I guess I have a suspicious nature.”
    “Yes, you do. But you’re right. You just caught me off guard.” He moved toward the door. “I’ll be here tomorrow morning to pick you up and take you to the funeral. I’m going to go down to the station and try to harass Halley into giving me more information. I have a friend in the hall keeping an eye on you. His name is Nicholas Lyons. He’s big, ugly, has long black hair, and looks like Geronimo. Keep your door locked.” The door slammed behind him.
    She was glad he was gone. He was too strong, too vibrant. She didn’t need her concentration divided, as it always was when Kelby was near. She had to devote all her attention and effort to just getting through the next hours, the next days.
    And decide how to even out the tally.

Chapter Five
    Melis’s phone rang at nine-thirty the next morning. “I’m Nicholas Lyons, Ms. Nemid. Jed’s down at the police station and running a little late. He asked me to take you to the funeral. He’ll join us there.”
    “I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
    “No, I’ll come and get you. There are too many exits, and elevators are never safe. Jed wouldn’t like it if I let you get snatched out from under us. Look through the peephole when I knock. I’m sure Jed described me. Tall, handsome, and chock-full of dignity and charm. Right?”
    “Not exactly.”
    “Then you’ll have a pleasant surprise.” He hung up.
    She glanced at the mirror in the foyer. Thank God she didn’t look as bad as she felt. She was pale but not haggard. Not that Maria’s mother would notice. She would be too devastated to be aware—
    A knock.
    She glanced through the peephole.
    “Nicholas Lyons. See? Jed lied to you.” He smiled. “He’s always been jealous of me.”
    Kelby hadn’t lied. Lyons was at least six foot five, powerfully built, and his shiny black hair was tied back in a queue. His features were so rough-hewn, they could have been called ugly if they hadn’t been interesting. “Well, he wasn’t right when he said you looked like Geronimo.” She unlocked the door. “The only pictures I’ve ever seen of Geronimo were taken when he was an old man.”
    “He was talking about the movie version. Young, dynamic, intelligent, fascinating.” His smile faded. “I’m sorry about your loss. Jed says you’ve been having a bad time. I just want you to know that nothing’s going to happen to you when you’re with me.”
    Strange. She believed him. He exuded a solid strength and determination that was reassuring. “Thank you. It’s good to know I have Geronimo on my side.”
    “And at your side.” He stepped back and gestured. “Let’s get moving. Jed will be worried, and that always makes him difficult.”
    She closed the door and started toward the elevator. “You must know him very well.”
    He nodded. “But it took a hell of a long time. His upbringing didn’t encourage him to give either trust or affection freely.”
    “Did yours?”
    “My grandfather was awesome. Sometimes it only takes one person to make the difference.”
    “You didn’t answer me.”
    “Oh, you noticed that?” He smiled. “What a perceptive woman you—” He suddenly whirled and moved in front of her as the exit door opened beside them. In the space of seconds his entire demeanor had changed from easygoing casualness to threatening intimidation. The waiter carrying a tray who stepped out of the stairwell stopped in his tracks and then took a step back. Melis didn’t blame him. She would have been taken aback too.
    Then Nicholas smiled, nodded at the waiter, and motioned for him to go ahead of them.
    The man scurried quickly down the hall.
    “What was I saying?” Nicholas asked. “Oh, yes, I was saying what