Free Guarding Light by Cate Mckoy Page A

I think you should excuse yourself for a minute and talk to me…"
       "Tash, I don't have time. Bring in the case packets for the agents."
    "But, Jack…" Tasha persisted.
    "Is there a problem?" a male voice enquired.
       Jack moved around Tasha offering his hand to the agent. "No, no, of course not, my assistant was just going to get the updated case packets for you. Hi, Jack Gard, Chief of Detectives." The two men shook hands.
       "Supervisory Special Agent Jose Sanchez, HCD. My partner, Supervisory Special Agent …"
       Jack had been reaching his hand out when he looked into the eyes of Sanchez's partner. "Catlyn!"
       Green clashed with brown. Jack froze with his hand out, staring while some of his questions were answered. Yes, she was ok. Yes she was still gorgeous. Seeing her cold eyes, YES she still hated him.
       "That's right, Catlyn. I wasn't aware you two know each other." Agent Sanchez split a look between him and Catlyn. Jack waited to follow her lead.
       "We don't." She said. "I'm Catlyn Lyte."
       Clearing his throat he stretched out his hand again. "Jack Gard."
       Catlyn looked at the hand he offered, ignoring it, she dipped her head. "Gard."
       The other woman who could make him blush just did. At a lost for a few seconds he heard Tasha's voice. "Please right this way. We have everything all set for you."
       Jack found himself once again thanking God for Tasha. Holy shit! Out of all the ways he dreamed meeting Catlyn again, this didn't come close. This was in an alternate universe.
       Bringing up the rear he followed Tasha and the agents into the murder room. Against a whiteboard the victims' timelines were listed under each of their pictures. The agents went towards the board, both looking it over silently.
       Tasha came over to him, handing him a folder. Last night's victim, slipping the photo out, tacking it to an empty column on the board he took up a marker and quickly put in the information on the latest victim.
       The two agents watched as each item was added. When he was done Jack placed the folder on the conference table.
       Both agents remained silent as they continued to study the board. While they looked at the board Jack looked at Catlyn.
       God she was beautiful. A couple of inches taller, hair no longer jet black but a dark brown streaked with a lighter brown, feathered in flattering waves falling past her shoulders. It was what Tasha called salon magic. He didn't even pretend to understand what-all women did in those salons but he had to admit he loved the results. Her breasts were bigger and even sexier if that were possible. Her waist tiny, cinched with a belt. On the belt her weapon looked huge compared to her waist. Her badge glistened brightly in the front. A cell phone was clipped on the opposite side of her gun. With her hands on her hips, it accentuated her womanly curves and highlighted how small her waist was, how nicely curved her hips and ass were. There was something clipped to the back of her pants as well but her jacket partially covered it. Jack assumed they were cuffs.
       Catlyn faced her partner, took off her jacket, draping it across a chair. She gathered her thick hair, creating a tight ponytail with her hand. She put her back to the whiteboard, lining her face up with the victims' pictures. Tilting her chin this way and that she asked her partner, "What do you think?"
       "You're right again." Her partner smiled at her. "It's disgusting how you can pass for twenty-something when you're almost forty?"
       Horrified, realization dawned on Jack. "Hell, no!" He hadn't realized he'd spoken aloud, or rather growled aloud, until all pairs of eyes turned on him with varying degrees of shock.
       "Excuse me?" Agent Sanchez raised his brows.
       "That's right. Excuse you." Pointing to the door he rapped out, "You too Tash."
       "Now just a min-"Agent Sanchez began. Jack grabbed the other man's arm and