Free Classified by Debra Webb Page B

word we’re headed her way and disappear. We’ll have some time to get the lay of the land. Develop a feasible plan.”
    Total silence, then all that. Wow. His response to her in-depth assessment went by the wayside as she leaned forward and closely inspected the dash. “What’re you looking for?” The interior lights in this old pickup were worthless. That aside, he could make out the shape of her derriere quite well in the moonlight.
    “A place to plug in my cell charger. I’m hoping I’ll have service when we get closer to the city.”
    “You’re out of luck, I think.” He doubted this old thing had a cigarette lighter, much less a car charger outlet.
    She blew out a disgusted breath and plopped back in the seat. “That’s just great. I guess it’ll wait until we get a room.”
    Levi took a mental pause. “ A room.”
    She looked at him. He didn’t have to turn his head to see; he could feel the glare as surely as if the noonday sun was glinting against the windows.
    “Do you really believe I’m going to let you out of my sight with the information we have now?” She faced forward. “Not happening, partner. ”
    Once again, not exactly a hardship. Generally he was the one doing the asking when it came to sharing a room with the opposite sex. Under considerably different circumstances, of course.
    “We’re partners now, are we?” To his way of thinking partners was a step up from working together.
    “Don’t make too much of it, Stark.” She finger combed her hair. “It’s only out of necessity.”
    “Naturally.” Levi propped a smile in place. “Our options were limited.”
    “Exactly,” she agreed. “I’m in enough trouble at work already. I have no desire to explain shooting a civilian while I’m on vacation. You wouldn’t believe the paperwork involved.” That explained everything, he thought with a mental eye roll. He should feel incalculably lucky. He guessed she was military or CIA. She had all the right moves but not the look he associated with either so maybe not. “Glad I’m just a civilian to you.” He adjusted his grip on the steering wheel. “Glad I’m just a P.I., too. I’ve never had to complete any paperwork when I shot someone.”
    “You really are a comedian, Stark.”
    And with that came more silence.
    Just when they were getting to know each other.
    He stole a glance at his new partner. She’d leaned against the door and closed her eyes. Not that he could blame her. One of them should get some sleep.
    He’d driven to Acapulco when he’d arrived in the country. The route wasn’t that complicated. A navigator wouldn’t be necessary until he reached the city.
    Too bad this old heap didn’t have a radio.
    “You’re not from the south or the west.”
    He smiled. “Couldn’t sleep, huh?” She liked slipping in those little questions at the most unexpected moments in hopes of prompting an automatic answer.
    “I’m from Southern California,” she announced, shifting into a more upright position so that her head rested against the rear window of the cab.
    “That doesn’t narrow it down much.” She fit the profile of a Southern California girl. Sleek, tanned body with long blond hair. And it explained the lack of any distinguishable accent and the total absence of manners.
    “I grew up in L.A. You?”
    “Florida.”
    She was staring at him again. “You don’t get out much, do you?”
    She also liked to keep a man humble. He, unlike her, had no tan. There wasn’t a lot of beach time in Chicago. Work had kept him on overtime for the past year. “I don’t live there now.”
    “I bet you don’t like the cold climate of your new home.”
    Now she was fishing. Most any state, outside California and Hawaii, would have colder winters than Florida. “Not particularly.”
    “Married?”
    “No.”
    “Engaged?”
    “No.” He sent her a surprised look. “You’re interrogating me?”
    “ If I were interrogating you, Stark, a gun would be involved.”