Free Star Witness by Mallory Kane Page A

Dani said, watching the display as she moved toward the window, then across to the kitchen area. She stuck it into her pocket.
    “Your mom wouldn’t take the kids out into a bad storm, would she?” she asked Michele.
    “No, but it might not be bad over there yet, and I doubt she’s been listening to the weather. She likes to play games with them, rather than just sit and watch TV.” She looked at her phone one more time. “She heard me at first, because I heard her say Michele? She’s going to be worried now.”
    “Harte, don’t you think it would be okay if Michele ran by to check on her kids while you’re here?” She turned to Michele. “How far away do you live?”
    “Ten to fifteen minutes, but no. This is my assignment. I’m not supposed to leave my post until I’m relieved.”
    Harte felt Dani’s gaze on him and tried to ignore it. He agreed with Michele that she shouldn’t leave her post.
    “Harte—” Dani started.
    “Okay, okay.” He didn’t like it, but he supposed he could be flexible. After all, he was planning to be here for another couple of hours anyhow. Besides, he wasn’t happy with the lack of cell service.
    “I tell you what,” he said. “As lead prosecutor on this case, I’m relieving you for one hour to go pick up a squad car. I’d like to have one here in case we have a problem. Even if we lose electricity, we’ll have the police radio and a means of transportation that won’t get stopped.”
    Michele looked blankly at him for an instant. “I’m not sure I understand—”
    “Detective, you should pick up a squad car. If you swing by your house on the way, I don’t think it would be out of line.”
    Michele’s face lightened as his meaning sank in.
    “I’ll be here for a couple of hours. But don’t delay. Try to beat the storm.”
    “I will,” Michele said. She grabbed her car keys and headed toward the door. “Back in less than forty-five,” she called over her shoulder.
    “That was really nice of you,” Dani said, sending him a smile.
    “Yeah. Shocking, isn’t it?”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “Not out loud.”
    Dani propped a hand on her hip. “I’m beginning to think that this is not going to be a fun evening.”
    “Depends on your definition of fun, ” he said, gesturing toward the bag with Mama Pinto’s on the front. “I rode all the way back here with the smell of the best jambalaya in the world filling my car. I’m going to eat. All I can say is it better be worth the trip.”
    “Oh, right,” Dani exclaimed. She took the bag from him and peeked inside, inhaling deeply. “Mmm. That’s Mama’s jambalaya all right. Thank you,” she said.
    He angled his head. “Your wish is my command,” he said solemnly.
    “And I thought chivalry was dead,” she murmured.
    “I occasionally slay dragons too,” he shot back as he picked up his briefcase and set it on the kitchen table. “We’ll get started with the prep after we eat.”
    “After we eat?” she echoed, clutching the bag tightly.
    Harte saw the twinkle in her eyes. First time he’d seen one there. It made them appear amber. He liked it. He wanted to see it again. “Hey, I got two orders, even though one looks like enough to feed a family of four.”
    Before he’d finished, she’d dug into the bag and pulled out the two cardboard containers. She shoved one toward him and opened the other, then dug into the bag again and tossed him one of the two plastic forks she found.
    He picked up the fork, but he wasn’t as interested in his jambalaya as he was in watching her. She opened the carton and dug into the mound of rice and shrimp and sausage. She shoved a forkful into her mouth and closed her eyes as she chewed.
    “Best thing I ever ate,” she mumbled, closing her eyes. “Mmm.”
    Harte swallowed hard. The look on her face made his mouth water, but not for food. A spear of pure lust shot through him. He was hungry for her. Grimacing, he forced down a few mouthfuls of jambalaya,