Free After Dark by Jayne Castle Page B

unable to figure out where to go with that.
    â€œI have to tell you, it was almost flattering in a way,” Lydia continued.
    She was on a roll. Emmett was amused. Nevertheless, it was time to intervene.
    â€œCops always question the people who find the victim,” London said easily. “Naturally they talked to Lydia. They also talked to me. I was with her when she discovered the body. But the detective in charge made it clear that she’s not seriously interested in either of us. We both have alibis.”
    â€œSome of us have better alibis than others,” Lydia murmured.
    Emmett ignored that. He kept his attention on Ryan. “Apparently Brady had a lot of disgruntled friends, clients, and associates. The police think one of them did him in.”
    â€œMakes sense.” Ryan seized the opportunity to change the subject. “Anyway, it’s great to see you looking so well, Lydia.”
    â€œAmazing, isn’t it? I managed not to go stark-staring bonkers after all. At least, not yet. But never fear, there’s always hope. I might still go over the edge one of these days.”
    Ryan had the grace to turn red. “You can’t blame your friends for worrying about you.”
    â€œIf my so-called friends had been genuinely worried about me, they would have seen to it that I got my old job back after the doctors turned me loose,” she said much too sweetly.
    She was not going to let up, Emmett realized. He wondered how Ryan had ever come to the conclusion that she was too delicate to continue in her archaeological work.
    Kelso managed an expression of polite confusion. “I’m not sure what you’re implying, Lydia. The decision to, uh, release you from your university contract—”
    â€œYou mean fire me.”
    â€œThe decision was made by the administration,” Ryan said quickly. “You know that. It wasn’t a departmental decision.”
    â€œGive me a break.” She made a small but unmistakably disgusted sound. “We both know the administration takes the recommendation of the department heads. Why don’t you just be honest about the whole thing? You figured I was a candidate for the funny farm, and that’s what you told the academic council.”
    â€œLydia, we were all devastated by what happened to you.”
    â€œBut not devastated enough to let me come back to the department.”
    â€œAs chairman of the department, I have a grave responsibility. I couldn’t take the risk of sending you out with the team after what happened. I had to keep your best interests in mind.”
    â€œIf you were really that nervous about my para-psych profile, you wouldn’t have had to send me back out into the Dead City right away. You could have let me work in the labs for a while until everyone was convinced that I wasn’t going to freak under stress.”
    Ryan’s frown of earnest concern darkened into annoyance. He glanced hastily around the restaurant, clearly uncomfortable, searching for an excuse to get himself out of what had become an awkward situation.
    â€œPolicy is policy,” he said stiffly. “What you’ve got to remember, Lydia, is that your para-psychological health is the most important element in the equation. You went through a brutal experience. Got to allow yourself plenty of time to recover.”
    â€œI’m fully recovered, Ryan.”
    â€œTell you what,” he said a little too heartily. “Give yourself another six months and then reapply to the department. I’ll make sure your application gets special consideration.”
    â€œGee, thanks, Ryan. But six months from now I won’t need my old job. I expect to have my own full-time consulting business up and running.”
    He looked slightly disconcerted. “You’re going private?”
    â€œThat’s right. I’m already working at it part-time.”
    â€œI hadn’t