Free Night Shield by Nora Roberts Page A

a damn shrimp on the pavement.”
    “He’ll get up. Right, Dennis?” Elegant and unruffled in black, Jonah crouched down beside the groaning man. “You’re going to get up, you’re going to walk away. And you’re not going to come back here in this lifetime. You’re going to stay very far away from Allison. In fact, if you find out that by some mischance you’re breathing the same air, you’ll hold your breath and run in the opposite direction.”
    Dennis struggled to his hands and knees, retched. Tears swam in his eyes, but behind them was a rage that drilled in his head like a diamond bit. “You’re welcome to her.” Pain radiated through him as he stumbled to his feet. “She’ll use you, then toss you aside. Just like she did me. You’re welcome to her,” he repeated, then limped away.
    “Looks like you’re all mine now.” Jonah straightened, flicked fingers down his shirt as if removing some pesky lint. “But if you’re going to start using me, I’d prefer we do it inside.”
    “It’s not funny.”
    “No.” He studied her face, the shadowed eyes and the pity in them. “I can see that. I’m sorry. Why don’t you come inside, take a few minutes up in my office until you’re feeling steadier.”
    “I’m okay.” But she turned away, dragged the clip out of her hair as if it were suddenly too tight. “I don’t want to talk about it now.”
    “All right.” He put his hands on her shoulders, used his thumbs to press at the tension. “Take a minute anyway.”
    “I hate having him touch me, and I feel lousy because I hate it. I don’t think it jeopardized the cover.”
    “No. According to Pete, some dude walked in, you flipped and dragged him out.”
    “Anybody asks, I’ll keep it close to the truth. Ex-boyfriend who’s hassling me.”
    “Then stop worrying.” He turned her around. “And stop feeling guilty. You’re not responsible for other people’s feelings.”
    “Sure you are, when you help make them. Anyway.” She lifted a hand to the one he still rested on her shoulder, patted it. “Thanks. I could have handled him, but thanks.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    He couldn’t stop himself from leaning into her, drawing her close. He watched her lashes lower, her mouth lift to his. And was a breath away from tasting her when the light spilled over them.
    “Oh. Sorry.” Frannie stood, framed in the door where kitchen noise clattered, a lighter in one hand, a cigarette at the ready in the other.
    “No.” Ally broke away, furious with herself for forgetting her priorities. “I was just going back in. I’m already late.” She flicked one look at Jonah, then hurried back inside.
    Frannie waited until the door swung shut, then stepped over to lean back against the wall. She flicked on her lighter. “Well,” she said.
    “Well.”
    She blew out smoke on a sigh. “She’s beautiful.”
    “Yes, she is.”
    “Smart, too. It comes across.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Just your type.”
    This time he angled his head. “You think so?”
    “Sure.” The tip of her cigarette glowed as she lifted it to her lips. “Classy. Class shows. She suits you.”
    It troubled him, more than he’d imagined it would, to dance around the truth with an old friend. “We’ll see how well we fit.”
    Frannie moved a shoulder. But she’d already seen. They fit like lock and key. “Was there trouble with that suit?”
    Jonah glanced in the direction Dennis had taken. “Nothing major. An ex who doesn’t like being an ex.”
    “Figured it was something like that. Well, if it matters, I like her.”
    “It matters, Frannie.” He walked to her, touched a hand to her cheek. “You matter, and always have.”

Chapter 5
    Six days after the Chamberses’ burglary, Ally stood in her lieutenant’s office. To save time, she’d already changed into her waitress gear for the evening. She had her badge in the pocket of her trousers and her clutch piece strapped just above her ankle.
    “We haven’t been able to