Cut to the Chase (4 page)

M
ia knew that disclosing a piece of her past would bring Erin comfort, putting her at ease and making her more willing to share critical information pertaining to the night in question. Mia rarely resorted to such a tactic. And it wasn't a tactic that was driving her now. Rather, it was the selfish need to share some horrible things with another breathing soul.

“Did my uncle tell you why I left the force?”

“No, he is rather tight-lipped,” Erin said.

Mia nodded, knowing just how discreet he could be. “I joined the force shortly after my mother was raped and murdered. I worked on her case for two years before we found her attacker. But I was too late. My father, in his grief, took his own life. I resigned some time later and resumed my pursuit of landing a teaching position.”

Mia expected to find Erin in a state of disbelief or a little shocked at what she had just admitted. Instead, Erin sat there, listening attentively, unfazed, as if she somehow expected that Mia's closet was riddled with skeletons.

“You see, it was in the details, those small, seemingly inconsequential details, that I discovered the identity of my mother's attacker. They often make all the difference, Erin.”

Erin nodded. “I'm so sorry, Mia. I had no idea…I mean…I can't imagine that this is easy for you. Thank you for coming here to help me…to help us.”

Mia smiled. She now understood why her uncle sought her out. Though the beautiful woman in front of her was intelligent and a fighter, she would never rest comfortably until the man who had raped her was captured, or better yet, silenced.

Erin exhaled and unleashed the events of that night in excruciating detail. Mia was thankful that Chase had kept his distance and had not insisted on staying. No boyfriend, fiancé, or husband should know the intricacies of how his woman had been violated. Erin described how he looked, smelled and tasted. She told Mia what he had whispered to her, that he knew her by name, that he had been waiting for her. Mia was impressed that she was able to recount so many details after a year's time. She jotted the details down in her composition book for future review. Right now, she just wanted Erin to talk, unload actually, everything she could remember.

But it wasn't without consequences. After two hours of interrogation and recall, Erin was spent. Mia didn't want to end the session, but she also knew that it wasn't wise to probe or question someone if her mind was tainted by exhaustion. It could skew Erin's recollection of events. It was best to come back when she was fresh.

“Erin, you did great tonight. I have enough to get started.”

Erin stifled a yawn. “You're leaving already?”

Mia smiled. “We've been at this for over two hours.”

Erin's eyes widened. “Two hours! Are you kidding me?”

“I'm not kidding you. We will need to put a little more time in, though. Can I come over tomorrow?” Mia put her book and pencil in her bag and stood.

“Of course.” Erin rose from the couch and walked her to the door.

“I'll need to speak with your brother and Chase as well. Will they be available?”

“Don't worry, I'll make certain of it,” Erin said. “But I must warn you, my brother isn't very forthcoming. He will give you the facts and answer your questions, but will not elaborate. And…well…he doesn't trust easily.”

“Is he a lawyer by any chance?” Mia asked.

Erin laughed. “Andrew said you were competent at what you do.”

A
lthough Paul trusted Andrew's judgment, he wasn't completely comfortable allowing another person into the mix. But time was running out. His sister was in danger and threats were being made against the man she loved. Which made Paul feel helpless. Which made him feel like a failure.

It didn't matter that he had secured a great job at one of the top law firms in the city fresh out of college. He could not care less that he was apparently making a name for himself in a short time, as his salary and the bonuses he was earning proved. He had even fooled his sister into thinking he was pulling insane hours at the office because he was so in love with his career. The real reason he buried himself in his work was to avoid life.

Before his parents' death and his sister's rape, he had smiled more, laughed without considering the consequences and was optimistic about his future. He had always been a little on the “serious side” as his parents would say lovingly, but he could let loose from time to time, especially around his sister. Erin had the ability to make him feel at ease, which allowed him to just be himself. She loved him no matter what, even if he was in a mood.

But that night in the cemetery had changed him somehow. The reoccurring vision he had of that animal violating his sister left him in an eternal state of turmoil and unrest. There were other repercussions, like the fact he hadn't been with a woman since that horrific night or even attempted to date. It wasn't like he didn't have opportunities. There were plenty of women he had come in contact with over the course of the year, through work or in more casual settings, that in his other life he would have happily taken into his bed.

Despite those grueling days as a student in law school, he had found the time to pleasure women. Although his encounters had rarely progressed past a second date, he never disrespected the women he had taken into his bedroom by making hollow promises of forever. He had been honest with them, never allowing anyone to get too close.

He had always been a bit guarded, even as a boy. Unfortunately, his predisposition to distance himself from others served as the perfect foundation. Upon seeing his sister raped, he withdrew from the world completely and was content to stay away, refraining from intimacy or any situation that could invoke emotions. It was safer that way.

Andrew met Paul in Chase's foyer. Paul shook his hand firmly and then looked around for Mia Ryan. He couldn't help be a little skeptical and, to his embarrassment…sexist. In his experience, profilers were typically men. They also had more years under their belts. From Andrew's brief description, he estimated Ms. Ryan to be in her mid-twenties. He knew he shouldn't dwell on that too much. It infuriated him when people thought, and when the more brazen verbalized to his face, that he looked too young to have landed a position at Pierce and Stone. But still. How could he not be wary of Ms. Ryan's ability?

“Mia should be here any minute,” Andrew said, as if reading his thoughts.

Paul nodded and then made his way into the kitchen. Chase was in the process of taking off a plastic lid to the most enormous sandwich tray that he had ever seen. Paul didn't need to see where the sandwiches had come from. He would know a Monty's sandwich anywhere. He and Erin were regulars at that deli. Erin was retrieving several bottles of water from the fridge. With her arms full, she shut the fridge door with a toss of her hip.

Paul had been worried that she and Chase might be taking things a little too fast, moving in together after only a few weeks. But Paul couldn't dismiss how happy Erin looked…and how at home she appeared in Chase's kitchen. He was thankful that he had kept his mouth shut. Who was he to give relationship advice anyway? He hadn't been on a date in over a year. The urge to be with someone and satisfy his most primal need was still there, that was for certain. He had no problem finding his own climax. He simply just couldn't take the risk of losing something or someone else in his life.

“Hey you! Perfect timing. Care for a sandwich?” Erin asked.

“There's enough food here to feed an army. How many people are you expecting? Or is Mia Ryan a sloppy-sandwich junkie like you?” Paul asked, eyeing the spread.

“I most certainly don't shy away from a messy sandwich.”

Paul turned to face Mia Ryan. He hadn't known what to expect. Actually, he did have a picture in his mind of what she might look like, but this was not it. Holy hell, did he love being wrong! With her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders in thick, gentle waves against perfect skin, she was absolutely gorgeous.

Paul quickly summoned the gods to give him strength and composure. He could handle this. He was a lawyer. He concealed emotion and practiced neutrality for a living. Paul took a few short breaths and walked over to the young woman.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Ryan. I'm Paul, Erin's brother.” He reached out and shook her hand. Its warmth radiated throughout his body and for a second he couldn't breathe. With her deep blue eyes staring into his, she too looked to be at a loss for words. A glint of amusement had been replaced with another emotion, but what? It looked very much like desire. But he had been out of the game, out of touch with women for so long, he could be completely off and misjudging her response completely.

“Mia,” she replied, her voice shaky. She had sounded so confident just a moment ago, when his back was turned, before their eyes had met.

He needed to pull himself together and quick. Mia appeared unsteady, giving him the encouragement to appear slightly more composed. “Thanks for coming last night and again tonight.”

Mia withdrew her hand from his. He sorely detested the feeling it invoked. The sudden disconnect was unsettling.

“I'm happy to help,” Mia said, looking from Paul to Erin and Chase. She smiled, but it did not bring him joy. Her attention had shifted from him to the happy couple in the kitchen.

What the hell was wrong with him? There was no rational explanation for why he was so captivated by her. He had been without a woman for too long. That had to be it.

Paul secured his mask, the one he wore in court, the only one he was comfortable wearing these days. “I don't have a lot of time and will need to get back to the office for a late meeting. Can we get started?” he asked, his voice firmer than he had intended.

Mia didn't get the opportunity to respond because Erin immediately jumped down his throat. “Paul, she just walked through the door.” Erin glared at him. “Mia, are you hungry? We ordered from Monty's.”

Paul felt the weight of Mia's gaze and looked over at her. That hint of desire he thought, hoped, he had detected just moments ago had morphed into something that resembled agitation. Actually, she looked pissed. With her brow raised, she responded, “No thank you, Erin. I had a bite to eat before I came.”

With whom?

Paul had no idea where that thought came from or why he would remotely care who Mia Ryan, a woman he had just met, ate dinner with. He tried to fight back the urge to look down at her ring finger, but his curiosity won out. He masked his sigh of relief by clearing his throat. No wedding band, engagement ring, or any jewelry for that matter, adorned her perfect body. Worn jeans hugged glorious curves, while a fitted t-shirt emphasized breasts that were lush, but perky. God, she was stunning.

And still annoyed at him.

He realized that it was pointless to apologize for being rude. What could he possibly say, anyway?
Sorry for sounding so cold a moment ago, but it's the only way I know how to combat the fire that you seem to have ignited within me.
No, maintaining distance was a good thing. Mia Ryan would just have to deal with his clipped tone.

Erin gave Paul a dirty look and then glanced at Mia.

“Well, we will have plenty of leftovers. I'll make sure you take home a doggy bag,” Erin said.

“That would be great. Should we use the office again, Chase?” Mia asked.

Chase held up a finger while he swallowed a bite of his sandwich. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and then answered, “Sorry about that, Mia. Yes, of course. The office is all yours.” Mia watched Chase's arm disappear around Erin's waist and he gave her a squeeze. Erin gave him a gentle elbow to the side, but Mia could tell by the way she leaned in afterward and how she looked at him with affection, that she adored him.

The scene only brought Mia sadness. The stars would be aligned, hell would be firmly frozen over, and piglets would have sprouted wings to fly, before she found someone who looked at her like that. It wasn't self-pity that made her come to that conclusion. It was logic. In order to meet someone, you need to put yourself out there and trust that people won't disappoint you, that they won't leave you. And she wasn't ready or willing to take that risk.

“And don't worry, Paul. I can be thorough and conscious of the time. Are you ready?” Mia asked, grabbing her bag, not even giving Paul the courtesy of looking at him when she spoke.

“Please, by all means, lead the way,” Paul said, his voice sounding smug and regrettably…sexy.

Mia gave Chase and Erin a wave and headed down the hallway to Chase's office with Paul at her heels. Mia got the sense that he was analyzing her, probably using his big boy lawyer skills to determine if she was worthy to complete the task at hand. Who the hell did he think he was to doubt her ability? Well, he had the right to question her credentials, but he didn't need to be an ass.

Mia walked into the room and took her seat from the night before. Paul removed his suit jacket and sat down on the couch directly across from her. He rolled up his sleeves and unraveled his tie a bit before folding his hands in his lap. Mia caught herself staring at him for a second before quickly looking down and fumbling for her composition book. She had noticed in the kitchen that he was handsome, but his rudeness had overshadowed his looks. But now, with him only a few feet from her, his tie not so severe, his body more relaxed, Mia couldn't dismiss the fact that he was the most tempting man she had ever seen.

She needed to get a grip. A big neon sign with arrows pointing to the words
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
may as well have been flashing over his head. Mia dated the page in her book. She had a job to do. She might not be getting paid for doing this, nor did she want to be, but it was important that Erin, Chase and Paul were considered clients, nothing more. And you didn't get involved, or openly gawk, at clients. Even gorgeous ones with haunting blue eyes and dirty blond hair that screamed to be mussed.

“Well, Erin and I got off to a good start last night, but we have some more ground to cover. Right now, though, I would like to ask you some questions. It will give me a more comprehensive look,” Mia said, successfully shifting into the role of the professional she was. It wasn't too difficult to do when she thought about the woman in the other room.

“Of course. What would you like to know?” he asked, stiffly.

“The night Erin completed her last final exam, you texted her to stay put, not to walk home alone. Had you been concerned with her safety or felt that she was at risk for some reason?”

“Women are always at risk for the unthinkable.” Paul shifted his legs. “To answer your question, no, there was no specific threat that I was aware of. Erin didn't have any enemies. She had a few friends in college she enjoyed hanging out with. But most of her college years were spent studying and preparing for medical school.”

The frustration in his voice was evident and it was important that Mia help him simmer down, enough to get through the session. She feared that the next line of questioning was only going to anger him. But if she wanted answers, she had to plow forward. “Erin told me that you saved her.”

“No, she was being kind. I was too late,” Paul said.

“And that is as far as Erin and I got last night,” Mia said.

Paul looked at her, a curious glimmer in his eyes. “Oh, you didn't get to the part where I interrupted the bastard from…” Paul stood and paced the room. He thrust his hands through his hair. “You didn't get to the part where I beat the fucker so severely…that I left him to bleed out in that cemetery.”

Mia lifted her eyes from the page. There was no chance in hell she was going to be able to calm him down. He was like a caged tiger, aching to pace with no bars to keep him restrained. “No, but I hope you'll tell me,” she said, trying desperately to keep her voice flat and unwavering.

He came to an abrupt halt and looked at her, his eyes boring into hers. “Mia Ryan, profiler turned kindergarten teacher. Amuse me. Tell me how one goes from studying horrific crimes and the perps that commit them to conducting story hour for five-year-olds.”

Mia couldn't be certain if he was insulting her or if he was just trying to evade her questions and the retelling of his sister's rape. She wanted to tell him how she got to this point in her life. Maybe it would even make him feel like a real shit when she told him all the grisly details about how she was thrust into her profiling career as a result of her mother's rape. But she kept quiet, refusing to take the bait.

“I don't get to ask questions, Mia? How is that fair?” Paul said, his tone revealing that although he was annoyed, he was going to concede. He sat back down on the couch and continued where he had left off.

“After I beat him the first time, I checked on the woman. Until that point, I had no idea the cry for help had belonged to my sister. I looked at her. Her face registered, but the blood…it was all I could see.”

Mia could tell by his softened tone that he was right back there, in that cemetery, like not a day had gone by. His emotions were in disarray and though he hid them well, she was able to get a glimpse of how vulnerable he could be when it came to someone he cared for. “As soon as the shock wore off, I went back to finish him off and unmask the piece of shit. But in addition to the blood that was coming from…well beneath her dress, she was bleeding from her side and it was then I learned that she had sustained another injury. She passed out in my arms as I carried her to the hospital around the corner.”