Fireproof

CHAPTER 51

“What was that about?” Patrick asked Sam as they stepped outside onto the sidewalk.

“The prison documentary Jeffery and I have been working on. Yesterday one of the guys told us he knew where there was a body.”

Her eyes left his, wandered away. He could tell this was unsettling for her, but she wasn’t willing to share that part. He knew Sam Ramirez was the type of woman who didn’t reveal her feelings or her vulnerabilities.

“He said it was a young woman. That the killer left her in a culvert. He said the guy didn’t take off her orange socks.”

“How did he know so much? Was he there?”

“He claims the guy told him after a couple of whiskeys in a bar one night.”

“Wow. Interviewing murderers. Your job is more dangerous than mine.”

She finally smiled.

He walked alongside her as she led the way to her parked car.

“I just wanted to tell you I appreciate what you did at the fire site.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You backed me out of what could have been an embarrassing interview.”

“I think you would have handled yourself just fine.”

“For a minute back there I thought you were with Wes.”

“So what if I was?”

He heard a slight bit of irritation in her voice, and he glanced over his shoulder to make sure Wes Harper hadn’t decided he wanted Sam more than he wanted the expensive vodka. Patrick tried to remember if he had told Harper anything he’d regret, anything Harper would tell Jeffery Cole.

They hadn’t partnered up by choice. Braxton Protection Agency assigned teammates. Patrick didn’t trust Wes Harper from day one. Turned out his instincts had been correct. Last job, Harper couldn’t wait to rat him out.

Finally he looked back at Sam, standing in front of him, tapping her foot, waiting for a reply.

“Sometimes he’s not a very nice guy.”

“Really? Seems like an odd thing to say about your partner.”

“We’re not partners by choice,” he said, but he didn’t want to go into the long explanation. He looked back over his shoulder again. “I’m supposed to meet Maggie. Should I warn her that Cole is here?”

“Don’t worry. If he doesn’t have a camera on him”—and she tapped her shoulder bag—“he’s pretty harmless.” She seemed to reconsider that, then added, “But you might want to keep her from seeing the second part of his profile later tonight.”

“Why did he decide to target Maggie?”

Sam shrugged. “You’d have to ask him.”

He was sorry he’d asked because now she glanced down the street like she couldn’t wait to escape from him. Maybe she was keeping someone waiting.

“I know you must have someplace to go, but would you like to join us? Get a quick bite? Didn’t look like you got anything to eat.”

“Thanks, but I need to get home to my son.”

“Oh sure. Ignacio.” He tried not to sound relieved that it wasn’t a date she was running off to.

“You remember my son’s name?”

“I remember a lot of things if given a chance.” He said it and immediately wanted to kick himself.

He had never been good at flirting. The remark, however, registered a slow smile from Sam as she glanced away and shook her head. But she made no attempt to walk away.

“Maybe another time, Murphy.”