Guilt By Degrees

41

Sabrina left the top two buttons on her emerald silk blouse undone. Just enough to intrigue but not advertise. She twisted her hair into a loose bun at the nape of her neck and chose the silver chain earrings to add a little sparkle. She glanced at her watch. She had an hour before Chase was due. More than enough time for what she had planned.

She stopped the taxi at Second and Spring and walked the rest of the way to the Redwood Bar & Grill. Minutes later, she pushed into the darkened lounge and paused just inside the door to let her eyes adjust. After a few seconds, she spotted him. He was sitting alone, a glass with ice and the remains of a drink in front of him. She stood there, watching, getting the lay of the land. He didn’t appear to be expecting company. She walked over to the bar and slowly climbed onto the chair two seats to his right. As she settled in, she surreptitiously glanced in his direction. He was staring straight ahead. He did not look happy.

The bartender, who’d been serving two mustached men in shirtsleeves at the other end of the bar, stopped in front of the man. “Another Glenlivet?”

The man looked down at his glass. “Make this one a Russian Standard Platinum.”

“Thought that was your prettier half’s drink.” The bartender turned and pulled the bottle out of the refrigerator and scooped ice into a glass, then poured a generous shot and set it down. “She coming?”

The man clenched his jaw a moment before answering. “No.”

Sabrina leaned in. “Russian Standard Platinum?”

The man seemed not to hear her, but the bartender, who’d been wiping his hands on a towel, turned to Sabrina. His eyes widened and for a moment his mind went blank as he stared. Finally he found his voice. “It’s terrific. Would you like to try it?”

“Why not?” she replied, annoyed that the bartender had been the one to answer.

Sabrina took a sip and gave her approval, then stole a look to see if the man was paying attention. He wasn’t. She crossed her legs and turned toward him. “I’m Sabrina. And you’re Detective…?”

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye without turning.

“I can always spot a cop,” she said with a smirk.

He continued to stare straight ahead. “Since this place is two blocks from the Police Administration Building, your odds were pretty good.” He took a sip of his drink.

She tried again. “I would’ve known anyway. I interned with the DA’s office, I know the look.” She sipped her drink and waited for his reaction.

He sighed and took another sip but didn’t respond.

Sabrina finished her drink. “This is smooth.” She jiggled her glass at the bartender, who, like the men at the other end of the bar, had been staring at her. But if the man next to her had noticed all the attention she was getting, he gave no sign.

The bartender poured her another shot, which was more like a double. She favored him with a smile and he nodded dumbly, gratefully.

The man lifted his glass for another shot. The bartender, still transfixed by Sabrina’s smile, took a moment before the order registered.

“Here’s to trying new things,” Sabrina said, lifting her glass.

Graden Hales exhaled and finally faced her. His expression gave no sign that he was affected by the view. “Look, if you’re trolling for cop love, you’ve got plenty of other opportunities here. And if you don’t mind them being married, your odds just doubled.”

Sabrina took a long pull from her drink. “You might find it refreshing to have a woman who can pay her own way. And yours. That ‘opportunity’ will never happen with a county lawyer. Have another one on me, Lieutenant.”

Sabrina slapped down a one-hundred-dollar bill, then slid off the bar stool in one fluid motion and walked out. Graden Hales stared after her as he absorbed the import of what she’d just said. Disturbed, he got up and went to the door to see where she was headed. But when he looked outside, she was gone.

When Sabrina stepped off her private elevator, she found Chase sitting on the floor outside the locked door of her office, his head back against the wall, eyes closed.

He took in her cocktail attire and updo, his expression puzzled.

“Just needed a walk.” She unlocked the door and looked down at him. “You coming?”

But her eyes glittered with a distant energy. Chase wanted to press her for the truth. Instead, he silently followed her into the office.