"I stopped minding a long time ago."

Maybe it was petty, but he wanted her to know that, to know that he had

ceased to care.

There was a flicker of anger in her eyes before they went completely flat.

Did he think he was telling her something new?

Her mother had made it all too clear to her when she had given her

Graham's message.

Graham's "love" had had a price tag on it.

ityes, I know.

Graham felt his own flash of anger, though his expression never

changed.

Now, what the hell was that supposed to mean?

She'd been the one to walk out, not him.

What gave her the right to take that accusing tone with him?

With effort, Graham reminded himself that he didn't care anymore.

The past was dead, gone.

There was no point in letting it rankle the present.

Irritated, he looked around for Ben.

His partner was nowhere to be seen within the press of milling bodies

in the squad room.

Damn.

Graham ran a hand along the back of his neck.

"I'll take you back."

She didn't want to be anywhere near him.

Caitlin picked up her shoulder bag and defiantly dropped the strap onto

her shoulder, a soldier going off to war.

"Don't trouble yourself. I'll call a cab."

She always had been a stubborn woman.

He didn't relish the thought of being in yet another confining place

with her, but there were rules to follow.

You put witnesses back where you found them.

This included irritating females and specters from the past.

"I said I'll take you back-" he fairly growled out the words "-so just

hang on."

He crossed to the sign-out board and chalked in his destination.

Caitlin stared at his broad back.

I would have hung on, you damn jerk, if you had been willing to.

God, but she was rattled.

Caitlin dragged a hand through her hair.

"I have to go now," she insisted, wanting to be rid of him.

Just seeing him was like opening up a gaping wound that had never

healed properly.

"I've already missed too much of the morning."

He turned in time to see her.

drop her hand to her side.

It was shaking.

It wasn't every day that she got to witness a murder.

He softened a little.

"Yeah," he agimd softly.

"It's probably been a hell of a morning for you."

He couldn't keep a hint of sarcasm out of his voice, despite the wave of

sympathy that had passed through him.

Narrowing, her eyes met his.

You are a cold bastard, they said.

"Yes, it has and I'd like to put it behind me. All of it," she added

pointedly.

He nodded.

"Despite the fact that you are good at that, I don't think you can

right at this moment."

Taking his jacket from the back of his chair, he pushed the chair against his desk.

"We'll be getting back to you with any suspects we come up with."

She wanted to know just what he had meant by that initial crack, but

let it go.

She didn't want to dig up any more of the past than she was forced to endure.

After what she'd witnessed this morning, Caitlin wasn't certain just

what her breaking point was.

Up until four hours ago, she would have said that she was a very strong woman.

Now she wasn't so sure.

Graham shoved his arms through the jack-@-t that regulations dictated he keep available.

There were times he wished that the captain would lighten up.

Right at this moment, everything bothered him.

And would continue to do so until he got Caitlin back to the shop.

Refraining from taking her arm, a move neither one of them would have appreciated, he nodded toward the door.

"Let's go."

They were almost out of the squad room when someone called his name.

"Hey, Redhawk!