"No kidding. Where?"

"Twin Gables."

Casey looked at Leslie and winked. "Twin Peaks."

"Anyway, by the time patrol got there, our guy was gone. Sikes is interviewing the woman who called it in."

"So maybe it's time we do surveillance for real. I mean, that's how it started before.

We can concentrate on that area. Beef up patrol maybe," she suggested.

Leslie shook her head. "But if we have patrol units cruise by more, that might scare off our guy. He may move somewhere else and lessen our chance to nab him while his offense is only peeping."

Tori nodded. "I agree. And let's see if Sikes can get a good description. Because what you guys got yesterday sucked."

"I swear, three people said it was a woman," Casey said.

"Try convincing Mac that a woman left semen behind."

Casey looked at Leslie and grinned. "She's in good humor this morning. Did you have a real nice evening, Hunter?"

"Probably better than yours, O'Connor."

"Oh, now you're just being mean."

"Yeah, that was low. And Sam's coming by after work. She's in the mood for Mexican food. She said to invite you."

39.

*"Okay, sure. You know me and margaritas." Casey turned to Leslie. "I'd invite you to come with us, but I guess Michael would be at home waiting."

"Actually, he's out with his buddies tonight."

"Great. Then why don't you join us?" Casey arched an eyebrow at Tori.

"Yes, join us. Sam would love to meet you."

Leslie looked from one to the other, then nodded. "Okay, thanks. I'd love to."

"Good." Casey motioned to her monitor. "Why don't you pull up that map thing you did? Isn't this the first call from Twin Gables?"

"I think so."

Casey stood behind her, waiting. "It's obviously in our target area since we were cruising by it the other night."

"So, taking into account both murder scenes and the Peeping Tom calls, we have an eight-block radius?" Tori asked.

"Yes. And what I find odd," Leslie said, "is that he's targeting apartments so close to the downtown area, where it's more congested. Why not apartments on a major highway where you have more escape routes?"

"That's true. I mean we saw the other night, parking is limited. Where does he stash his car? How far does he walk to get to his target?"

"Both murders were at conventional apartments, with ground floor windows."

"And outside entry," Casey said. "Most of the refurbished apartments in downtown have a central entry. The newer ones have gated entry. That would be harder for our guy to get in."

"But the apartments that he's targeting, he has more choices," Tori said. "And it's right at the edge of Deep Ellum. Maybe he doesn't use a car. Maybe it's all on foot."

"And easy to disappear in Deep Ellum."

"I've only been to Deep Ellum a handful of times," Leslie said. "But during the week, there's not a lot of street traffic, is there?"

"Certainly not like on weekends, no. And even then, it's tamed a bit. A lot of the clubs and restaurants have closed down in the last several years. But there's still enough people walking the streets, going from bar to bar, for him to blend in with," Tori explained.

"Okay. So what's the plan?" Leslie asked.

40.

*Casey squeezed her shoulder as she walked behind her, then pointed to the monitor again. "Since you're so good with that thing, how about a spreadsheet or something of all the apartments in that eight-block radius? Then we can set some guidelines. Which ones have outside entry? How many floors are there? Which ones have those tiny patios? Ground floor windows? Things like that." She went to her desk but stopped when fingers wrapped around her arm.

"I'll do the spreadsheet, but let's drive the area later. It'll be much easier to log all this information in the daylight instead of trying to figure it out at night while we cruise by."

Casey was conscious of the fingers still clinging to her arm, and she was conscious of Tori watching them. For some reason, the touch on her arm made her shiver. She nodded, trying to find her voice. "Sounds good to me." The hand finally slipped away and she moved again, glancing briefly at Tori who still stared.

Casey splashed water on her face, then looked up as the door to the ladies' room opened and Tori stuck her head in. Their eyes met in the mirror.

"What's up?"

Tori grinned. "Been a week, huh?"

"A week?"

"With your new partner."

"Oh." Casey reached for the towels and pulled two out, drying her face. "Yeah. A week."

"Watching you two out there, it reminded me of Sam."

"What do you mean?"

"When Sam first got here, it used to drive me crazy. She would always touch me when she talked to me." Tori laughed slightly. "But you're different than me. You touch too."

Casey frowned. "I do not."

"You probably don't even realize it." Tori walked past and into one of the stalls. "It's kinda cute."

Casey met her own eyes in the mirror. "It would help if she was frumpy, you know."

"Yeah. Frumpy. And what was the other word you used?"

Casey smiled at her reflection. "Portly."

41.

Chapter Twelve.

"Trust me, Casey is the margarita expert," Sam said with a laugh.

"I have sampled my share of margaritas, yes. And the Rios Rita is the very best."

"Well, then I'll have to try one," Leslie said, looking at her menu. "What's the specialty here?"

"Chicken enchiladas," they said in unison and Leslie laughed.

"I see you come here quite often."

"Casey refuses to eat Mexican food anywhere else," Tori said.

"Yeah, but with you, I hardly get margaritas anymore." Casey turned to Leslie. "Tori doesn't drink much, and when she does, it's beer. And on a hot summer day when we're out on the boat fishing, that's fine, but even now when we go out for a drink after work, she's got me ordering beer. So tonight, I get to indulge."

"Who's got a boat?"

"Sam and I do," Tori said. "It's a cabin cruiser we keep out on Eagle Mountain Lake."

"They let me tag along sometimes," Casey said. "There's nothing better than pulling into a cove and fishing all day, then spending the night on the water." She laughed.

"Of course, that's if we can talk Sam into cooking for us."

"Well, I think it's great that you guys do stuff outside of work. I've never had that in all my years on the force. In Fort Worth, well, I was the only woman and I think the guys either wanted to protect me because I reminded them of their daughters, or they thought I was there to make sure the coffeepot was always full."

"There are a few old-timers who think that way," Sam said. "But for the most part, we don't have that stigma. It's all very gender fair." She touched Tori's arm. "Not that Tori hasn't had her share of run-ins."

Leslie nodded. "I've heard some of the stories."

"Don't believe everything you hear," Tori said.

"Yeah. Only about ninety percent of it is true," Casey said with a laugh, then turned at a touch on her arm. "Fran," she said, standing to greet the older woman.

"If it isn't my favorite police detective." She smiled warmly at them. "And I see you bring your good friends. Hello, Tori and Sam."

"Hi, Francesca."

42.

*"You are crammed in a tiny booth, Casey? Why didn't you come get me? I could have found a table for you."

"Tori and Sam like the booth. See how close they can sit?"

Leslie couldn't help but smile as a blush crossed Tori's face, but Sam simply leaned closer to her, completely at ease.

Casey stepped back. "And this is Leslie Tucker."

"Oh, yes. How do you do, Leslie Tucker? I am always so happy when Casey brings a lady friend around. You are very lovely," she said, taking Leslie's hand. "Casey can be a handful. Don't let her scare you off." She winked. "She is a good catch, they say."

Leslie raised an eyebrow, then smiled as Casey's face turned a cute red. For two tough cops, Casey and Tori sure embarrassed easily. "I'll try to keep her in check."

"Drinks are on the house." She turned, clapping her hands, and a waiter appeared.

"Keep my friends happy, Carlos." She bowed in their direction. "Enjoy your meal, ladies. Tori and Sam, good to see you again. And, Leslie, make sure Casey brings you back soon."

"I'm so sorry," Casey whispered as she slid back in beside her.

"No problem."

"You should have just shown her your ring."

Leslie glanced at the diamond on her finger. It was obscenely large, in her opinion.

She'd never been one for jewelry and stones. Even her earrings were simple diamond studs, nothing flashy. She remembered when Michael had given the ring to her. She'd been speechless. He'd assumed it was from delight-and awe-of the size. No. It was from the realization that she'd have to wear the thing. She'd gotten used to it and hardly gave it a thought anymore, but for some reason, it seemed to mock her this evening, so she slipped her hand under the table and out of sight.

"What can I get you to drink, ladies?"

"Three Rios Ritas," Casey said. "And a beer for Tori."

"A Corona," Tori said.