TWENTY.

Wednesday, October 22, 2003.

5:35 p.m.

"Hey, Detective Killian." Kitty handed her several messages. "Captain's looking for you."

"Thanks," Stacy replied, doing her best not to grimace. Getting an after-shift invitation to the captain's

office didn't bode well for her evening. Or maybe, her career.

Could he have discovered she'd visited her sister this afternoon? But how?

Mac caught sight of her and stood. "Where've you been?" he asked, falling into step with her.

"Doctor's appointment. Girl stuff."

"Right."

She ignored the sarcasm in his tone. "Captain wants to see us?"

"Something like that."

She stopped, looked at him. "What's going on here, Mac? Am I heading into an ambush?"

He wouldn't meet her eyes. "Captain wants to see you, that's all I know."

She figured his answer was bulls.h.i.t but didn't see the point in calling him on it. It would all be on the table

in a matter of minutes.

They went to the captain's office. She tapped on the door frame; her superior waved them in, expression thunderous. "Shut the door. Then sit."

"I'll stand. Thanks."

He leveled his dark gaze on hers. "I'm taking you off the Vanmeer and Tanner homicides."

"What! Why?"

"You have a conflict of interest here, a big one. You're personally involved."

"With all due respect, Captain Schulze," she argued. "I promise to stay objective."

"Your brother-in-law is the prime suspect in both murders. Good Jesus, you should have removed yourself this morning. I have half a mind to suspend you."

"I've put in the legwork, Captain. I know both cases. To take me off-"

"It's done." The captain's gaze shifted to Mac. "McPherson, it's you and Liberman on this."

Stacy looked at Mac, realization dawning. He'd gone to the captain. He had done this. Betrayed their

partnership.

She shouldn't be surprised, she thought bitterly. She should have seen this coming a mile off. But she hadn't. She had begun to trust him. She was such a fool.

"Is that it, Captain?"

He said it was and she stalked out of the office. Mac followed, catching her outside the women's

bathroom. She turned on him, shaking with anger. "Don't come near me, Mac. This partnership is over."

"This isn't my fault."

"No? You went to the captain, you told him I had a conflict of interest."

"Yes."

"Big clue for you, Mac. Partners stick together."

"You were f.u.c.king up. Racing headlong toward an internal affairs review."

"So this was all about protecting me?" Her tone dripped sarcasm. "You weren't thinking of yourself at

all?"

"How long do you think it would have been before the captain learned about your relationship with the suspect? A couple more days? Then we would have both been booted off the case."

"You should have come to me, given me a chance to go to the captain myself."

"Would you have?"

"Of course."

"Liar." He leaned toward her. "At least I'm still on the case and can keep you informed of what's going on."

"And will you?" she shot back. "I thought you already had Ian arrested, tried and convicted."

"This afternoon I went to see Danny Witt."

"The other valet? From La Plaza?"

"Yeah, that one."

"You went without me? Nice."

"You were busy with a doctor's appointment. Girl stuff, remember?"

"That's such total bulls.h.i.t," she said, struggling to hold on to her anger. "I'm your partner, Mac, and until a

couple of minutes ago, the senior member of this little team. Note the word team. You are not the Lone Ranger. Not Dirty Harry Callahan or that Bruce Willis character from the Die Hard films." She held up a hand as he opened his mouth to speak. "Cops partner for a reason, not the least of which is to cover each other's b.u.t.t."

"I took Liberman with me."

Apparently, while she was being chewed out by her sister she'd also been on the receiving end of a knife-to her back.

He accurately read her expression. "You were nowhere to be found. You want to talk about that,

Stacy?"

"You want to accuse me of something, do it. In the meantime, I'm requesting a permanent change."

"Captain won't give it to you."

"We'll see about that."

"Who's he going to hook you up with, Stacy? I don't see anybody lining up for the job."

She opened her mouth, then shut it as she acknowledged he was right.

Mac leaned toward her once more. He lowered his voice. "To answer your question, yes, I'll keep you

informed. But not for Westbrook, your sister or because I think justice isn't being served. I'll do it for

you, Stacy."

Her righteous indignation evaporated, most of her anger with it. Captain had been right to take her off the case; she should have removed herself. "You should have come to me first."

He inclined his head. "And you have to be honest with me. Agreed?" She did. "What did Witt have to say?"

"He saw a cherry-red Audi TT roadster that night. Came in before 10:00 p.m."

More evidence. Another nail in Ian's coffin.

"Did he valet it?"

"Nope. Witt was having a smoke, near the self-park lot. Employees aren't supposed to smoke where the

hotel guests can see them. He noticed the Audi because the guy self-parked. Tips had been lousy. He

remembered seeing the car and being p.i.s.sed."

"Who got out? Big guy, leather bomber jacket?"

"Doesn't know. Got called back to work."

"Did he notice what time the car left the lot?"

"Nope."