her- prove her wrong-and her heart about leaped out of her chest. She had to fist her hands at her sides to keep from launching herself at him. He nipped at the delicate skin on her neck, and she felt that amazing tingle race through her, her knees going weak when his lips trailed to her temple, then down.

But when he bypassed her mouth and went to her collarbone, she pushed away with a start of surprise.

"Why is it that you never kiss me on the lips?"

That actually startled him, then he smiled. "See, you do want me to kiss you."

"I do not." The liar sign was flashing off the chart in her head. "I just find it strange that you kiss me all

over, do what you did under the desk, but you steer clear of kissing my lips."

"So I'm not a lip man. Sue me."

"I think you're afraid of intimacy."

He raised one dark brow, the one with the slash through it. "Need I remind you what went on under that

desk?"

"That was not intimacy. It was fun, great, wow! But not true intimacy. It could be argued that kissing on the lips is more intimate in ways than having sex."

"I think you've been reading too many self-help books."

"I've never read one. I just happen to be a great student of men. You're afraid of letting people get too

close."

"You're crazy. I'm not afraid of intimacy. I'm not afraid of getting too close."

Who was a liar now? she wondered with a snort.

But clearly he wasn't a man to be pressured into anything-even a kiss on the lips. He backed away to

leave, though not before tapping her on the nose like she was nothing more than a pesky golden retriever.

Ben was stiff when he pulled himself into his Range Rover, but nothing that he couldn't handle. He turned around in Julia's wide drive, then headed toward downtown.

After he had posted an assortment of notices to several dating Web sites, the only thing he could do now was wait. But he wasn't good at waiting. So he decided this was a good time to pay an unexpected visit on Spazel Petralis, or Spaz as he was called on the street.

Ben knew he wasn't supposed to be driving yet, but he couldn't very well ask the slimy informant to pay a social call at Julia's. And he couldn't ask Julia to make a trip to the south side with him.

He cruised down to Pax's Cantina on Santo Domingo Avenue, where he knew he'd find Spaz. Sure enough, practically the first person he saw when he stepped inside was the thin, lanky man with the big glasses who made a big production of acting like a cool tough guy.

"Hey, Spaz."

The minute the man saw Ben, his eyes went wide, and he slunk away from the group of women he was no doubt filling with a bunch of lies.

"Hey, if it isn't Benny the Slash," Spaz said with bravado. "How's it going, my man? Long time, no see." The grimy underbelly of this world startled Ben- which it shouldn't have. This was his world, the one he had cultivated, the one he moved within easily to get drugs off the streets. He'd never given it a thought before. But tonight, it felt like he was stepping into a shoe that no longer fit.

He told himself it was because of Henry. That this world had taken on a new edge. But Ben knew he was lying. It felt wrong because he had spent six weeks out side of this world. He had done the bodyguard gig and now was staying with Julia.

He hated the thought that the new life he was leading held some appeal.

Fuck.

"I've been tied up," Ben said coldly.

"Yeah, I heard about your dance with the wrong end of una pistola. I said my prayers every night for

your full recovery, man. I'm glad to see they worked."

"Thanks," Ben said with sarcasm.

"So what brings you to my part of town, Slash?" Spaz sat down on the edge of a vinyl booth, crossed

his legs at the knees, and ran his arm along the back of the seat bench.

"Have you heard of anyone named the Lion?"

Spaz looked confused. "The Lion? What kind of name is that?"

"Yeah, I forgot. 'Spaz' is a whole lot better than 'the Lion.' "

"Hey, don't be insulting, man."

"Cut the crap. Have you heard the name?"

"Not ringing a bell."

Ben considered the con man, could tell he was speaking the truth. "Then tell me what you've heard about

Henry Baja's murder." Henry had always dreamed of going to Baja California, had used it for his street

name. The fact that Ben's partner would never see the place made Ben's frustration tick even louder.

"Henry, Henry." Spaz sighed dramatically, then extended his hands in an exaggerated shrug. "I've heard nothing."

Ben picked him up by his too shiny suit and then crowded him against the wall. "I'm guessing you have heard something. I want to know what it is."

"Look, Slash. I tell you, I haven't heard nothing other than he was stupid."

A fury that felt hot and deep raced through Ben, and before he knew it, he had Spaz pinned against the wall.

"Watch the suit, man! You're ripping the lapels."

Ben banged him again, and the bar crowd started to give them a wide berth.

"It's cheap material. Now tell me what you know or I'll rip more than the suit."

Spazel's eyes darted around. "Outside. We'll talk outside."

Ben debated, then loosened his grip. As soon as his feet were back on the ground, the lowlife hurried toward a back door. Once the men were in an alley, Ben felt a sense of deja vu. But he didn't feel fear.

He felt the same crazy need to lose himself. Spaz must have seen it, because he started spilling his guts as fast as he could.

"I really don't know nothing, man. But whoever killed Henry wasn't playing by the rules."

"There are no rules."

"Sure there are, and you know it. The killing was too harsh. Everyone says so. Too messy, making

everyone nervous. Though I tell you, I blame Henry, too. He was careless and stupid."

A fissure of foreboding ran down Ben's spine.

"Why was he stupid?"

"Because he was cramping Morales's style. From everything I hear, Henry was letting it be known that

he was in charge in the barrio. Crowding Morales's territory. Everyone knows Morales owns this city,

especially the barrio. Henry had to know it, but didn't care."

Ben absorbed the information. He couldn't imagine that Morales would risk everything to off someone he thought was an inconsequential dealer. But if he thought that dealer was becoming a serious player, that was a different story. Ben headed for the street.

"I'd be careful if I were you, amigo," Spaz called out.

Ben stepped back and smiled. "But that's the thing. You're not me." He shoved a fifty into the man's shirt pocket. "And you're certainly not my friend."

Ben left the alley, every nerve ending tingling with adrenaline. He knew what he had to do next.

Convince Taggart that he needed to go to Morales. Walk into the dealer's lair and see what he could find out.

To: Ben Prescott From: j.taggart@eppd.gov Subject: Morales Ben, the chief has agreed to your plan to get inside Morales's hacienda. But it's just going to be done as a preliminary step, to see the lay of the land, to find out if the guy will say anything about Henry's murder.

Call when you're free and I'll fill you in on the details.

Tag

Chapter Thirteen.

Friday, November 19.

It was nearly noon, Primal Guy was in full swing. Todd was getting out of school for Thanksgiving vacation, and Rob, Todd, and Rocco were scheduled to arrive at one sharp to start taping Turn That Primal Guy into a Sweetie Pie.