Read Big Girls Don't Cry for Free Online Page B

frowned. “Is there somewhere I can sit in private to review these materials? I want to see what is here and what is missing.”
    The chief flushed. He nodded to Delores.
    “Please show Miss Beloi to Lt. Angeles’ office. She is out today.”
    He turned on his heel and went back in his office, closing the door behind him.
    An hour later, Lexie came out to the waiting room. Delores looked up with a questioning smile. Apparently not put off by Lexie’s earlier rudeness, she asked, “Did you find everything you needed, honey?”
    Lexie pressed her lips together, trying to hide her annoyance.
    “No, I did not.”
    She handed Delores a sheet of paper with a list of eleven missing items.
    Delores glanced at the list. Dismay crossed her face. “Golly, honey, the chief had to go to a meeting, or I’m sure he would give you these things you need.”
    Not believing that for a moment, Lexie responded crisply, “I see. Please tell Chief Burton that I will be back tomorrow to get these items when I come to pick up the autopsy report.”
    Discomfited at her rudeness to the woman who was clearly trying to be helpful, she turned at the doorway.
    “Uh, thank you, Delores. I…I appreciate your help.” She added with a soft smile. “And yes, I agree, my brother was a charming man.”
    ~~~
    Lexie had already decided that she would not seek out Special Agent Gardner. It was bad enough she would have to come back tomorrow to get the autopsy report. She gave a derisive snort. So much for making sure the chief gave her everything that she had asked for. He’d even shanghaied one of the critical documents for himself.
    She was almost to her car when she heard him call out to her.
    “Alexis, wait.”
    Her hand was on the door handle and she fumbled with her keys. If she could get away without speaking to him, she would. But it was too late.
    She turned to see him striding toward her across the parking lot. Tall, purposeful, and intent. Intent on stopping her
    “Hey, Alexis, wait a minute.”
    He was smiling a big generous smile that didn’t hide the concern darkening those astonishing blue eyes. When he reached the car, he stuck out his hand. When she refused it with a quick shake of her head, his smile turned to a small frown. He looked her over and apparently didn’t miss her resistance. When he spoke his voice was firm.
    “Did I misunderstand? I thought you were going to stop by this morning after you met with the chief?”
    Lexie tossed her head. “No. I …I said I would if I had time…if my schedule worked out.”
    His gaze was like a laser slicing through her dissembling.
    “And your ‘schedule’ didn’t allow you to fit me in for twenty minutes?”
    Lexie bit her lip, then shook her head and lifted her chin, a defiant gesture. “I didn’t want to talk to you – or anyone, and I still don’t.” She turned and put the key in the door wanting to leave, to go as fast as she could. She needed to get back to her room, to read through the reports, mostly to get away from this unsettling man. Her fingers were shaking and to her horror she dropped the keys.
    Mortified by her clumsiness, she bent to pick up the keys that rolled under the car. She grabbed for them, but he was quicker. He reached under the car with one long arm and caught her with his other hand when she stumbled back. When they stood up, he was inches away from her. She tried to move back, to twist away from him, but he was too big.
    Still holding her elbow with one hand, he reached down and tipped her chin up to meet his gaze.
    “Alexis, relax. I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to. If you’re not up for talking now, we can do that later, when you are.”
    She wanted to tell him that she would never be ready to talk to him. But the words stuck in her throat. When he handed her the keys, she gave a grateful sigh and quickly unlocked the door.
    He stepped back, but as she moved forward to get in her car, he gave a low