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send
a message,” Marsh added as he pointed in the direction Bethany
disappeared.
    A hint of unease coiled in Spinelli’s chest.
Was Marsh right? Right now, his theory was as good as any. His mind
drifted to thoughts of Shannon. Freaking women! In the event
they don’t kill you, they stomp on your heart and tear you into
pieces. I don’t need this shit!
     

Chapter Seven
     
    The sound of high
heels clicking against the old hardwood floor echoed in Spinelli’s
ears. A ripple of panic rushed through his veins. He kept his eyes
forward staring at the crime board. Perhaps it was just Bethany
again. He found himself wishing it was, but he knew the truth. He
recognized the pace and the light steps. He willed himself to turn
around, but he couldn’t. It was as if he was frozen in place. He
just couldn’t face her yet. What could he possibly say to her? It
was probably sixty-five degrees in the precinct, yet sweat beaded
on his temples and upper lip.
    Walker shifted away from the board. “Hi,
Shannon. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
    “Thanks, Brad. How’s Jeana?”
    “She’s good.”
    Spinelli continued to stare at the board as
he listened to their conversation. He shot a sideways glance at
Walker and Marsh. Walker continued his chat with Shannon. Marsh
looked like a starving wolf eyeing his prey. Spinelli wondered why
he was looking at Shannon that way. She was probably just wearing
one of her frumpy old business suits as usual.
    Spinelli hated those drab suits. They made
her look like an old maid, but he supposed they were appropriate
for when she was working and had to go to court for child placement
hearings. He remembered the first one he’d ever seen her wear. It
was navy blue, and though it did nothing for her petite, yet
shapely body, it did much more for her than the dark chocolate
brown one she’d worn the next day.
    “So, Shannon, any big plans tonight?” Walker
asked.
    Shannon reached over and touched the upper
part of Spinelli’s arm. His vision blurred. The photos on the crime
board blended into one big, black mass. He’d thought he couldn’t
get any angrier. He was wrong. He still couldn’t seem turn to his
head to face her. She inched closer to him. The warmth of her body
penetrated his. Her sweet scent filled the air, tormenting him. Why is she down here? What does she want? Doesn’t she know I
know?
    “Nick is taking me to dinner tonight. What
about you and Jeana? Any plans?”
    Walker chuckled. “Yeah, we’ll have our
customary one night out for the year without the boys. Jeana’s mom
is coming over to watch them for a couple of hours.”
    “That’ll be nice for the two of you,” Shannon
replied in her soft, sweet voice, which was normally music to
Spinelli’s ears. But today, right at this very instant, the sound
of her voice was pure heart-piercing torture.
    He imagined the sincere look in her eyes as
she spoke to Walker. She always looked genuinely interested when
she talked with people. Hmf, sincere! Right! Her soft
feminine voice sang in his head. Why did she always have to
sound so sweet? He found it difficult to keep his guard up. He
thought about the ring in his pocket. It was of no use. He and
Shannon would never have what Walker and Jeana have. He may as well
just forget it and go back to the life he knew months ago, before
Shannon invaded his soul. He slid his shaky, sweaty hands into his
pockets and tried to re-focus on the photos of the dead cupids. The
cupids were priority; not his messed up love life.
    Shannon’s grip tightened on his arm. His body
tensed. “Nick, can I talk to you for a minute?”
    Spinelli turned toward her. Speech escaped
him.
    “Are you okay?” Shannon asked, her tone
almost a whisper. Her inquisitive, beautiful gaze fixed on him.
    He needed her to stop looking at him through
those long thick lashes, and he needed her to stop touching him.
His aching heart couldn’t take it. He stepped back. Her arm floated
down to her side.
    “I’m fine. I