Read Night Shield for Free Online Page B

Chambers. Could I have her full name and address, for the record?”
    She took them through the entire evening, looking for a connection, a contact, anything that struck a chord. But for the Chamberses it had been nothing more than an entertaining evening out, until they’dwalked back in their own front door.
    When Ally left them, she had a partial list of stolen items, with a promise for the complete list as well as the insurance information. The crime scene unit was still working, but she’d gone over the scene herself. She didn’t expect the miracle of fingerprints or dropped clues.
    The moon had set, but the stars were out and brilliant. The wind had picked up to dance down the street in little whirls and gusts. The neighborhood was hushed, the houses dark. Those who lived here had long since been tucked in for the night.
    She doubted the canvass was going to turn up any handy eyewitnesses.
    Jonah was leaning against the hood of his car, drinking what appeared to be a cup of take-out coffee with one of the uniforms.
    When she approached the car, Jonah held out the half cup he had left. “Thanks.”
    “You can have a whole one. There’s a twenty-four-hour place a few blocks down.”
    “This is fine,” she replied, taking the cup. “Officer, you and your partner were first on scene?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “I’ll need your report on my desk by eleven hundred.” With a brisk nod, the officer headed for his car. Ally sipped the coffee, then turned to Jonah and handed him the cup. “You didn’t have to wait. I can get a ride home in one of the radio cars.”
    “I have a stake here.” He opened the car door. “Were they at my place?”
    “Now, why would you ask me when we both know you just got finished pumping that uniform?”
    “Hey, I bought the coffee.” He handed it back to her, then walked around to the driver’s side. “So, the perps picked their marks at the Starfire tonight. Have they hit there before?”
    “No, you’re still the only repeater. They’ll come back to you.” She shut her exhausted eyes. “It’s just a matter of time.”
    “Well, that makes me feel lots better. What kind of take did they get?”
    “BMW roadster out of the garage, some art, high-end electronics and heavy on the jewelry.”
    “Don’t these people have safes?”
    “These did, a small one in the walk-in closet of the master suite. Of course, they had the combination for it written down on a piece of paper in the desk.”
    “That’ll discourage the criminal element.”
    “They had a security system, which they swear they engaged when they left—though the wife didn’t look quite so sure of that. Anyway, the point is they felt secure. Nice house, nice neighborhood. People get sloppy.” Eyes still closed, she circled her head, cracking out the tension. “They’re both lawyers.”
    “Well, hell then, what do we care?”
    She was tired enough to laugh. “Watch it, ace. My aunt is district attorney in Urbana.”
    “You going to drink that coffee or just hold on to it?”
    “What? Oh, no, here. I don’t want anymore. It’ll just keep me awake.”
    He doubted a tanker truck of coffee could keep her awake much longer. Her voice was going thick, adding, he thought, to the in-the-gut sexiness of it. Fatigue had her unguarded enough to tilt her face toward him as she tried to find a comfortable resting spot. Her eyes were shut, her lips soft and just parted.
    He had a feeling he knew exactly how they’d taste. Warm and soft. Ripe with sleep.
    At a stop sign, he put the car in neutral, engaged the emergency brake, then leaned over her to press the mechanism that lowered her seat back.
    She jerked up, rapped her head smartly against his. Even as he swore, she slapped a hand on hischest.
    “Back off!”
    “Relax, Fletcher, I’m not jumping you. I like my women awake when we make love. I’m putting your seat back. If you’re going to sleep, you might as well get as close to horizontal as we can