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she was hearing. “Nick. I’m fine. I’m handling it.”
    The disarming smile returned to Philip’s face. “She’s got a handle on it.”
    With alarming speed, Nick stepped forward, grabbed him by the front of his jacket and pivoted him around, walking Philip to the top of the stair with the ease of handling a child. “I believe I said now .”
    “Easy, man,” Margolin said, straightening his jacket. “No harm, no foul.”
    “There will be if you do not leave.”
    Jackie ran a hand through her disheveled hair. What the hell was he doing? Was he really threatening to beat the guy up if he didn’t leave?
    He only stood his ground a moment longer, withering quickly under Nick’s disturbing stare. “I’m gone,” he said, waving them off as he descended the stairs. “I’ll be in touch, Agent Rutledge. You can count on that.”
    Nick stood guard at the top of the stair until Margolin exited. “I truly dislike journalists.” He turned back to Jackie. “So. How are you, Jackie? He didn’t bother you too much, I hope?”
    Panic coursed through her veins. “Damn it, Nick! What are you doing? Why are you here?”
    He stuck his hands into his jeans pockets. “I was so close, it seemed such a waste to not stop by for a minute and say hello.”
    “Well, hello,” she said. “Thanks for stopping by, but I’ve got a new partner file to look at today thanks to Belgerman.”
    His eyes narrowed a fraction. “I’ve only got a few minutes this morning. Have a spirit to track down before it causes trouble. Maybe we could just have a cup of coffee?”
    “Thanks, but I’ve had like four cups already today,” she said. Even with the contacts it still proved difficult to look the man in the eye. It didn’t help that she was lying through her teeth. “I really did have things under control here.”
    “I’m sure,” he said. “I apologize. You just didn’t look in the mood to be dealing with someone like him.” His head cocked slightly to one side. “You look tired, Jackie.”
    “I’m . . .” What was the point? He would know she was lying. “Yeah, I’m tired. I just want to go curl up on the couch and check out what Belgerman gave me.”
    He looked at her in silence for a moment. “Let me make you some tea then.”
    You are not coming in, Sheriff. No way in hell. “Think I’m out of tea, actually.”
    “You have a mini-mart right underneath you.” His eyes narrowed. “If you’d rather I didn’t come in, just say so, Jackie. I’m pretty sure I can handle it.”
    Jackie sighed. Why did this have to be so goddamn difficult? “Look, tea would be fine, but my apartment is a disaster zone right now. I don’t want anyone to see it.”
    He studied her and Jackie wondered just what it was he could see. His gaze was as unnerving as ever.
    “Haven’t done dishes or picked up a thing since you got back from the hospital?”
    She tried to look offended. “I’m not that... OK, yes. The place is trashed, Nick. Your PI skills win again.”
    “I’ll help you straighten up a bit,” he said. “I know how this works, Jackie. I’ve been there myself, and all it does is help you stay in the rut.”
    “I don’t think you understand,” she replied. “It’s beyond trashed. I don’t want to let you, much less anyone else see me living like that.”
    “Do you know I once lived in a cave for two years?”
    “What? Why do I need to know that?”
    “It was back in 1889. There were some people tracking me down. They knew or strongly suspected what I was, so I had to disappear for while. I found a cave and lived alone for almost two years. I used the same pair of clothes for most of it, washing them out occasionally in a nearby stream. Didn’t comb my hair once. Had no soap. It wasn’t pretty.”
    Eww. “So you understand.”
    “I do,” he said. “So let’s go in and I’ll help you out while you check out your file.”
    “No!” She backed up protectively in front of her door. “That’s not what I