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too.” Lance studied Mabel. “We need to take a look at your boss. He decided it was a suicide way too quickly.”
    Mabel paled even more. “Not necessarily. Dr. Counts has been overworked for years. He might’ve just missed something.”
    “Right. For now, I’ll leave these files for you to go through. They’re copies.” Lance pushed away from the table. “We’ll see. Tonight, everyone keep vigilant. Ronni, stick close to me. I’ll cover your back.”
    Oh, this was crazy, but anticipation lit Ronni up.
    Mabel cleared her throat. “Let’s have the Tuesday meeting at the lab. I think I’m on to something with the autopsy files, and I want to have them organized for you guys to go through.” She allowed Lance to assist her up and then smiled when he pressed her forward with a hand on her waist.
    Were they seeing each other? “Bye,” Ronni murmured, waiting until Lance and Mabel had headed back to work. “I can’t wait to catch this dickhead.”
    Olivia sipped her latte. “What does Jared think about you pursuing the guy who tried to kill you?”
    Ronni blinked. “It’s not really his concern. Why?”
    Olly shrugged. “I’m not sure. Chalton is over-the-top protective. I mean, he’s in the other room right now doing some business while I’m just meeting with friends. I haven’t given him the whole truth here.”
    Ronni raised an eyebrow. “Don’t lie to your man for me.”
    “Didn’t lie. Just didn’t give the whole truth.” Olly’s eyes sparkled.
    It was nice to see her friend so happy. “Don’t worry about me. Jared and I have an arrangement, and he’s probably already making plans to leave town.” Why that made her recently healed heart ache a little, she didn’t want to examine. Although it would’ve been fun to play with that hard body of his. She’d never seen natural muscles like that.
    Olly leaned in. “Just how bad was the mating?” Her eyes widened. “Oh, no. Nobody farted, did they?”
    Ronni sputtered her coffee and then laughed. “No. I didn’t even have the energy to fart, and Jared was way too worried about being gentle and not breaking me.”
    “Well, that’s good.” Mirth filled Olivia’s eyes. “Oh, he texted Chalton for your phone number, and I gave it to him. Figured that was all right.”
    “Sure.” They should probably keep in touch a little.
    Olivia stood. “I don’t think tonight is such a good idea, you know? You’re not a hundred percent yet.”
    “Don’t care. It’s time to flush this guy out.” Besides, she felt fantastic. “Let’s keep our investigation between us, though. Promise?” If nothing else, she needed to keep her personal and professional lives separate. Talk about having a huge secret. Vampires existed, and now she was immortal. How crazy was that?
    Olivia frowned. “I’m not sure.”
    “Don’t lie. Just don’t say anything.” It was too late to prove her worth to a dead man, but she could do this. Could take down an enemy.
    Olivia faltered. “I don’t know Jared very well, but I doubt he’d want you going after a killer on your own.”
    He’d done his duty, and he was gone. Ronni took another big drink of her coffee. “The vamp is probably already halfway out of town. Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
    Well, kind of.
     
    * * * *
     
    Jared leaned back against the door of the hotel room and crossed his arms. It had taken most of the afternoon to find a suitable place with decent security.
    “Mated?” Ginny whispered, backing away. Fire flashed through her eyes. “Are you joking? You actually mated a human?” Her voice rose to shrill.
    His eyebrows rose. “Yes.” She was even more beautiful today than she had been centuries ago, her fragility and lady-like qualities a direct contrast to many of the women he’d met through the years. It had been a long while since they’d been in the same room. For so long, he’d imagined her perfection. Was she really that perfect?
    She stared at him and then quickly