“Is that usual?”
“It’s not unusual. If I find out anything that can help, I’ll contact you at Central. Just FYI—she will contact the governor and your commanding officer.”
“She can contact God as far as I’m concerned.”
When the elevator doors shut, Roarke slid his hand down to take hers. He could all but feel the rage vibrating off her skin.
“I’ll be Riff,” he said.
“What?”
“I’ll be Riff, which leaves you with Raff.”
He saw the momentary confusion on her face, then the quick glint—a reluctant humor—in her eyes. “Why do you get Riff? Because it’s first?”
“Because I like the sound of it. I think it suits me. You’re more a Raff, definitely. My Raff.”
“That’s Lieutenant Raff.”
“As you like.”
“You’re trying to calm me down so I don’t bust up the elevator.”
“It’s a by-product of calming myself. I don’t often have an urge to strike a woman—it’s just against my nature. But I had a powerful one up there.”
“When I mentally punched her, blood exploded out of her nose.”
“Well then, that will have to do us both. And yet . . .” He brought her fingers to his lips. “We’ll go home and work into all hours trying to find the breathtakingly rude bitch’s husband.”
“He has to be a dick. Nobody would stay married to that unless he was a dick. But yeah, we’ll work on it.”
He kept her hand in his as they crossed the lobby. “Maybe h
e faked an abduction to escape her.”
“It would be hard to blame him, except he’s a dick.”
She contacted Mira as Roarke drove home, let her know she’d notified Mandy Mira.
“How did she take it?”
“She claims it’s bullshit you and Mr. Mira cooked up, insulted me, Roarke, both of you, and intends to contact the governor and Whitney to report me. I told her to kiss my ass.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Hey, no. I don’t want you to—”
“I’ll take care of it, Eve. I insist. Expect an apology.”
“I don’t want her to—”
“Don’t argue with me on this.”
Eve started to do just that, but saw the fatigue, the strain. “Okay, fine. How’s Mr. Mira?”
“He’s all right. No worrying symptoms. I’ll keep an eye on him tonight, but I truly believe he’s fine. Worried about Edward, of course.”
“Let him know we’re working on it, and I’ll be in touch if and when.”