She could practically feel him growling as she headed for the women she knew. She swayed her hips just a little to give him something to look at. At this hour, he’d be surrounded by rapacious females soon enough. She’d have to watch him in action.
She’d never had reason to believe men were particularly trustworthy. She suspected she was testing the poor man—while proving she didn’t require protection.
“Evie!” one of the secretaries shouted, waving her over. “I never see you in here. Who was that hunk you dragged in and so stupidly let go?”
“Hey, Helena.” Evie leaned in for hugs all around. “How’s your Cotton getting along?” Helena had a rabbit that Iddy looked after.
“I’m thinking he needs a mate, and you haven’t answered my question. We’re drooling here. Who’s the hunk?” Helena had been a year ahead of Evie in school. Now a divorced mother of two, she apparently didn’t get out often enough.
“Damon Ives-Jackson, lawyer, just bought Norton’s practice. He’s not hiring yet. Want me to let you know when he does?”
She could feel one of thepredatorscircling in. She didn’t want to be squeezed to death in some mating dance, but free beer would be good. She smiled at the good-looking but too-young cop in the forefront. “Heya, Cal. Haven’t seen you in a while. Whatcha up to?”
“Cal, bug off. We’re gossiping here,” Helena elbowed the young man.
“I just thought I’d introduce Evie around, buy her a beer.” Undeterred, he handed over a bottle. “You don’t come in here often.”
“I don’t come in hereever,” Evie corrected. She raised the bottle. “But thanks.”
He tried to take her elbow. She stomped his boot. He glowered. She smiled. “I’m talking to Helena and her friends right now. And I’m with Jax.”
She saluted Jax with her bottle. Predictable, as always, he was glaring in her direction. Eying the skinny cop, Macho Man apparently decided she was safe and returned to talking to his new buddies.
“He the new lawyer they’re talking about?” Cal leaned in to separate her from Helena.
“Most likely.” Evie ducked under his arm and squeezed in between tall, dark-haired Helena and short, blond Dottie, another secretary from city hall. She’d learned obnoxious before she could walk.
“Lawyer, huh? I wasn’t looking for a job until he walked in.” Helena gave Evie room while she eyed Jax. “Let me know if he has an opening. You’re not claiming him?”
“I’m a Malcolm, remember? We don’t claim men. But that brings me to another subject.” Evie leaned in so only Helena and Dottie could hear. Cal scowled and wandered off. “I would love to find out if I can talk to the recently dead. Do you think there’s any way I can get into the room where Clancy died?”
“You think the counshil office ish haunted?” Dottie asked, with a slur that showed she’d been here too long. “It was bad enough when he’s alive. Don’ need a ghost grabbing my tits.”
Evie grimaced at this description of the councilman. “I can lay him to rest, if he’s there.”
“The cops have the council office taped off, but it’s public space.” Helena was also more than a little drunk. She studied her beer bottle with glazed interest. “I’ve always wanted to see a ghost, and I’ve got keys to the back door.”
“Full moon tonight. Never a better time.” Evie pretended to take a sip of her beer. She wanted all her senses around her if they were doing this now. “I can’t promise anything, mind you.”
“Let’s do it,” Dottie said gleefully. “If he’sh there, I want to hit him where it hurts.”
“Speaking ill of the dead,” Evie reminded her. “And in the interest of full disclosure, I’m pretty sure you can’t hit ghosts. This isn’t ghost-busters.”
“We can get you into the hall outside the office.” Helena was still studying her bottle thoughtfully. “Crossing police tape is probably a no-no.”
“Looks like half the city and county cops are in here.” Evie checked on Jax again. He was in full discussion with his competition. “Are they holding a wake for Clancy?”
Dottie snorted. “He voted against raising wages. Nah, thish the usual crowd.”
Helena caught Evie’s elbow and dragged her away from the bar just as two more men headed their way. “I’ve had enough for the evening. Let’s kill a ghost.”
Thirteen
Jax glancedup in time to see Evie’s yellow shirt and bright curls—copper in the dim light—moving through the bar crowd toward the exit. He didn’t know if she was leaving voluntarily with her drunken cohorts, but the male dimwits following her out needed to be headed off at the pass.
He stood and offered his hand to his new competition. “Good meeting you and looking forward to working with you in the future, but my companion is being hustled out. I’d better follow.”
He’d learned a few pertinent things about Clancy in their discussion, but not enough to justify letting Evie escape.