CHAPTER TWO
Ella sat opposite the man she’d reconnected with, close enough to consume his aftershave but not too close for comfort. After her last boyfriend, she wasn’t sure if she’d ever go down that route again.
But if anyone could tempt her, it was Ben.
They were in the Milestone, the bar of choice for any off-duty law enforcement personnel in D.C. The place had that cozy feel: soft furnishings instead of the modern steel tables and stools. Apparently, contemporary bars equipped themselves with solid furniture so that sound bounced off it easier, thus suggesting a livelier atmosphere. The Milestone was the opposite. Ella was glad of a little quiet time, especially given the company she had. She hadn’t seen Ben for around six weeks, but by the looks of it, he hadn’t missed a step.
Ben was 27 years old with a body type that sat between athletic and skinny. His blue eyes were his most striking feature, but his tight cheekbones and light stubble didn’t hurt either. His mid-length hair was thick, brown, and naturally wavy. Most women would kill for those locks, Ella thought.
The last few days had been a blur of death, trauma, and mystery. In three days, Ella had fought and bested two serial murderers, been chased around D.C. by a game-playing maniac, been suspended and reinstated by the FBI, found her ex-boyfriend’s dead body, and watched her apartment burn to the ground. She felt like she’d visited every continent over a single weekend, and now the jetlag was beginning to tear her from the fabric of reality. It all felt a lot longer than three days, and if anyone asked her right now, she couldn’t tell you what day it was.
“It’s Saturday,” said Ben.
Ella wasn’t aware she’d asked the question. Was he reading her mind again?
“Huh? I was just wondering that.” Ella asked.
“You were murmuring,” Ben laughed. “You do that.”
A waitress appeared next to them and asked what they wanted.
“A flat white, please,” said Ella.
“I’ll take an even flatter white,” said Ben.
Ella grinned. She wasn’t sure why it was so funny. It was that innocent, inoffensive humor she’d come to associate with him. The waitress left, not acknowledging the off-key comment.
“I got something for you,” Ella said to kickstart their conversation. She felt a need to impress Ben, make him smile, given what she’d inadvertently put him through the day before. Simply by associating with him, she’d put his life in danger.
“You do?” asked Ben. His eyes lit up, like he’d never received a gift before.
Ella reached in her bag and pulled out Ben’s black cap. Somehow, the killer in her previous case had gotten a hold of it. She wasn’t sure exactly how, and she hadn’t questioned the killer herself. She doubted she would. She passed it to him.
Ben accepted it with both hands and stared at like it was a briefcase full of money. “Oh man, I thought you were joking when you said you had it. Where’d you find it? Did I leave it at your place?”
“The guy who’s chasing me got a hold of it. I don’t know how. He must have seen us together in the past then staked you out. I’m sorry.”
Ben shrugged. He slammed the cap on his head, even though it didn’t match his blue jeans or white shirt.
“It still fits!” Ben laughed. He reached over the table to give Ella a hug. She returned the gesture, but flinched a little at his touch. They both registered it.
“Sorry,” Ella said.
“You okay there? I’m not made of nettles still, am I?”
“No, you’re good. I was seeing someone until recently. He was somewhat violent.”
Ben shot upright. “Really? Do you want me to sort him out?” he asked, flexing one of his biceps. The gesture said joke, but the look on his face said serious. She smiled.
“No need. You remember the guy they found in my apartment? That was him. Dead as a doornail.”
Ben’s bicep went limp. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Forgive me for the inappropriate comment.”
“Don’t sweat it. You couldn’t have known. But forget that, what’s new with you?”
Ben seemed happy to change the subject. “Still wrestling. Still risking death for the entertainment of millions. And by millions, I mean about fifty people a week. Still though, not far off.”
“Order of magnitude,” Ella said. “It’s great you do that though. You must have a real passion for it.”