She had no choice but to wait until the briefing was over to make her offer to Cassidy.
“Would you like a little warmer upper?”
Risa glanced up into the smiling face of the dispatcher. The odor of burned coffee wafted from the pot she gripped in one hand.
“Sure,” Risa said, despite warnings from her jittery nerves.
Oneida poured. “You're single, aren’t you?”
“Um, yes.”
“Good.”
Risa hesitated. She took a sip of coffee. Definitely burned.
Oneida didn’t move. Didn’t look away. Didn’t even blink. “Don’t you want to know why I asked?”
“Truthfully? I’m not sure.”
“He’s a great man. One of the best I’ve known.”
Risa couldn’t help stealing a glance at Trent through the glass sidelight next to the conference room door. All she could see were men’s backs.
“He likes you. Most I've seen him smile since his wife passed.”
“His wife… Ah, who are we talking about?”
“So you are interested.”
“I didn’t say—“
“She died in a car wreck, poor thing. He took it hard. Of course it would have been worse if she hadn’t run off the year before.”
“Ah, wait a second here. Who are you talking about?”
“The chief, of course.”
“Chief Schneider?”
“Haven’t seen him smile as much as today with you around. And since you and Special Agent Burnell aren’t involved…”
Risa was confused, but she had the distinct impression that if she didn’t bring a stop to this conversation, this woman would have her married off before the end of the day. “How do you know we’re not involved?”
“He told me. Not true?”
“No, no, it’s true.” Risa just wished the idea of Trent confiding about the end of their relationship to Oneida didn’t bother her so much.
“I hate to see unhappy people. And you and the chief would make a nice couple.”
Risa took another sip of horrid coffee, unsure what to say.
“I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I’ve been told I can be bossy.”
“No, it's okay.”
“I just sensed you needed a sympathetic ear and maybe a little nudge.”
“Excuse me?”
“You look at Burnell the same way the chief looks at you.”
“I…” Risa shook her head. Why was she responding to this woman? “I don’t want to talk about this. Any of this.”
“Often people don’t want to talk about exactly what they need to talk about.”
“Oneida, please. Can I pay you to leave me alone?”
“What do you do for a living, if you don't mind me asking?”
“I'm a teacher. A professor, actually.”
“Of?”
“Psychology.”
Oneida rocked back on her heels. “So that's it.”
“That’s what?”
“You know what they say about psychologists, right?”
“I’m not following.”
“That you get into the business in an attempt to figure yourself out.”
Voices and the scuff of shifting chairs and moving feet erupted from behind the closed door. The meeting was breaking up.
“If you’ll excuse me…”
“Not a problem. God knows I have plenty of work to do. But just you remember, Burnell’s not the only fish out there. If you need me to have a whisper to the chief, just let me know.” Oneida strode away, her long skirt swishing around her legs.
The door opened and detectives spilled out of the room. Rubbing sweaty palms against her jeans, Risa tried to pick out Cassidy’s sandy blond hair from the small crowd.
“Professor Madsen.” The police chief headed straight for her. Although he had to be in his fifties, the man’s stride was forceful and his eyes burned with the intensity of one of her star students.
“Jeff Schneider. Remember?”
“Oh yes, chief. I remember.”
“Great. I didn’t think we were ever officially introduced.” He stuck out a hand. “I have a few questions about your sister.”
She shook his hand and glanced past him, searching the crowd. She had to admit, she was a little uncomfortable after Oneida’s attempt at matchmaking. But mostly she didn’t want to let Cassidy sneak out the door while she was focused on the police chief. “I’d be happy to answer your questions, Chief Schneider. But right now, I’m looking for Detective Cassidy. I have something urgent to discuss with him. Have you seen him?”
“Please, just plain Schneider will do. Or better, Jeff.” He waved a hand in the direction of the conference room. “Cassidy’s still in there talking to Special Agent Burnell.”
Great. Trent was undoubtedly giving Cassidy reasons he couldn’t involve her in the manhunt. Well, good luck. If she’d read Cassidy’s attitude toward her correctly, Trent could talk into next week, and Cassidy would still jump at the chance to use her as a lure for Dryden.
“Could we set a time to chat later? Where are you staying?” Schneider looked at her expectantly.
Where was she staying? She couldn’t go back to her house. It was a crime scene now. And besides, she couldn’t set foot inside her foyer again without seeing mutilated teddy bears. Without feeling Dryden’s presence.
She thought of Trent’s hotel room. The king-size bed. The warmth of his arms. She imagined Trent would arrange for a separate room for her as soon as possible. She’d prefer a separate hotel, maybe even a separate town. But as much as she wanted to block out this morning’s humiliation, the thought of being off on her own didn’t thrill her. “I—I’m not sure yet.”
“Of course, you aren’t. Everything is happening too fast. I’m very sorry for what you went through at your home.”
“Thank you.”
“Will you let me know when you get settled?” Schneider pulled a card from his jacket pocket and stuffed it into her hand. “Give me a call anytime. And I’ll be right over.”
She shoved his card into her jeans pocket and smiled into his overeager eyes. She’d prefer to think Schneider was impatient to prove his little department could solve cases right along with the larger county sheriff’s forces. But after her talk with Oneida, Risa wasn’t sure.
As long as he was motivated to help find Nikki, Risa supposed it didn’t matter. “I’ll call as soon as I have a moment.”
Stepping away from Schneider, Risa reached the open doorway of the conference room just as Cassidy ambled out, deep in conversation with a balding detective.
“Detective Cassidy?”
His head snapped around, and he gave her a disdainful look. “Burnell’s still inside.”
“I need to talk to you.”
“If you want information about the body, I’m not your boy. You go snuggle up to Burnell.”
“Body? What body?”
The balding cop smiled. “Smooth, Cassidy. Remind me to never tell you anything.”
“What body?” Risa repeated.
“Dryden and your sister killed a man, stole his car.”
“My sister? Nikki wouldn’t—”
“Save it. She was there willingly. Packed a suitcase. Clothes, makeup. She might not have actually sprung him from prison, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t involved in this up to her neck. Aiding and abetting. We know she gave comfort to a serial killer. Plenty of comfort.” Cassidy thrust his hips on the last line.
The balding detective gave her a pained look. Pity, pure and simple.
Risa felt sick.
She didn’t have a clue why Cassidy disliked her so much, but it didn’t matter. In fact, his dislike was just what she needed. He wouldn’t be concerned with protecting her. He would take her suggestion and run with it. She focused on Cassidy. “I need to talk to you about something.”