Gaby shook off her brooding contemplation. “That’s a dead issue, Luther. Let it go.” She showed Ann her arm. “Besides giving me a chance to dissect his psyche, the tattoo will cover this scar.”
Ann studied her arm with concern. “Is that from a gunshot?”
“Bullet just grazed me, no big deal. But you see, everyone knows what a gunshot wound looks like, so I need to cover it up. People are too damn nosy as it is. I don’t need to go around advertising my life with scars.”
“Damn it, Gaby—” Luther started.
Again changing the subject, she said to Ann, “You have a really bright aura.”
“I do?”
Luther snarled. “Gaby, we’re not done discussing this.”
“I’m done, but, hey, if you want to talk to yourself about it, feel free.”
Ann’s curiosity overrode Luther’s irritation. “What does my aura look like?”
Momentarily giving up, Luther glanced from the road to the rearview mirror to see Gaby studying Ann.
“Everyone has an aura, but usually it extends out pretty far until it sort of fades away.” Lifting her hands, Gaby moved them slowly around Ann. “Yours is real close to your body, intense and bright, like you’re protecting yourself.” She sat back again. “You sure you’re not afraid of me?”
“I’m not afraid,” Ann stressed. “I trust in your ethical nature.”
“My ethical . . . ” Gaby snorted, as if attributing such an asset to her was asinine. “Then it’s Mort. I hope you’re not leading him on.” She pitched her voice low in warning. “I wouldn’t like that.”
“Neither would I.” Ann went silent for several seconds as she searched for the right words. “In all relationships, there’s a certain amount of uncertainty. The more important the relationship, the worse it is.”
“And your relationship with Mort is important?”
“I’ve never really been in love before,” Ann explained. “At least, not like this. I don’t want to rush into anything.”
“Especially since you and Mort are so different?”
“I don’t think we are. Not when it comes to core values, and that’s where it really matters.”
Ann relaxed, sounding more like herself, and like the woman Luther knew and respected.
And trusted.
She could be a valuable friend to Gaby if only Gaby didn’t feel so threatened by her.
“Understand, Gaby, I’ve dated pretty boys before, guys who spend the best part of their free time in a gym and salon, ensuring they always look their best. And I’ve been with wealthy businessmen who live under an umbrella of entitlement. None of them have gotten to me like Mort has.” A smile sounded in her tone. “He’s very special, and he makes me feel special.”
It occurred to Luther that, when not skittish from Ga by’s volatile nature, Ann treated Gaby as she did everyone. While Gaby was well used to fear, deference, and distanced caution from those who came into contact with her, Ann spoke to her as she might a close girlfriend.
She even leaned in to bump shoulders with Gaby, startling her and causing Gaby to scowl.
“Mort is the kindest and most sincere man I know.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Love is new to me. And I’m only a woman. I need time to adjust, that’s all.”
A quick glance in the rearview mirror showed Gaby’s reaction to that. She didn’t understand Ann, didn’t trust the openness and acceptance. And she knew jack-shit about love.
But with any luck, Luther would change that.
Though tension still hummed in her body, Gaby slouched back in a deceptive pose. “Yeah, well. Time won’t make any difference. When people are lovers and in love, you can see them both in the same aura. I see Mort’s aura when I look at you and yours when I look at him.”
Did Gaby have an aura? Luther wondered. And if so, did it show in his aura? She mentioned his many times, but never with any connection to hers.
“It’s like Bliss said.” Gaby rolled her head toward Ann and gave her a meaningful look. “You’re meant to be together, so you might as well stop shying away from it.”
“And you, Gaby?” Ann studied her. “Will you stop shying away?”
Luther pulled up in front of Mort’s and let the car idle. He was anxious to hear what Gaby had to say, but she disappointed him by saying nothing pertinent.
“Here he comes.” She rolled down her window to greet Mort as he rushed out the front door and into the dark night. “Take a breath, Mort. She’s in one piece.”
“And you?” Mort asked. A streetlamp lent crazy shadows to his features, amplifying his obvious concern. “How’d you fare?”
“Don’t ask stupid questions. Who could hurt me?”
It was that attitude that often put Luther into a cold sweat.
Gaby rolled the window back up and glanced behind the car through the rear window.
As Ann hustled out of the car, the bundled drugs in hand, she said to Luther, “We need to make this quick, because we were followed.”
“You saw the tail?” Gaby asked, surprised.
“Did you?” Luther repeated.
Gaby rolled her eyes. “Apparently we all did. You lost him a few blocks back, but Ann’s right, we shouldn’t hang around or we risk compromising Mort.” She crawled over the seat to sit up front. “Wait until it’s clear before you take off again, Ann. Be cautious. And if anything happens, call.”
Wearing an indulgent half-grin, Ann nodded agreement. “Thanks, Gaby. But remember, I am a trained professional.” She winked, snuggled close under Mort’s arm, and walked away.
Luther squeezed the steering wheel. “News flash, Gaby. You aren’t in charge.”
“No?” She hooked her seat belt and settled back. “Well, Ann and Mort are already up the steps to the front door, and it really wouldn’t be smart to hang around. But, hey, do whatever you want. If some bozo shows up starting shit, I’m sure I can handle it.”
Frustration drove heat up his neck. “You’re in rare form tonight, aren’t you?”
“If by rare form, you mean majorly pissed off at you, then yes.”
“Why the hell are you mad?” She was the one who’d crashed his cover and taken over, treating him like a nitwit in the bargain. Because of her, he and Ann were breaking protocol by not taking the drugs directly to the station. If anyone got wind of their roundabout trip . . .
“I’m furious because you snuck off without me!” She turned toward him, and added with venom, “And you were schmoozing with Ann.”
It’d take a while to get used to her jealousy. “We were undercover, that’s all.”
Her voice rose to match the rage sparking in her eyes. She leaned nearer to give him the full blast of her temper. “And being undercover meant you had to lie to me?”
“I did not lie.” Luther jerked the car into gear and sped out into the street. The momentum thrust Gaby back in her seat. “I just didn’t tell you because I knew you’d take over. And you did.”
“Spin it however you want, cop. It was a lie of omission, and if that’s the way we’re playing it still, then fine.” She propped her feet on the dash and crossed her arms. “I can play.”
Damn it. Every time it felt like he’d made headway, Luther found himself falling back two steps again. Frustrated, he shot through a yellow light, then turned a corner too fast.
After several minutes of steaming silence, Gaby looked at him with pity. “You’re going to give yourself an ulcer holding all that rancor inside.”
He glanced toward her—and noticed something odd about her features. The fury remained etched in her demeanor, but now something else was there, too.
Something hotter than rage.
As he continued tossing wary glances at her, she made a sound of annoyance. “For cryin’ out loud, Luther, I won’t crumple, you know. You can blast me if you need to.” Her beautiful blue eyes went darker, more intense. “But if you are going to blast me, I suggest you hurry it up.”
“Why?” Luther stiffened in dread. Was she about to get a calling? Is that what had so subtly transformed her?