Page 11 of Deadly Charade

“I gathered.”

“But Violet will probably snag him around the corner. I tried to drive him toward her. I cut through the building into the garage in case he crossed here.”

He blinked and stared at her, and she noticed. Red bloomed across her cheeks. “Well, I guess my makeover worked if you don’t recognize me.”

“You . . . you look . . .” No way could he say the words that flitted through his mind. Beautiful. Stunning. Gorgeous. Strong.

Rein it in, Lambert.

“Adequate.”

Of all the words in the English language, that’s what came out of his mouth? He snapped his lips shut.

“Great. I was going for boring or sensible, so I guess adequate works.” Kira rolled her eyes, and they walked back to the apartment.

Violet sat on the stairs leading to the lobby, waiting for them. He peeked through the double glass doors to see an ornate area with post office boxes along the back wall and elevators for residents who lived above the retail space. The smell of garlic and spice from the first-floor Chinese restaurant still clung to the air from the night before.

“He got away,” Violet said, her eyes bouncing between him and her roommate. “He had a car waiting for him on a side street just before he got to me.”

Kira introduced them. “I caught the wrong guy and accidentally hit Bryce instead.”

Way to wound his pride even more. Time to deflect. “Who was that guy?” Bryce asked.

Kira squinted and surveyed the area. “It might have been someone from any of our cases. Or related to our new one. But there’s no way of telling now.”

“Our roommate, Everly, has been working on some pretty top-level stuff.” Violet stood and headed up the stairs. At the door, she turned and gave Bryce a quick once-over. “How is your head?”

“I’m good. I don’t even think it left a mark.” He touched his temple and didn’t feel a bump. At least he wasn’t going to show up for this assignment with a black eye.

Violet looked like she didn’t believe him but pulled out her phone from her jeans pocket. “Maybe you two should head out to the brownstone. I’ll call this in and take care of things here. I got a good description of the cameraman.”

Or maybe they called the whole assignment off? Could the mystery photographer be linked to the Russian from the art gallery?

“I only glimpsed him before I caught the wrong suspect.” Kira flexed her index finger at Bryce.

Heat rose up his neck. Was he blushing or swelling from where she’d clocked him in the face? He turned to her. “Should we pull the plug on this mission? What if they tracked you here?”

Violet turned and squinted at Bryce like he’d said something wrong.

Kira put her hands on her hips. “Did you recognize me?”

“No. Not at first anyway.”

Violet snorted. “Well, there you go. You’re good. I’ll hold down the fort here.” She headed inside.

Kira surveyed the bustling street in front of the stores and turned back to Bryce. Her gaze flicked to his forehead and remorse filled those gorgeous eyes. “I really am sorry. Let me run upstairs and get you some ice.”

“No need. It doesn’t hurt and I don’t think it’s swelling.” His pride was wounded more than his face.

She reached up to touch his forehead but then must have thought better of it. “It’s barely a red mark. You should be good.” She dropped her hand and backed toward the steps. “I’ll grab my things. Once we’re on the way to the brownstone, I’ll report this to Turner. If he wants to pull the plug, that’s his call. I’ll be right back.”

He opened his mouth to reply, but she’d already marched up the stairs while he stood on the sidewalk sweating in his designer suit. He chuckled under his breath. Never a dull moment with her. He moved back toward the car parked on the street to wait. How long would it take her to gather her things—

Kira walked out the lobby door with a light pink designer bag draped across her arm that might as well have had the word expensive written all over it. She also carried a small suitcase.

“That was fast,” he said.

She glanced at her watch. “I’m ready to get going.”