Baby Jane Doe. Julie Miller

his posture bristling. “What’s he in such a tizzy about?”

      A key scraped inside the lock. “I’m coming in.”

      Eli pulled back his jacket, sliding his hand to his gun.

      The overprotective testosterone level on the top floor grew exponentially and Shauna roused herself to action. She laid a warning hand over Eli’s, keeping the gun and the detective in place.

      “I’m coming, Michael.”

      The door swung open as she reached it, and Michael blew in, snatching her by the arms and backing her up into the room. His eyes were dark with concern. “Why didn’t you answer me?”

      “You’re overreacting—”

      “This place is dead up here. I saw your light. I thought…” He looked past her and the worry on his face hardened with suspicion. In a subtle yet obvious move, he pulled her behind him, positioning himself between her and Eli. “What’s he doing here?”

      Groaning at his mistimed machismo, Shauna quickly extricated herself from his grasp. “Detective Masterson and I had a meeting. We were just wrapping up.” She slipped back into completely professional address now that they had an audience again. “Have you two met?”

      Introductions were brief, the handshake briefer. Michael looked from Eli’s impassive expression back to her. “He’s Internal Affairs. Is there a problem?”

      She turned away from his question and spoke to Eli. “Will that be all, Detective?”

      With a silent plea, she begged him to keep the purpose of their conversation secret. She didn’t need the rumor mill getting ahead of, and possibly impeding, the investigation. Thankfully, she saw that those golden brown eyes could observe and understand without revealing anything. With a curt nod, Eli adjusted his tie and headed for the door. “I’ll report as soon as I know anything. Deputy Commissioner,” he acknowledged. He waited for Michael to move aside before leaving. “Talk to you later, boss lady.”

      WHATEVER ENERGY Shauna had felt dissipated as Eli strode down the hallway and disappeared from sight. Strange that the touch of Michael’s fingers on her arm failed to generate even a fraction of the heat she’d felt just bantering words with Eli.

      “Boss lady? That’s practically insubordination. Tell me you called him in for a reprimand of some kind.”

      Boss lady. Shauna allowed herself a hint of a smile. At least Eli understood who was in charge here. Though she felt that Michael’s concern was sincere, there was something more controlling than caring in his loyal defense of her. Letting him interpret her smile as a show of thanks, she shrugged off his grip and crossed the room to get her jacket and retrieve her purse. “It was a personal meeting, Michael. I can’t disclose the details. How did the meeting with the Chamber of Commerce go?”

      “Fine.” Though his mouth was set to push for more information about Eli’s visit, Michael let her change the topic. “They want to do something for Baby Jane Doe. I suggested updating the playground equipment in one of the parks. They could post a plaque with the girl’s name.”