Fire and Ice Read Online Free PDF Page A

take notes. His next question jerked her out of her private reverie.
    “How about we talk over lunch? As I indicated to your colleague yesterday, I have a private dining room at the Country Club. We can have an uninterrupted conversation and enjoy a pleasant lunch at the same time.”
    Annika was glad he couldn’t see her facial expression. Or maybe it would be better if he did. God what a presumptuous asshole he was.
    “No, Mr. Corcoran. Thank you, but I prefer to meet in your office or mine.”
    She looked around at her cubby hole “office” and grimaced.
    “But I insist, my dear. It truly is the only time I can meet today. A number of issues have arisen that I must tend to.”
    Annika whirled in her chair at the sound from the hallway. Horrified, she saw Sam in the doorway leaning casually against the frame. From the troubled expression on his face, it was obvious he’d overheard her conversation with Corcoran. Her first reaction was embarrassment, but anger quickly rose in its place. How dare he eavesdrop on her private conversations? And act as though it was any of his business where she met Corcoran or whom she lunched with.
    Snatching her phone off the desk she snapped off the speaker and spoke directly into the phone.
    “In that case, Mr. Corcoran, I’ll meet you at the Country Club at noon. No, please, that won’t be necessary. I have a squad car and will be between appointments. But thank you. I’ll see you at noon.”
    Punching off the phone, she glared at Sam. He ignored her obvious anger and came into her cubicle and plopped down in the armchair beside her desk.
    “Do you always listen to other people’s private conversations, Commander?”
    Sam frowned slightly, ignoring her question as if she hadn’t asked it.
    “Are you sure that’s wise, Lieutenant? Having lunch in Corcoran’s private dining room doesn’t exactly put you on an even playing field with your witness.”
    Annika drew up in her chair, forcing herself to respond calmly—which wouldn’t be easy. She knew that Sam was right. She never should have agreed to have lunch with Corcoran. The man was not only a witness but at least for the time being was also a potential suspect in a massive crime. It was just that seeing Sam in the doorway and knowing that he overheard Corcoran’s slimy invitation had rattled her. Responding to his carefully phrased question, Annika clipped out her words as confidently as she could.
    “I’ll decide the best time and place to interrogate my witnesses, Commander. And… yes… ordinarily I would not have agreed to do that over lunch… but it was the only time he could meet today….”
    Her words trailed off. From the expression on Sam’s face it was clear he knew that the reason she’d agreed to have lunch with Corcoran was because Sam had startled her. It didn’t help that it was the truth. Before she could tell him to leave, he surprised her.
    “I apologize, Annika. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” He smiled slightly. “I actually came by to see if I could convince you to have lunch with me. I know we left off yesterday on a bad note. I was hoping we could start fresh today.”
    Annika was startled. Both by his offer and by the shivery sensations she felt when he called her by her name. Before she could answer, he continued.
    “How about you take along a ‘partner’ to your lunch with the Irishman? It doesn’t hurt to change the rules of engagement when confronting a guy as manipulative as Brennan Corcoran. We can double-team him.”
    For a short moment, Annika wanted to agree. Of course. It was exactly what they should do. Having Sam join them uninvited would throw Corcoran off his game. Perturb him. Make it more likely to get genuine information from him. But, as enticing as the proposition was, Annika knew she couldn’t accept. There was something about Sam that threw her off her game. She was a master interrogator but yesterday she’d blown the interview. It wasn’t Corcoran who