“There is one other thing,” Sally said, poking her head in the office door.

Ian slammed the folder shut and looked up at her. “It’s Saturday. This is my day off, isn’t it?”

“You’re here, aren’t you? I tried to give this to one of the guys on patrol, but they both agreed you ought to handle it since it wasn’t an emergency situation and you have a way with people.”

“Right,” Ian said, standing. He tucked the folder under his arm. “What is it?”

“There’s a new tenant over on Bay Street, in that shop with the two little pine trees in front of it. A few members of the biddy brigade have called in to complain there’s something obscene displayed in the front window.”

“Obscene? Like what?”

“They couldn’t bring themselves to say. My guess, a naked breast. They practically died of the vapors when Carmen at the video store put up that poster for that French movie. You know, the one where the lady’s dress was half on and half off.”

“All right,” Ian said. “I’ll go check it out, but then I’m done for the day. Understand? Anything else comes in and the boys handle it.”

Sally gave him a smart salute as he walked back through the front doors. “You got it, Chief. Enjoy your weekend.”

Ian walked back out to his car, then noticed the folder he still carried in his hand. He opened it up and pulled out the photo once more. There had to be a way to meet this woman again. He shook his head. He’d never been so captivated by a woman before, and never by a perfect stranger.

Ian groaned. Hell, for all he knew, she could be a complete ditz, or a raging harpy, or she could be happily married with three children. Which would probably be for the best considering the most he could manage right now was an affair in mind only. He’d made his brothers a promise, sworn on the gold charm, and he had two weeks’ pay riding on three months of complete celibacy.



12 из 174