“Outside appointment.” Deliberately she checked her watch. She had time to spare. “Running a bit late,” she lied without qualm.

“I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.” Pressing his palm against the wall, he leaned over her. Another of his habits Tess found herself detesting. “You’d think it wouldn’t be a problem since our offices are right next door.”

Where the hell was an elevator when you needed it? “You know what schedules are like, Frank.”

“Indeed I do.” He flashed his toothpaste smile and she wondered if he thought his cologne was driving her wild. “But we all need to relax now and again, right, Doctor?”

“In our own way.”

“I have tickets to the Noel Coward play at the Kennedy Center tomorrow night. Why don’t we relax together?”

The last time, the only time, she’d agreed to relax with him, she’d barely escaped with the clothes on her back. Worse, before the tug-of-war, she’d been bored to death for three hours. “It’s nice of you to think of me, Frank.” Again she lied without hesitation. “I’m afraid I’m already booked for tomorrow.”

“Why don’t we-”

The doors opened. “Oops, I’m late.” Sending him a cheery smile, she stepped inside. “Don’t work too hard, Frank. You know what they say.”

Due to the pounding rain and traffic she ate up nearly all of her extra time driving to the station house. Strangely enough, the half-hour battle left her rather cheerful. Perhaps, she thought, because she had escaped so neatly from Frank. If she’d had the heart, and she didn’t, she would simply have told him he was a jerk and that would be the end of it. Until he pushed her into enough corners, she’d use tact and excuses.

Reaching beside her, she picked up a felt hat and bundled her hair under it. She glanced in the rearview mirror and wrinkled her nose. No use doing any repairs now. The rain would make it a waste of time. Still, there was bound to be a ladies room inside where she could dig into her bag of tricks and come out looking dignified and professional. For now she was just going to look wet.