"I didn't mean it that way," she said. "The place was nice, that's all."

"And hard to get to," Jose said. "Bet they never stacked up outside the door on Commerce Street. I'm sorry about the grease and gasoline smell, but this is the right place for your work. I'd have to charge if you were still in that glass tower."

"And we'd get about half as much done without you," she said. "So, it's all good."

"One thing is not so good," he said, reaching into his briefcase, leaning forward, and laying a second file down on the desk. "That guy you got the restraining order against?"

"For Soledad Mondo?"

"Yeah, her husband, that guy, Domingo Mondo," Jose said. "Just keep your eye out."

"For what?"

"I'm sure it's fine," Jose said, "but I leaned on him a little and there was something about him. I don't know. He didn't make a threat or anything like that, but he had a look. I'm sure it's just me being overcautious."

"Like he's going to come after me?"

"No. Just keep your eyes open. If you see him, or notice something funny, you call me. Don't worry about it. Just be smart. You still got that little.38 I gave you?"

Casey patted the desk drawer beside her knee.

Jose grinned and slapped his knees, rising as he said, "Speaking of smart, I got a little redheaded wife who's taking personal training to a whole new level, but they keep changing where they go so I can't ever get set up on them."

"Redhead?"

"Not red like yours," Jose said, scooping up his files and stuffing them into the valise. "The orange kind."

Casey touched her own hair and felt her cheeks warm.

"Thank you for the photos," she said.

"You'll make it up to me one day," he said, winking and drawing the bolt and letting himself out the back.

Casey went to the door to watch him go. As he climbed up into his F-350, she felt a reply bubbling up from the knot in her stomach. She even opened her mouth to speak and he paused with his hand on the truck door, but the words tangled themselves into a snag and hung up in her throat.