Echo's Crusade Part 8

Roan sighed. "Is there a trick question in there?"

Echo laughed. "No, silly, I have the feeling that you're getting more and more antsy every day, and that's not a good thing. You can be such a grouch, Lieutenant."

Echo was right, she was frustrated at her lack of strength, and it reflected in any conversation she held. Roan heard the banter in Echo's voice, and she replied accordingly. "That's not a nice thing for a friend to say." She'd even bitten the head off of the clerk who had said she couldn't have access to certain information from the precinct files over the phone.

"It's because I'm your friend that I can say it. Just tell me. I promise it won't be painful...even though you make it sound like I'm pulling teeth." Her smile grew wider as the image of Roan in a dentist chair came to mind.

"You're pushy, I'll give you that, Echo Radar. Okay, so I've had a couple of frustrating days. I want so much to get on with this investigation in the field, and frankly, when I try to do too much, my body gives up the ghost. Patience isn't a strong point of mine."

"Your body needs time to recuperate. I'm sure as each day goes by, you'll feel stronger."

There was a marked silence for a while until Echo heard Roan expel a breath. Finally, Roan said, "Yeah. So Greystoke...what do you know?

Echo contemplated teasing Roan some more but resisted. Instead, she said, "I think she has a roving eye."

Surprised at the statement, Roan said, "You do? Just how did you deduce that, my dear Echo?"

Echo buffed her nails against her sweater. "I was the target."

"Really? Tell me more." Roan was pleased that Echo wasn't in the room with her as she tried to control the vying emotions of surprise and annoyance.

"Dinner tomorrow...I'll tell you everything. Now if I were you, I'd consider allowing that body of yours to rest. Knowing you as I do, you'll have been in the study all day poring over notes."

"Is that an order, Mom?" Roan had a tight smile on her lips. She'd rather not wait twenty-four hours to find out; she wanted to know now.

"No, merely a friendly bit of advice. Good night, Roan. I'll see you tomorrow at seven." Echo hung up with a bright smile. With lightness in her step, she went to the kitchen to prepare a light supper. One thought kept going through her head. "I need a new dress," she muttered as she opened the refrigerator door and wondered what Roan had eaten that day.

At the other end of the line, Roan replaced the receiver and sank down in her chair. The relief that Echo was home safe had appeased her agitation until she heard the mention of Greystoke and a wandering eye. "You'll tell me more tomorrow, that's for sure." Then she growled, "Darn, I forgot to tell her that Nigel and Lyn will be there, too. Oh, well, that won't matter, she'll like Nigel and she's met Lyn." Her gaze then traveled to the papers on her desk and the life that was Karen Thompson.

Chapter Thirteen.

Echo dressed for the occasion. She wanted to impress Roan. Where she loved buying new clothes and looking pretty, Roan could do with help. The one time she'd mentioned taking Roan to her hairdresser fell on stony ground. Then again, the nature of their tentative friendship was based on Roan doing her job, rather than any real social interaction. However, they were interacting with each other and it had been a bonus...a big one. That night was going to be a first. Roan invited her out for dinner, instead of their usual meals at Roan's home where it was casual and comfortable. Just the fact that Roan had asked her out sent goose b.u.mps down her arms and her stomach...well, that was better left unsaid. She hoped that she could keep the food down.

Late at the office, then caught up in traffic on the interstate, Echo finally arrived at the restaurant at seven fifteen. The brightly lit exterior was in contrast to the subdued, intimate interior. The place had Echo's heart thumping rapidly at what she hoped would be in store for the evening. Walking over to the young woman next to the cash register, she smiled. "Hi, I'm meeting Ms. Keating. She has a table booked."

The woman, who had dark skin and was dressed casually, gave Echo a polite professional smile. "Good evening. Lieutenant Keating's already here with the other members of the party. I'll show you to the table." The young woman slipped from behind her podium and indicated that Echo should follow her.

Echo's mind worked overtime as the words "other members" replayed in her head. Sucking in a deep breath, she followed the woman, and as she did, her heart flipped at the sight of Roan and the female officer she briefly met twice before. "What a d.a.m.n idiot I am," she said, cursing herself.

The young woman turned. "Sorry, did you say something?" Echo shook her head. "No."

When they arrived at the table, the woman motioned to the table and left.

As Echo stopped, she watched in painful fascination Roan laughing at something the beautiful woman opposite her was saying. All her previous thoughts about an intimate dinner crashed around her like a ferocious wave in a storm.

Forcing a smile, Echo stepped closer. "Hi, sorry I'm late." Roan stood and her head moved slightly from side to side as she appraised the semi-revealing black c.o.c.ktail dress that hung closely to the full curves of Echo's body. The alabaster skin revealed by the low-cut neckline was in perfect contrast to the color of the dress.

"Hi, no problem. I wondered if you were late because of the traffic." Her gaze caught Echo's, and it clung there for a few silent moments.

"h.e.l.lo, Echo. We meet again. You look fabulous. Are you meeting a hot date after dinner?" Lyn watched the body language between the virtual stranger and the woman she'd known for several years in fascination. Her mind began to work overtime in juicy speculation.

Blushing, Echo shook her head. "Not tonight, unless the lieutenant knows of a great nightclub."

Roan blinked back her appreciation of Echo's appearance and shook her head. "The only nightclubs I know are not recommended."

Echo nodded and sat in a chair Roan chivalrously pulled out for her. "Thank you."

"My pleasure." Roan smiled before taking her seat again. Her heart had done a dozen somersaults at the inadvertent view she had of Echo's cleavage. "Where has Nigel got to? He promised the call he was taking would only be a couple of minutes."

Lyn threw up her hands. "You know Nigel...he says three words when one would suffice."

Echo glanced around, then saw in the small alcove next to the bathrooms a lone, tall man talking animatedly on the phone. "Have I met Nigel before?"

Roan shook her head. "Nope. He's someone I hope you never meet or at least not for another six decades. Professionally, that is."

"What Roan is hinting at is that Nigel is a pathologist at the city morgue." Lyn never took her gaze off the two women opposite her. The implied "just friends" was turning cartwheels in her overactive mind.

With a small smile, Echo said, "I see...is the food that bad here?"

Lyn chuckled and Roan just gave the frown she always did before speaking. Then the subject of their conversation appeared. "Sorry about that. My, my, you've been holding out on me, Roan. Who is the beauty that has miraculously appeared at our table?" His eyes crinkled at the sides in gentle admiration as he sat and held out his hand to Echo.

Taking the man's hand, she shook it firmly. "Echo Radar, pleased to meet you, Nigel." Echo liked him. His words weren't condescending but merely light banter. After she let go of Nigel's hand, she noticed he took hold of Lyn's hand and squeezed it gently.

The man's bony face dropped a little. "Oh, no, they didn't fill in all the details while I was gone, did they? Darn it...I'm never taking a call again over dinner. Don't let them scare you, Echo, I've never dissected my food I've a ravenous appet.i.te, don't I, Lyn?" He grinned and wriggled his eyebrows.

"They didn't, I promise," Echo said lightly before looking at Roan. The woman moved her gaze so quickly that Echo would have bet her next paycheck that Roan had been watching her discreetly.

Roan briskly said, "Let's discuss a few things before dinner." She eyed Echo. "We've already ordered drinks, what can I get you?"

"Lime and soda would be nice," Echo said before she mentally berated herself on how foolish she must look all dressed up with no place to go. Everyone else was dressed casually. She glanced at Roan and Lyn, who appeared to be listening intently to what Nigel was saying. She'd zoned out when the subject matter of autopsy came up. It was not a conducive starter to the main course.

"Echo?"

A light jab to her arm and Echo came out of her daze. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

Roan shook her head in exasperation as she realized that it had been a bad idea to invite Echo, for lots of reasons. "The waitress wants to know what you want to order for dinner."

"Oh, of course...sorry, I was miles away. The chicken breast stuffed with garlic, roast potatoes with the vegetables of the day, please." Echo was hungry and her stomach picked that moment to protest.

"Never fails, Echo eats like a horse. Want a starter? We've ordered ours, you could always share." Recalling several meals they had together and fully expecting Echo to order something, a smile tugged at the corner of Roan's mouth. Echo had a veritable bottomless pit for a stomach.

Echo felt the tug of the smile as she winked at the gaze holding hers. "How well you know me. What are you having?"

"Steak for the main and garlic prawns on a bed of rice to start."

Echo chuckled. "You won't eat all that!"

"Then you can help me out, deal?" Roan grinned and waved her fork playfully in Echo's direction.

Echo caught those intense eyes again and smiled. She felt her breath grow shallow for a few seconds. "Sounds like a wonderful deal for me."

Dinner was surprisingly enjoyable with nothing but small talk about career paths, vacations, and entertainment favorites. They trenched happily through starters, the main course, and finally a decadent dessert.

"Since you kindly allowed me to share your starter, Roan, want to share?" Echo picked up a fork full of the double chocolate fudge shortcake and offered it to her.

Roan laughed. "I'm good, thanks. Where do you put all that food? You certainly can't tell, and believe me, you would in that dress."

Echo tilted her head slightly and decided to tease her. "Really? You think I'd spill out of the dress?"

Roan pulled a face. "No, of course not. I just thought the seams might creak a little...they always do me. I've had to open the top b.u.t.ton of my slacks to accommodate what I've eaten tonight."

"I must remember that about you, Lieutenant, and scale down your portions of food in the future. Especially all that junk food you love." Echo gazed into Roan's eyes and blinked exaggeratingly.

The couple opposite them laughed at Echo's actions and turned to Roan.

"She's got you there, Roan." Lyn smiled as she saw Roan's frown.

"Yeah, yeah, everyone's a critic." Then, characteristically of Roan, she turned the conversation to the reason they were there. "Nigel, what were you saying about that substance you found in Thom...the victim?"

Echo was digging into the rest of her dessert when she heard the change in Roan's voice and thought she should listen. She unconsciously offered Roan the last fork full of the chocolaty goodness. Roan, who had forgotten where she was, took the offered treat. It was a natural thing to do.

"...it's of African origin and virtually unknown on this continent. You need a special permit to get it into the country, so it should be relatively easy to track down. Unless, of course, it's been smuggled in and you might be looking for a needle in a haystack." Nigel continued with his observations.

Roan licked her lips of the cream on the shortcake that Echo had poured liberally over the confectionery. "Yeah, it's a good lead, though. I'll have to go over all the places that she went and find out where Thompson might have possibly drunk such a concoction."

"I'll help on my days off, Roan...do some legwork for you," Lyn said. "Just tell me what you want me to do." She had to contain a smirk as she digested this new friendship Roan had undertaken.

Maybe she should get shot more often.

Echo hadn't been listening properly, especially as she realized after the event that she publicly fed Roan in front of her friends. Roan hadn't said anything. In fact, she didn't blink when it happened. When she vaguely heard the name Thompson, she tried to get in at the end of the conversation.

"What did you say?" All eyes turned to her and she gave them a shamefaced look. "Sorry I was..."

"Miles away, probably thinking about your next campaign. Did you know that Echo is the imaginative side of the Austin Agency? Do you remember that ad campaign for women's underwear that had all the cars crashing in the center of town last year? This is your girl."

Nigel chuckled. "Wow, and I figured only a man had that kind of imagination."

Echo basked for a few seconds in Roan's sudden appreciation of her career. It had been unexpected and therefore all the more wonderful, especially as she thought she heard pride in her voice. In a way, it made up for not sharing an intimate dinner with Roan-almost.

Roan laughed. "Right, I digress. We were talking about your friend. She drank something with an African herb in it. Nigel says that was what killed her once he knew her medical background. Shouldn't have been a problem for most people, but..." Roan stopped as Echo's eyes grew wide in amazement.

"She was allergic. The only thing I've ever seen her drink is water, and it needing filtering. There's no way she would have voluntarily drunk anything with a flavor to it." Echo's face paled.

Roan didn't say anything. But Nigel did. "In that case, I'd say she drank it unknowingly. It could have been masked of the flavor, which caused a reaction. Or worse yet...someone forced her to drink it. Either way, it's a very suspicious situation."

Deep in thought, Roan rubbed the side of her cheek. "Okay...we're changing from suicide to murder or accidental death. Looks like all I need to do is find someone who likes African herbs in their tea who knew Thompson and..."

Echo quietly said, "Layla Greystoke."

Nigel and Lyn stared at the pale woman who sat next to Roan as Roan shifted in her chair and faced Echo.

"How friendly did you two get last night that you know this?" Roan focused intently on Echo's features.

"Because she gave me some when I went to see her last night. It was a token gesture. With a mind as viciously suspicious as yours, I'm not surprised she told me not to tell you." Echo gulped as she saw Roan's arched eyebrows. "A friend of hers smuggled it in, and she didn't want to be in any trouble," Echo said as calmly as she could for she was annoyed with Roan's insinuation.

A quiet descended on the table, and Nigel dragged up Lyn by the hand to stand. "Sorry, folks, but we have early shifts tomorrow. Great to meet you, Echo. I hope we see you again soon. Roan, I'm sure Echo can give you a lift home. Keep us in the loop, Roan, whatever we can do we will. Catch you later."

Minutes later, Nigel and Lyn walked out of the building, and Lyn said, "What was all that about? We have the day off tomorrow."

"Did you see the expression on Roan's face? She was livid. Frankly, I'm not sure with who...that Greystoke woman or Echo. I thought we'd best leave it to them." Nigel shrugged as they continued on their way.

"I've known Roan since the academy, and I swear this is the most animated she's ever been around another human being. What do you make of that?" Lyn asked as they headed for the car.

Nigel paused a moment. "Don't know...not going to ask...but I think it's wonderful."

Lyn chuckled as she clung onto his arm and went up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Yeah, me too. You have to admit that moment when Echo fed her dessert was priceless."

Roan, still dumbfounded by Echo's admission coupled with Nigel and Lyn's sudden departure, didn't know what to say.

Echo, for her part, sat wallowing in the sadness of Karen's demise. It at least appeared she would have vindication. Then she felt Roan's gaze on her, turned her head, and looked up.

"That woman, did she insist you drink her confounded concoction?" Roan felt the alien emotion of jealousy running through her veins and threatening to erupt.

"No! She thought it might settle my nerves. Does it matter?" As soon as she spoke, she knew that it did. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking straight."

Roan shook her head. "Yeah, this is all mixed up. If Karen had inadvertently taken the drink and died from it, why would someone make it look like a suicide? There would have been no suspicion on Greystoke if it was a tragic accident...unless it wasn't."

"You think Layla Greystoke had something to do with the case? She's looked after the less-fortunate all her life. How can you believe that?"

"Easy...people, no matter what you might think, Echo, have a dark side. No one is immune." Roan mulled over the new development.

"Does that include me?"

Roan frowned. "We all do. Sometimes it's more a shade of grey, that's all. Will you give me a lift home? I need to go over the details I have collected before I take the next step forward."

Echo automatically nodded. Then she looked at Roan, who seemed to be looking through her as if she didn't exist. What a fool I was to think I mattered. "We'd better pay the bill."

Forty minutes later, they were outside Roan's brownstone. The conversation between them on the journey there had been minimal. As Echo stopped her car outside Roan's home, she reflected on the possibility that this might well be the last time she and Roan were alone together. "Okay, super sleuth...I hope you get your man, or in this case, woman."