“Are you kidding?” he asked quietly.

“No, I’m not kidding. He’s one of the many reasons I seldom date.”

“Make an exception for me.”

“Torgerson!” Chief Jacobs yelled from his office.

She pushed away from the desk. “Gotta go.”

Elliot gently caught her arm and released her as soon as she stopped moving. “Please?”

She looked into his eyes and frowned. “I’ll think about it.”

One side of his mouth curled up. “No strings. Just me and you, and your son if you want, getting to know one another outside of work.”

She was so damn tempted. “I’ll think about it.”

His expression fell.

“I have to go.”

Darby O’Roarke came to stand next to him.

“Torgerson!” Chief Jacobs called again.

Signy blew out a big breath and turned away.

“See you next week,” Elliot called after her.

Signy shook her head. She knew she should shut it down, shut him down. It wasn’t like they could go anywhere. But the idea of going on a date with Elliot Byrne excited her way more than it should—which was exactly why she should stay home, with her son—who’d probably be headed to college in three years.

She cleared her expression as she walked towards her boss who stood at his door staring at her with a look on his face that suggested he had something to say about Elliot Byrne. She didn’t want to be teased. She didn’t possess the energy to deal with being mocked. Thankfully, Eban came out the conference room and intercepted them both.

“A burner phone that pinged off a cell tower near Martin Carstairs’s house and another tower near the church close to the time of the murders was purchased on Gleeson’s credit card on January 4th.”

“Is that enough for a conviction, do you think?” she asked.

“I doubt it. But maybe it will help get a confession.”

“Do it. Tonight.” The chief pointed at her as he said it because he wasn’t allowed to boss Supervisory Special Agent Winters around. Jacobs went back into his office and slammed the door shut.

“There goes any chance of seeing my son tonight. At this rate, child services will be knocking on my door.”

Eban shot her a look. “How old did you say he was?”

“Fifteen.”

“He’s alone?”

“Yeah. I don’t have any family here.” She felt defensive all of a sudden. “He’s sensible. Plus, he knows I can track his phone and take away his video games if he doesn’t behave, but honestly, he’s the best kid.” Guilt ate her up. “Things aren’t usually this busy.”

“He’ll be fine,” Eban told her with a smile. “Kids are resilient. Boys that age are brighter than they appear most of the time.”

“I hate leaving him.” Signy released a tense breath.

Elliot Byrne let out a loud laugh at something Darby said.

“You aren’t worried she’s going to run off with that guy and live happily ever after?” She changed the subject.

Eban’s gaze hardened as he looked at the attorney. “If it made her happy, I’d learn to live with it.”