“I, uhm,” she said, then stopped. She seemed nervous for the first time since they'd met. Unsure of herself.

Sampson took her hands in his. “I was wondering if I could have another cup of coffee,” he said.

She laughed lightly and shook her head. “Are you always this gallant?”

Sampson shrugged. “No,” he said. “I've never been this way in my whole life.”

“Well, c'mon back inside.”

Alex Cross 8 - Four Blind Mice

Chapter Fifty-Six

It was almost midnight and Jamilla and I were up to our necks in the shimmering mountain pool that looked down on Phoenix in the distance and on the desert up closer. The sky over our heads seemed to go on forever. A big jet took off from Phoenix and all I could think of was the tragedy at the World Trade Center. I wondered if any of us would ever be able to look at a jet in the sky without having that thought.

“I don't want to get out of this water. Ever,” she said. “I love it here. The desert sky goes on and on.”

I held her close to me, felt her strong heart beating against my chest. The night air was cool and it made being in the pool feel even better.

“I don't want to leave here either,” I whispered against her cheek.

“So why do we do what we do? Live in the big city? Hunt killers? Work long hours for low pay? Obsess on murders?”

I looked into her deep brown eyes. Those were good questions, ones I'd asked myself dozens of times, but especially during the past few months. “It always seems like a good idea at the time. But not right now.”

“You think you can ever quit? Get past the adrenalin? The need to feel that what you do matters. I'm not sure that I can, Alex.”

I had told Jamilla that I was probably going to leave the police force in Washington. She nodded and said she understood, but I wondered if she really did. How many times had she faced down killers? Had any of her partners died?

“So,” she said, 'we've been beating all around it. What do you think about us, Alex? Is there hope for two cops off the beat?"

I smiled. “I think we're doing great. Of course, that's just me.”

“I think I agree,” she smiled. Too early to tell for sure, right? But we're having fun, aren't we? I haven't thought about being a detective all day. That's a first."

I kissed her lips. “Neither have I. And don't knock fun. I could use a lot more of it in my life. This beats solving homicides.”

“Really, Alex?” She grinned and pulled me close against her. Ts this good for you. Well, it's good for me, too. That's enough for right now. I love being here. I love tonight. And I trust you, Alex."

I couldn't have agreed more. At a little before midnight.