“Sorry about the interruption. Did she talk to them? . . . How so? . . . Did she think he was involved with any of them romantically? . . . What about the drug issue? . . . Yeah, that fits . . . Not that I’ve established. We may want to hold off on warrants . . . Right. That’s my concern too. Thanks for the update.” She pressed the end button, flipped open the Spanish text in front of her—and avoided eye contact.

Understandable, after their hot kiss on Saturday. It wasn’t wise to mix business and pleasure—and he should have thought about that before he initiated the fireworks.

At least it had given her a compelling incentive to think about the possibilities for the two of them after this job ended if she was willing to give their relationship another try.

They didn’t have to discuss that yet, though. Their cases deserved their full focus for the duration.

“Was that call about Evans?” He kept his attention on the textbook in front of her and pointed to a random word.

“Yes. I have news on that front, beginning with an encounter I had with him this morning.”

He listened as she relayed the conversation that had taken place in the man’s office.

“It’s surreal, isn’t it?” She finally looked over at him. “A high school counselor supplying girls with joints in the interest of helping them cope with stress.”

“I’ve heard of and seen stranger things. What’s the story on his wife?”

“A detective from Syracuse visited her. She said he loved his job—and the girls at his school—more than he loved her. Spent far more hours there than the position warranted. She suspected he’d had a romantic relationship with a few of them, which he always denied—and his alibis were solid. But she says he talked about the girls so much it was weird.”

“He sounds like a piece of work.” Zeke leaned over to turn the page in the textbook—an excuse to inhale Cate’s fresh scent as much as to preserve their cover. “She know anything about a drug connection?”

“She was, uh, less forthcoming on that subject.” Cate cleared her throat—as if their proximity was having a pulse-pounding effect on her too. “Could be she uses too and doesn’t want any hassles with law enforcement. When pressed, she did admit Evans had smoked weed on occasion.”

“I’d say County will have grounds for a warrant soon.”

“Yes—but I don’t want to derail the other investigations. If Evans doesn’t have any role in either of them, and cops start swarming the school, the people we’re after could get spooked . . . and disappear.”

“Agreed. Until we have a handle on how all the players fit together . . . and who may lead me to the key people I want to nail . . . it may be best to defer any action with Evans.”

“Any news on your end?”