She leaned her forehead against his chest for a few seconds, then pushed away. “I need to get to work.”

He opened the door for her. “Will you be all right here alone tonight while I’m at work?”

“It’s a safe building.”

“OK, but don’t let that lower your guard. Don’t let anyone in. Not even someone you know. Especially someone you know.” Conor locked up behind them. “I won’t make it back until about three a.m.”

“You don’t have to come back here if that’s not what you want.”

“It’s what I want.” He took her hand, but the tension in her muscles remained.

Of course, she had just made a major emotional revelation, and he’d totally backpedaled. What was his problem? It wasn’t like him to be such a fucking coward.

They took the elevator to the ground floor and walked toward the door.

A dark sedan was parked illegally at the curb in front of her building. Detectives Ianelli and Jackson got out of the vehicle.

Jackson stepped in front of them, halting their progress. Kirra growled softly. Maybe the dog wasn’t useless as a protector.

“We need to talk with you both.” Jackson nodded at the building behind them.

Louisa’s breakfast tumbled. “What’s wrong?”

Jackson frowned. “Isa Dumont is missing.”

CHAPTER 28

28

Louisa called April to let her know she’d be late. She didn’t say why.

Back in her apartment, Detective Jackson didn’t waste any time. He’d barely sat down when he started. “Isa Dumont was supposed to be at her parents’ house for dinner last night. She didn’t show up. Knowing everything that has been happening, her parents immediately started looking for her. No one has seen her since she left the university library at seven. Her car was found in the parking lot at nine o’clock.”

“Oh no.” Louisa sank onto a chair. Disappointment from her argument with Conor was swept aside with new grief. Standing next to her, grim-eyed, Conor squeezed her shoulder in a silent message. Tell him.

She clenched her hands in her lap. “I have something to tell you about Blaine Delancey.”

Jackson’s brow rose with interest. Ianelli leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs, his black eyes focused on her. He would miss nothing.

Telling her story was no easier than it had been last night. “I always assumed I simply couldn’t tolerate alcohol, but now I know that isn’t the case.”

Ianelli cocked his head, his gaze unreadable. “You have no evidence he did anything.”

“No. I have no proof. I understand that incident is over and done with from a legal perspective, but I thought you should know what Blaine is capable of.”