“Somehow, it seems as though everything in Shalev is covered with a highly polished veneer. But I suspect that if you pry up any corner of the box, the stench of something rotten would bowl you over.”

CHAPTER 13

Eric signed the check-in forms and returned the warm smile the brunette clerk gave him. Clayne followed suit, then frowned at Eric. “How come I don’t get the flashing white teeth and fluttery eyes when I step up to that counter?”

Eric grinned, his eyes full of innocence. “From Carol, you mean?”

“From Carol, you mean?” Clayne mimicked in a high voice.

“She’s a nice girl.”

“Not to me, she isn’t. All I ever get is a polite, ‘Sign here, Lieutenant Robertson.’”

“Well, if you didn’t come up to her like a porcupine with a migraine headache, maybe she’d smile at you too.”

“I treat her just like I do everybody else,” he rumbled.

“Like I said…”

Eric jumped as the massive elbow nearly knocked him against the wall. “Keep it up, and you’ll spend your day off in traction,” Clayne retorted.

Eric just grinned and pushed open the locker room door, but Clayne stopped in the hall. “Nope, sorry. I’ve got a short staff meeting before I can call it a day.”

“Oh? Do you want me to wait and give you a lift home?”

Clayne rolled his eyes in mock terror. “Are you kidding? I’d rather face the whole front line of the Dallas Cowboys.” He pulled a face. “That’s a football team, or was.”

“Hey,” Eric said, with a wounded look, “my driving isn’t that bad. I’m learning fast, I think.”

“True. I can see some real improvement. Now I don’t worry until you start the motor. “ Then he touched Eric’s arm. “No, really, Adrienne’s coming for me.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow. Tell Adrienne and the kids hello for me.”

Five minutes later Eric came out of the locker room, waved to the men going on shift, and started for the parking lot. As he opened the door into the garage, Nicole Lambert came around the corner, her head down, and nearly collided with him.

“Oh!” she blurted, looking up. “Oh, hello, Eric.”

“Hello, Nicky,” he said, bowing slightly as he held the door for her. “And how is my illustrious Monitor today?”

“Weary of being called Nicky, actually.”

He sighed, his face contrite. “That’s right. You must forgive me. It just kind of slips out. Nicole it is. Or would you prefer Miss Lambert?”

“Nicole is fine.” She tried to push past him.

“I hope you brought a book,” he said, smiling at her stiffness.

“A book? Why?”

“Because I’m going to bed, and I’d hate for you to sit in front of Big Mama all day with nothing to do.”

“You flatter yourself if you think I sit and watch the tracking screen and your every movement all day long.”