Darius muttered.

Georgia made a face. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? Believe me, I am. I know how you feel about me. I know you never wanted to see me again."

Darius didn't speak.

The bravado wavered. She swallowed visibly and looked away. "The truth is, I didn't have anywhere else to go."

# CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

#

Damn it.

Darius wavered. He couldn't do this. Not again. He was out. Hell, he was grieving, for god's sake. Georgia Clare was the last person he needed in his life right now.

She was still talking. "I know I don't have any right to ask you for anything. Not after...what happened. I just—"

Christ, he didn't want to hear this. He clicked the safety back on the .40 and returned it to his shoulder holster. Then he started towards hisdesk. "Catch me up."

A combination of guilt and gratitude washed over Georgia's face. She cleared her throat, cleared it again. "Inspector Chandler called me into the police station again. She's done her due diligence, I'll give her that. She asked around about me. You can guess what people had to say."

Darius changed direction, went and stood in front of the window. "Nothing flattering, I assume." He stared down at the busy street.

"You assume correctly." Behind him, he heard Georgia start to pace. "Anyway, this other massacre? It happened in Cow Hollow, the night J..." she swallowed. "The night of the fire. The cops think it's connected to Forest Hill."

Darius pursed his lips. "Any idea why?"

"No. But they're right."

He turned. "What makes you say that?"

Georgia stopped pacing. "I've been