Terminal 9 Read Free Page A

gear. This stupid gun is so uncomfortable with slacks.” Dana held up her Glock pistol, which was still tucked inside a black leather holster. “They really don’t make comfortable plain clothes duty gear for women.”
    â€œSorry.” Dana looked great to him, though black and white didn’t suit her near as well as some of the other colors he’d seen her in, like that soft pink cashmere sweater she’d worn when they’d had dinner together a couple of months ago. Unfortunately that dinner had been the end of anything romantic and the beginning of their business-only routine.
    Mac wasn’t really into hearing about women’s clothing. And since when did detectives call their guns stupid? Still, he tried to look sympathetic. “I don’t think we have time to go shopping for something else right now.”
    â€œCome on, Mac. Cut me some slack,” she grumped. “I’m looking for my fanny pack so I can give my ribs a break. The thumb brake on this department-issue holster is killing my ribs.”
    Mac could empathize. The thumb brake sat at the top of the gun sight, four to six inches above the belt line, and dug into the ribcage. “You’ll get used to it.” Mac thumbed the steering wheel impatiently with his fingers.
    â€œHere it is.” Dana waved her black leather fanny pack, then secured her gun inside the large zipper pouch. She closed the trunk and jogged around to the passenger side of Mac’s vehicle.
    Trying to keep his impatience under wraps, Mac kept his mouth shut while he maneuvered onto the street. “Why didn’t you want me to pick you up at your place?” Mac finally asked, trying to sound like he was just making light conversation. “It was on the way.” And we could have saved at least twenty minutes. He thought it best not to add the last part.
    Dana sighed and stared out the windshield. At first Mac thought she wasn’t going to answer. “Impressions, Mac. I don’t want anyone thinking I got this job for any reason other than that I was qualified and I deserved it.”
    Mac shook his head. “No one has ever indicated that you didn’t earn your way into the detective slot. I certainly don’t think that.”
    â€œI know.” Dana turned in the seat, her dimples deepening with a smile. “At least you better not. Maybe I’m being a little too cautious, but it’s different when you’re a woman. I can’t explain it. I’m trying to fill Kevin’s shoes while he’s out sick, and that’s an uphill battle alone.”
    â€œI don’t know about that.” Mac frowned, choosing his words carefully. “I think . . .”
    â€œI said that wrong.” Dana paused. “I could never fill Kevin Bledsoe’s shoes. What I meant is that I know I’m getting this chance because he’s sick and is working light duty. I hope Kevin kicks his cancer, but I’m not going to waste the opportunity to prove myself. I’m sure not going to put up with any office gossip, even though it would be totally unfounded.”
    Mac bit into his lower lip. Unfounded? She was right about that, but her being right didn’t stop him from wishing otherwise.
    â€œThat’s why I don’t want to give anyone anything to raise their eyebrows at—like seeing you come or go from my apartment. Can you understand where I’m coming from?”
    â€œSure, I guess so.” He doubted there’d be a problem. Still, Mac respected Dana, and if she felt she needed to distance herself from him for appearance’s sake, he could accept that. He just didn’t like it. “I feel like there’s a double standard, though. No one would give it a second thought if I picked Kevin up.”
    â€œKevin is a man. I’m a woman. There’s a difference, in case you haven’t noticed.”
    â€œNo kidding.” Mac chuckled.
    â€œAnd there are