When I announced I had to leave for work, everyone seemed unhappy to see me go. Even Neil and Reed, who had spent much of the party off in their own little world together, came over to say goodbye. If anyone doubted there was something going on between them, today put paid to that idea.
So, in terms of what Steve and I had hoped might happen, the party was a bust. Otherwise, it was fun and I wished I could have stuck around until the end.
* * * *
When I got home from work, I filled Steve in on what had happened, or more what hadn’t happened, at the party. He didn’t seem terribly surprised.
“We were playing a long shot. If it had worked we’d be one step closer to finding the killer. As it is…”
“We sit here and hope to hell he makes his move before we both go bat-shit crazy.”
“No kidding.” Steve shot me a worried look. “I only have tonight and tomorrow night, according to the lieutenant. He needs me back on my regular schedule.”