Page 11 of A Diagnosis Dark & Deadly

“Your feelings are conflicting,” she stated. “You only want me because now there’s a chase. I know you, Hadley, and I know how quickly you tire of things when they’re just handed to you. You like the chase. Hell, you like the fight.”

“Are you saying you don’t want another Friday night?” he asked her, his eyes perked, obviously surprised at her insinuation.

“No,” she said quietly. “I’m not saying that.” She paused, chewing the inside of her cheek. Hadley had seen this look on Goodson plenty of times before; she was thinking very hard about something, and so he waited for her to continue patiently. “We need guidelines so things don’t get out ofhand.”

Hadley nodded once. “Okay,” hesaid.

“I don’t want the stigma of the whole boyfriend/girlfriend relationship,” Goodson stated firmly.

“Agreed,” Hadley told her. “I want to know if you find someone else before you get involved withhim.”

“Yes,” Goodson said, nodding. “Oh, I don’t want anyone here to know about us. You can tell Shore if I don’t find out he knows.”

Hadley smiled and nodded without saying anything. A pause. “Is that it?” he askedher.

“I think so,” she said with a smile. “I’ll see you at my place around seven thirty?”

Hadley’s smiled deepened. “I guess so,” he said, and then pushed himself off the edge of his desk. He looked at Goodson for a long moment before asking, “So, who’s this Dr. Summerthen?”