Flashback (Kendra Michaels #11)

“But I’d have problems with it. I did give you my word that I’d try to find the sisters. I have to keep my word to you.”

“We seem to have gotten along fine with me driving you here.”

He shook his head mournfully. “I’m afraid we didn’t, Kendra. Maybe if I’d had more time to coach you about the eccentricities of driving such a magnificent car. I’ll keep it in mind next time.”

“I’m not worthy of driving that damn car?”

“I told you I’d coach you.”

“I may murder you, Lynch.”

He smiled. “But I could probably do that better than you, too. It’s all in the practice, Kendra. First, you have to have the knack, then you have to practice, practice, practice.”

“Any other suggestions?” she asked.

“You have to learn how to duck really well when confronted with irate motorists.”

“I’ve got that down pat.”

“And you have to let me feed you dinner tonight. At Juniper and Ivy while we discuss the case. Their Wagyu short rib can’t be beat, and I insist you try their yodel for desert.”

“I’ll work on it.”

“Then you’re a shoo-in.” He got behind the wheel. “I knew you could do it!”

“Yodel?” Kendra scanned the dessert menu at the Juniper and Ivy restaurant. So far the décor had proved to be absolutely charming and the food as good as Lynch claimed. “I believe I’ll pass on yodeling for dessert. It’s a bit on the exhibitionist side and not really my thing.”

“Nonsense. You’re a music professional and I’ve heard you sing with your students. You do a great job. Actually, it’s really good practice and I was going to suggest you bring some of your students here for an occasional lunch. The entire table could become a guest of the proprietors if your party does a good enough job of the yodel. But it must be loud enough to resonate off the other tables in the restaurant. Your students would love it.”

“They might at that. It could be fun for them. And I might be tempted to do it if I was sure that it was for their benefit and not to amuse you, Lynch.”

“Well, part of it would be for me.” His grin was puckish. “But I’ll try to persuade you again when you have a more welcoming audience for your yodel. I’m sure it will be an astounding success.”

“I thought so.” She was shaking her head and trying to keep from smiling. “You’re a very wicked man, Lynch.”

“Just trying to help you with your students,” he murmured. “I guess we’ll have to choose something more boring to keep you entertained. Let me think about it.”

Kendra’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and looked in surprise at the caller ID notification. “It’s Metcalf.”

“Metcalf? I didn’t think the FBI was on this case.”

“They’re not. He probably just heard about my run-in at Sloane’s condo.” She answered the call. “Metcalf, my head is fine. Nothing to worry about.”

“Uh, glad to hear it,” he replied. “But that’s not why I’m calling, whatever that’s about.”

“Oh.”

“I’m on my way to a crime scene. Kendra, I guess you haven’t heard…” She could hear the stress in his voice.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. Listen, this is related to the case you’ve been working. I knew you’d want to know right away.”

Lynch’s phone chimed on the table in front of him. He looked down at the screen and whispered a single swear word.

“I guess Lynch just found out,” Metcalf said.

“Found out what?”