When her mother sees me, she smiles and gives me a hug. “Thank you so much for sending Toby.”
“My pleasure but he did all the work.” At the sound of my voice, the sheriff exits June’s hospital room, making space for the two women to enter.
My boss points toward a small standing area in front of a vending machine. “You want to tell me what’s going on, son? What the hell were you doing in Florida?”
“Didn’t Brianna tell you?”
“Ay-yup. But I’d rather hear it from you.” He digs for his wallet, pulls out a few ones, and feeds them into the slot.
The cardboard cup pops out and fills with coffee as I wonder how much I want to say. While we pace the hall, outside the earshot of the nurses, I explain how I followed Danielle’s trail to Jeff’s baby-mommy. “Arianna said Jeff joked about throwing her off a mountain.”
Al removes his glasses, blows on them, and cleans them on his shirt. “Do you believe he’s capable of murder?”
“I thinkshethinks he is.” I meet his steady gaze without flinching.
“Do you have enough evidence to bring to the DA?”
“No sir.” I swallow the last of the hideous coffee and toss my cup in the garbage.
“Shit. I’m getting pressure from the college and the governor. We need to wrap this up.” Al digs the heels of his hands into his eyes and I feel bad for not moving this case forward.
Then, I remember how I promised to take the cheating spouse hunting with me. “Listen, I might have an idea. The day I brought the autopsy papers, I mentioned how my brother bagged a deer. Jeff sounded interested in tagging along.”
Al’s jaw drops, about to disagree, but I stop him with an open hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep him in front of me at all times.”
“I don’t like it.”
“I’m a former marine. He’s a college professor. There’s no way he’ll get the upper hand. And, if he’s not the killer, he may have a clue who is. What better way to get him to talk than a stroll in the woods?”
“I’d prefer you discuss things with him behind bars.” My boss crumples his cup and scores two points in the basket at the end of the hall.
“Beggars and choosers.” I punch him in the arm. “We done here?”
“Almost. Are you and Danielle a thing?” His glare makes me squirm.
“Not sure.” I clamp my mouth shut as she approaches with a quirky smile.
“Sorry. Am I interrupting something?”
We both shake our head, no.
“Hmm. Ah. Okay. Mom’s going to take me home. Thanks for everything.” She directs her gratitude in our general direction, making it unclear if she’s talking to me or my boss.
If it were any other woman, I’d have read her like a book. Maybe that’s why I find her so damn irresistible. However, I need to put us, whatever the hellusis, on the back burner. Stacy’s murder is growing colder by the minute. Once I solve the case, I can figure out all this touchy-feely crap.
It had to be Jeff who killed Stacy. Who else would polish the floor, loosen the railing, and finish the job by banging her head on the bottom step? His marriage was a sham. Maybe his wife found out and wanted a divorce. I picture them arguing, him shoving her, then the gruesome murder.
Maybe I should circle back and talk to the professor’s coworkers. I schedule my visit while he’s giving a lecture and stop in his office.
You’re Alisha, right?” When I knock, a young brunette looks up from her monitor and her lids lower until her eyes are mere slits.
“Deputy, how can I help you?”
I shoot her a friendly smile. “I’m just dotting a few i’s and crossing some t’s.”
Retrieving a small wire-bound notepad, I flip through pages. “It says here you were with Dr. Kincaid the night his wife fell down the stairs.”
“Yes.” Her eyes shift toward the floor but I pretend not to notice the clear tell she’s holding something back.
