His glower returned. “Go home, Mina.”
“Can’t. You parked me in.”
His jaw worked. If he’d been a cartoon character, I swear smoke would have billowed from his ears.
Holding eye contact momentarily, he slowly turned away, then gave Toren his full attention as the man stepped outside.
“Here you go.” Extending one long arm, he handed Ozzie a piece of paper tucked between two fingers.
“Thank you.” After a quick glance at it, Ozzie slipped the note into his pocket. “Do you have anything else you’d like to add?”
“Just be careful when you go out there. Whether it’s the man you’re looking for or not, the guy didn’t sound like he was willing to play.”
With a singular nod, Ozzie stepped toward his patrol truck. “Noted. Thank you, Mr. McCrae.” Giving Luke and me a hard look, he climbed into his vehicle.
I glanced at Luke, and we shared a look of trepidation. It might be a bit before we were out of the doghouse this time.
The engine in Ozzie’s truck roared to life. When I looked back, his dark expression was still in place as he backed up and turned around. A moment later, he disappeared down the drive between the pines.
Toren’s footfalls on the wooden porch steps drew my attention. He stopped several feet away, regarding us silently. A decision warred in his dark eyes. Eventually, he reached into his pocket and withdrew another slip of paper.
My heart thundered in my ears as I accepted it. I took a quick peek and saw coordinates written in a messy, male scrawl.
“Don’t make me regret giving you that.” Toren stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked past us at the trees. “I’m sure your friend is a good cop, but I’ve had enough experience with them to know sometimes they have blinders on and can’t see past the ends of their noses.” His gaze connected with mine, then Luke’s. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have things to do.”
“Of course.” I held up my hands and backed toward my car. “Thank you, Toren. Coffee’s on the house the next time you’re in town.”
The big, burly man nodded once and watched us as we got in the car and pulled away.
“He’s an interesting fellow,” Luke remarked.
I glanced in the rearview mirror. Toren still stood in the same place, arms crossed as I drove down the drive. “Yeah. Definitely.” But he was also helpful. Now I needed a map.
CHAPTER 30
Mina
“So, are we welcome here?” Luke asked, standing beside me as I rang the bell at Claire and Ozzie’s the next evening.
I chuckled. “He’s not home yet, so we’re safe.” And even if he were, he might glower for a bit and remind us to mind our own business before relaxing.
Although with what we were here for, it might take a bit longer. Claire texted me a little before closing to ask if Luke and I could come by to talk about some things she found. She also promised dinner as part of the deal.
“Is Claire safe?” Luke shot me a quick look of amusement.
I chuckled again. “He’s given up trying to rein her in.”
The door swung open.
“About time you got here.” Claire reached out and grabbed my hand, hauling me inside.
“Geez, Claire.” I laughed, dodging an excited Pebbles and Betty as she tugged me into her house.
“Sorry. Ozzie’s been ‘unavailable’”—she air-quoted—“all day, and Ineedto tell someone about what I found.”
“Hey!” Ellis poked his head around the corner from the kitchen. “What am I? Chopped liver?”
“I haven’t told you anything yet, and the only reason you’re learning any of this is because you randomly showed up.” Claire tossed the door closed behind Luke and locked it.
