Drea had always let other members of the café staff leave a few minutes early if there weren’t any customers, but she’d stopped that habit.Keeping her phone in her apron, along with a small pocketknife when she was alone in the café, had become a must.José was worried, but said nothing when she put the baseball bat she picked up at a charity store in the cupboard along with stashing flashlights around the place so she would never get caught in the dark again.
“It can’t be.I need the job.I’ll get over it.”Drea filled Harper in.She told her about the woman being chased from José’s, and the flash drive in the laundry.Having Harper home to objectively listen to her was just what she needed.By the time she’d finished explaining about Gilliam Gillespie and Mike MacArthur, Harper’s face was gray.
“I was just at the police station when you called,” Drea said.
“Are you with Detective Lopes?Because he was so helpful on my case,” Harper said referring to her own recent trouble.
“No, Detective Carter.Different unit, or whatever it is they’re called.He’s really nice.”
“Nice as in he’s an effective officer?Or…?”Harper fanned herself dramatically and flopped back into the sofa.
Drea laughed.“Both.”
“Ohh.Exciting.”Harper’s green eyes sparkled with mischief and the color rushed back to her cheeks.
“He asked me out.”She still owed him an answer to his question.
“He did not!What did you say?”
“I rain-checked him,” Drea replied, fiddling with the end of her ponytail.
“Why did you do that?Good Lord, girl, you deserve a little bit of fun.”
The idea of a fun-filled evening without responsibilities sounded heavenly, assuming she ever got a night off.But if she could, she doubted it was Ryan she’d want to see.
“Cujo and I kissed.”
Harper paused mouth open.Then she laughed.Which was not good, because it wasn’t her happy laugh.It was more of a nervous giggle.
“Really?… You… with him?… No.”
“My sentiments exactly.”Drea blew out a breath.“But he pushed me away afterward.”
A knock at the door interrupted them.Cujo walked in, and from the frown on his face, he was pissed.Another person followed him into the room, and Drea immediately knew the reason for Cujo’s irritated expression.
“Ryan!I mean Detective Carter,” she said, standing quickly.Couldn’t she catch a break?
“Hey, Drea.I got the message you left at the station,” Carter replied.“Thought I’d swing by and see what you needed.You look great today, by the way.”
“Is this about the case?”Cujo asked abruptly and folded his arms across his chest.
“Perhaps if we could talk privately first?”Carter asked, a broad smile on his face.“Drea and I have a few things to discuss.”
Cujo was leaning against the wall, his posture stiff.Harper was looking between the two men with amused fascination.
“This happens to be my studio, and I take care of the people in it.”
“I’m sure you do, Mr.Matthews, but I take confidentiality real serious.”Carter stood firm under the weight of Cujo’s glare.It was like a grown-up game of chicken.
“I’d like Cujo… I mean, Brody, to stay.He doesn’t know what’s going on.Let me bring him up to speed.”One look at the two of them side by side made it crystal clear.It was Cujo who made her heart skip a beat, even if he was being a sullen ass.
“I’m going to hang out in the studio,” Harper said, excusing herself quickly.
As she had with Harper, Drea filled Cujo in on the continuing conversations she’d had with Gilliam.He said very little, but the tick in his cheek was probably not a good sign.
“I spoke to Gilliam last night.Did you talk to the Canadian police yet?”she asked Carter.
“I put a call into the RCMP.The detective in charge is going to give me a shout today.Why?”
