“That’s our arrangement,” he agreed.
“Thank you for this,” she replied. The scent of his cologne threatened to half dizzy her senses. “I just…just really need to be involved in the hunt for my mother’s killer.”
“Okay, then you sit and drink coffee all day and I’ll keep you involved in the case each evening. Goodnight, Angelique.”
“Good night, Chief LeCroix.” She watched as he disappeared into the darkness, and then she closed the door and locked it for the night.
She sank down on the sofa and thought about everything he’d told her, but her thoughts lingered on Daniel the man and not on Daniel the lawman.
He was not only hunky looking, but she liked the way he smelled, too. It was obvious he had a good sense of humor, and she also found that very attractive. She also knew he was an available bachelor.
At the age of twenty-nine, Angelique had dated a lot of men, but somehow or another they always disappointed her in the end.
She had believed herself madly in love once before. Jason Webber was an insurance agent in town, and the two had dated for a little over a year. Angelique had believed they were both on the same page and eventually they would marry and builda family together. They had talked about those plans and she’d expected him to propose. But that hadn’t happened.
Unfortunately, Jason had been a cheater and a liar, and he’d had no real interest in marrying Angelique. With all his lies and infidelity, he’d broken her heart into a million pieces.
That had been a little over a year ago. George Trahan had been the last man she’d dated. He’d been an experiment of sorts to see if there was a chance for her to experience love once again, even though Jason had left her with a general distrust of all men.
After seeing George a couple of times and knowing he was developing feelings for her that she didn’t share, she’d stopped seeing him. Now she was no longer interested in dating. She didn’t believe real love existed. She had decided she would live alone and take lovers when she wanted like her mother had done.
She definitely had no interest in any kind of personal relationship with the chief of police, no matter how attractive she found him. All she wanted from him was answers as to who had killed her mother. And why.
DANIEL SAT AThis desk early the next morning, thinking about his interaction with Angelique the night before. She’d smelled of summer flowers and mysterious spices, a scent he found very attractive.
She had looked beautiful in a pair of jeans that had hugged her long legs and a pink sleeveless blouse that had showcased her slender waist and her full breasts. There was no question that she was a stunning woman, but she would probably be a hellcat to live with.
The last thing Daniel wanted was to hook up with a controlling woman. Been there, done that. His seven-month-long relationship with Allison Gregory had left such a bad taste in his mouth he hadn’t dated for the past year.
Allison had been beautiful, too. They had dated for three months, and then she had moved in with him. Suddenly she was trying to control everything in his life, and if he didn’t allow her to do so, she threw a hellish temper tantrum or would pout for days on end.
No, there was no way in hell he would have a relationship with Angelique Santori. He grabbed his coffee cup, took a drink and then mentally shook himself.
What was he doing sitting here and even thinking about Angelique Santori? All she wanted from him was answers and nothing more. And he hoped he could give them to her sooner rather than later.
It might have been easier if he’d known about the book Mystique kept earlier. If she had chronicled the names of her clients, then it was possible the murderer’s name could be listed there. He’d love to get his hands on that book.
He’d checked the list of items taken into custody following the murder, but there was no book listed. Hopefully Angelique would find it today and turn it over to them. It could be the very key to solving the murder.
The bloodstained sheets and blanket from Mystique’s room had been sent to a lab to see if it was possible the killer’s blood was also there. But it would probably take weeks before they got the results.
It was just past eight when Daniel, Clay and Luke left the police station. First, they were headed to George Trahan’s shanty to interview him. Was it possible the man had killed Mystique because she hadn’t approved of him as a suitor for Angelique?
It was a long shot, but Daniel didn’t intend to leave any stone unturned going forward, so they would speak to George and see if he had an alibi for the night of Mystique’s murder.
The three of them rode in Daniel’s car and as he drove, he told them about the book. “That book could crack this case wide-open,” Luke said from the passenger seat.
“Are we sure one of Mystique’s clients murdered her?” Clay asked. He was seated in the back, behind Daniel.
“No, at this point we aren’t sure of anything,” Daniel replied. “However, that book would definitely help us. Angelique is going to check around the house to see if she can find it.”
“Now that is one strong woman,” Clay said.
“I definitely wouldn’t want to get on her bad side,” Luke added. “I have a feeling she could chew a man up and spit him out with no problem.”
“She just wants her mother’s murder solved,” Daniel said, surprised to find himself wanting to defend her. Heck, at this point he didn’t even know if he liked the woman, not that it mattered.
By that time, he had pulled to a halt at the swamp’s entrance and they all got out of the car. “Do you know where George’s shanty is located?” Clay asked.
