The sheriff turned on him. “Mind your own business.”
Tabi cleared her throat. “Well, hello, Johnny. How are your balls? I believe I kicked them nearly through the top of your head when you and your buddies tried to accost me.”
It was the attack that had been caught on tape. Evan should give her that video. Definitely.
Johnny swirled to look at her, and he did pale the slightest amount. “Oh, you and I aren’t done.”
Evan stepped forward. “Watch it, kid.”
The sheriff grabbed his arm. “Detective O’Connell? You’re not needed here, and I suggest you get back to work. Don’t you have a murder to solve?” He turned and stared at Abby Miller. “I believe the, ah, grieving widow is right over there.” The condescension in his tone had Abby’s head jerking up and Noah’s eyes narrowing.
Dr. Lopez read the room accurately. “Actually, I’ve requested that the detective join the group, since we have some tension here. Surely you’re okay with that, Sheriff?” If that was the tone she used with her underage clients, she no doubt got definite results.
The sheriff paused and then smiled, his gaze running over the woman’s form. “Of course. Anything for you, Dr. Lopez.”
A low rumble sounded from Raine, barely audible.
Interesting. Evan pulled free from the sheriff before he could knock the guy out with one punch and lose his job. “Well, then. I guess I’ll take a seat.” He purposefully strode right over to sit next to Johnny. “You and I aren’t done, either,” he said, turning to face the shithead.
Tabi leaned back in her chair, watching him closely. “You’re kind of fun when you’re pissed off,” she murmured, her dark eyes dancing.
“That’s where you’d be wrong, darlin’,” he returned, keeping everyone in the room in his sights. Threats were in every direction, and the feeling of missing something important wouldn’t leave him.
Her small grin was nearly catlike and had the perverse result of turning him on. What was it with that woman?
The sheriff strutted toward the doorway. “O’Connell? Meet me at the station first thing tomorrow morning. I’d like an update on the case, and I have no doubt you’ll be able to break the false alibi of the widow.” He disappeared down the old hallway.
Abby sighed. “Detective? I’m so sorry to have gotten you into this mess. I did not kill my ex-husband.” She’d been married to a lawyer, who’d been buddies with the sheriff and the judge, and there was no doubt she’d been railroaded in an arrest and then near conviction from a fake battery charge. Evan had used all his power to keep her out of jail and get her into probation and the anger management group before the ex had been murdered. “My alibi is solid.”
Yeah. Her alibi was everyone in the room, except the shrink and Johnny. Something about a pizza party at Raine Maxwell’s house, which just didn’t set right. But it didn’t make sense that these people, all from different walks of life, had conspired to kill a moron lawyer in a small Indiana town. “I hope so,” Evan said, sitting back. “I do need to interview each of you soon, just so you know. We need follow-up information.” Actually, he needed to compare their initial interviews with the second ones, just to see who was lying.
Although Monte Lofton had been an asshole, he’d been murdered, and Evan couldn’t allow vigilante justice in his town.
Abby smiled. “I’ll gladly be interviewed again, Detective. Switching topics, why don’t you run for county sheriff in the fall? You’d basically just deal with this city and the few outlining areas, and you’d do a much better job than that jackass.”
“Hey,” Johnny protested. “That’s my dad.”
Abby turned on him. “No kidding. The judge is your uncle, too. It’s time this baloney stopped in this town.”
Evan would love to run for sheriff. His right ankle started to tremble, heading up to his knee. He pressed a hand on his thigh to try and stop the movement while ignoring the pain. “I’m afraid that’s not in the cards for me,” he said, effectively cutting off all debate with a harsh tone.
Dr. Lopez jumped and then reached for manila files from the briefcase by her chair. “Johnny? Since you’re new to the group, let’s start with you today. You were arrested for battery of your wife and a police officer.”
Johnny rolled his eyes. “I didn’t hit Louise, and the cop came at me first.” He looked at Lopez’s breasts. “I wasn’t angry, either.”
“My eyes are up here, junior,” Lopez said, her tone hard.
Johnny grinned and looked up at her face. “Your eyes aren’t your best feature.”
Faster than Evan would’ve thought possible, Raine Maxwell had the kid out of his seat and slammed against the wall, only knocking over one chair in the movement.
Evan reached them instantly, shoving Raine off the kid.
Raine stepped back, his face cold. “One more word like that, and you won’t need anger management. You won’t need anything,” he said, his voice a bizarre growl.
Dr. Lopez clapped her hands, her voice rising. “I can see we have a lot to discuss. Everyone take your seats. Now.”
Evan studied the furious man, his instincts humming. “Apparently I’m not the only one protective of the women here,” he murmured as Raine turned his attention on him. “I think I’ll interview you first about Monte Loften’s murder, Mr. Maxwell.” There was absolutely no doubt in Evan’s mind that Raine could kill. He probably had.
