“Don’t know what you mean.”
Nichols let out a tired sigh. “Let’s skip the song and dance, alright? We’ve known each other a long time. That’s why I’m calling, because frankly, I’m concerned you’re mixed up in something.”
“Like what?” I sputtered, fully expecting her to saydrugs. To accuse me of getting caught up in Grayden’s nefarious drug ring.
“First there was the anonymous tip that came in yesterday about Mr. O’Neal. Your tenant. And then you dropped off a suspicious package. Not that hard to connect the dots.”
“You can’t prove it was me.”
There was silence, but I could almost hear her rolling her eyes. Maybe I didn’t have a future in crime after all.
“Piper, here’s the deal. We ran a test on the contents of that package. It was powdered sugar.”
“What?” I roared.
“Okay, ouch,” Nichols complained. “You just screamed in my ear. That was loud.”
“Sorry.” My free hand fluttered in front of my face. “I’m just…you’re sure? Powdered sugar?”
“The type you can get at most grocery stores. Nothing illegal at all. But youthoughtit was contraband, and I’d like to know why. I’d also like to know what it has to do with Grayden O’Neal and that anonymous tip we got about him. Because something weird’s going on, and I don’t like that.”
Nichols sounded so much like my brother right now. How many times had Teller marched around, grumping about exactly this kind of thing?I want to know what’s going on in my town. Grr.
But for me, a lot more about this picture was becoming clear.
The real question: should I tell Chief Nichols that Danny was behind this? I didn’t have any proof. But if this could help Grayden…
“I think it was my ex. Danny Carmichael. He has a grudge against Grayden.”
Another deep sigh. “Go ahead and tell me everything.”
I hoped I’d made the right decision.
I’d told Chief Nichols pretty much everything that happened yesterday. Well, not the part about me riding Grayden’s thigh at Silver Linings. That secret, I would take to my grave.
But I’d told her the rest, including how Grayden and I both believed Danny was behind the tip and the planted package.
It was far better that Danny hadn’t actually planted drugs at Grayden’s place. And it explained how Danny could get the money for a brick of narcotics—he didn’t. It hadn’t been real in the first place. Just a way to get the police to harass Grayden.
I had to give Grayden an update. This involved him too, so I owed himthat much, didn’t I?
Hey. Spoke to Chief Nichols, and you won’t believe what she told me. Package was a fake. The powder was nothing but sugar
Grayden’s response took about five minutes to come in. I wasn’t proud to say I checked my phone every thirty seconds until I finally saw the three dots appear.
Damn. Definitely good news. Scared us both enough
Right??? It was a big stupid hoax to make the police harass you. I told Nichols that Danny was behind it, and then I pretty much had to tell her why Danny doesn’t like you. Because you defended me after Danny broke into your rental
There was a long pause.
Okay
Okay? Was this man serious? All I got wasokay?
He didn’t write anything else, and neither did I. Seemed like our conversation was over.
After that, I couldn’t sit still. I warmed up some leftover soup for dinner and barely tasted it. Watched half an episode of some drama on streaming without remembering a single detail.
