She snapped herself free of the memories. “Yes, but by that time, nearly four weeks had passed since the partner went missing. Still, the divers found fabric fibers from a section of rug snagged on a rock.”
“Wow, after four weeks. It’s impressive something like that survived so long in the water. Or wasn’t it related to Mooney?”
“It was connected to him, all right. He’d removed a rug from his entryway, leaving a lighter spot on the wood floor. When they’d searched his house, Sierra recognized the inconsistency and lifted fibers found in the area. Turned out to be an expensive Persian rug, and the fibers from the pond were a match.”
“That was a stroke of luck when fibers usually don’t survive that long.”
Kinsley nodded. “I was impressed but I honestly tuned Sierra out when she shared details of how evidence was preserved in the water that long. You’ll have to ask her if you want details, but the match was conclusive.”
Dev’s eyes narrowed. “So it looks like Mooney might’ve killed his partner, wrapped him in the rug, and dumped him in the pond. But you didn’t find a body.”
“No, and that’s the frustrating part.” She gripped her fingers tighter to keep from letting her emotions show. “We had strong circumstantial evidence suggesting exactly what you described, but there wasn’t a body. We figured after I started investigating all of his construction sites, that he freaked out, recovered the body, and moved it elsewhere. But the partner has never been found, and you know how hard it is to try a case without a victim.”
Dev exhaled sharply. “So Mooney’s still a free man.”
“He is, but I have to tell you, I periodically review the evidence to see if there’s anything that I missed. If I ever find something, I’ll go to the detective, who also can’t seem to let go of this investigation. Hopefully he could get the case reopened.”
“Have you been talking to this detective recently?”
She leaned back in her chair. “Not about the investigation, but I did run into him outside the police bureau one day. We just exchanged small talk for a few minutes.”
“But someone connected to Mooney might’ve seen you.” He drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “And might’ve told him, freaking him out that you were working to open the investigation again.”
Could that have happened? Was it really possible? Nah. “Odds are pretty slim Mooney or one of his friends was there that day, and I think it’s a real longshot.”
He held her gaze. “That’s what we’re dealing with here, honey. Longshots. And we have to check them all out.”
Honey?He’d never called her honey before.
Where was that coming from?
Did it matter where it came from? She liked it. Liked it a lot. So what? Her focus had to be on finding the shooter not falling completely in love with this wonderful man sitting across the table from her.
Ignore the honey and keep to the discussion.“He knew who I was of course, but he never threatened me. Still, you could have a point. If he saw me talking to the detective, he could be worried I’ve found something, and he might do something rash to stop me.”
“Did he seem like the kind of guy who would react this way?”
“I don’t think so. When we were closing in on him before, he remained calm. Eerily calm. Freaky calm even. Cold, ice-blue, unfeeling, unfocused eyes staring right through me. I wanted him to pay for killing his partner, but if I never see him again, it would be okay with me.”
Dev’s body went still, his focus locked on her. “And yet you didn’t give up.”
“How could I? We were in the right, and if he murdered his partner, which everything points to him doing, he needs to pay for it.”
“Didn’t mean you were the one who had to make him pay.” Dev continued to keep his focus pinned on her. “I get that’s who you are. Wanting justice served. I don’t like that it can result in someone wanting to hurt you, but I respect you for standing up for justice.”
She blushed under his compliment but didn’t want his focus to remain on her. “You did the same thing as a deputy. And I know if you were faced with an injustice now, you would do the same thing, too.”
“Well, I’m not a deputy anymore, so we’ll need to get Russ to look into Mooney to see if he’s had any recent charges or convictions.”
“I haven’t heard anything about that happening, but you never know.”
They fell silent, but not a comfortable silence. He was likely thinking the same thing as she was. Mooney killed once, why wouldn’t he be willing to kill again?
She averted her gaze, but her gut said his eyes were still on her. She looked back at him. “Go ahead and say what you’re thinking. “
“We should talk about the kiss.”
Oh, right. Not what she thought he was going to say, but now that he brought it up, she only had one response. “It was a mistake. We don’t want to hurt Jada, and if we start something, that’s what will happen.”
