As she climbed out of the Wrangler, she modulated her attitude long enough to thank him for the meal. She could be snippy, but she wasn’t an ingrate.
“My pleasure,” he returned, and the twinkle in his eyes said he meant it. But had he enjoyed dinner because he had skillfully cracked her reserve with his charming grins and gotten her to admit things she didn’t usually share? Or was his delight based in some ill-formed belief that they shared an attraction?
Before she closed the Jeep door, she reached in the back seat to scratch Pilot behind the ears and tell him goodnight.
Cal rolled down the passenger window and called out, “If I wanted to talk with you again tomorrow, where should I look? At the Catch-a-Wink or here at the shop?”
She squared her shoulders. “You tell me. Will the police still insist I keep the shop closed tomorrow?”
He raised his hand from the steering wheel, gesturing vaguely. “Initially, I’d think. The investigation is only a day old. We’re lucky to have an ID on the victim this quickly.”
“Because he was in the system.”
He hesitated. “Right. So where should I look for you tomorrow?”
“You’re still acting like I’m a suspect. I already answered all your questions this morning—plus some at dinner—and if I am a suspect, I should have been allowed a lawyer present.” From the corner of her eye, she saw the black cat creep around the corner of the gift shop and huddle by the down spout.
“Shouldwe consider you a suspect?” Cal asked, bringing her full attention back to him.
She scowled. “Do you really think I’d tell you if you should?”
“Likewise. Do you really think I’d tell you what evidence we might have where you’re concerned?”
She stiffened. “That sounds like youareinvestigating me.” The notion was appalling and fed her distrust and dislike of police.
“Do you have something to hide?” he asked, arching a dark eyebrow.
She gritted her back teeth. “Can you give me a straight answer?”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “Does it bother you to have your question answered with a question?”
“Are you always this annoying?” She folded her arms over her chest, scowling at him.
“Have I annoyed you?”
She started to mutter something dark under her breath, but caught it on her tongue. He was teasing her, goading her. Recognizing his game, she refused to let him win. She chewed the inside of her cheek, deciding on a worthy comeback.
“Your ability to state the obvious is impressive, Sheriff. Did they teach you that in ‘Duh 101’ or did you hone thosekeendetective skills all on your own?”
Sheriff Colton threw his head back and let a musical belly laugh fly. “Good one, Jules. Well played!”
He wiped the corner of his eyes with a finger, and a self-satisfied grin quivered on her lips. She faked a cough to cover it, lifting a hand to hide her mouth.
After bringing his amusement under control, Cal raised four fingers to his temple in a salute. “Good night, Ms. Bailey. Count on seeing me again tomorrow. I will find you, wherever you choose to spend the day.”
With that, he pulled away, the bits of gravel in the parking lot crackling beneath the Jeep’s tires.
She stood, frozen for a moment, letting his parting words replay in her head.I will find you, wherever…
Chase Hamilton, Abby’s stalker, had said much the same thing to Abby time and again. Not always in such pointed terms, but always with a subtle promise that she would never be rid of his menace.
Jules shivered, but not because of the dropping temperature as the sun disappeared below the horizon. Before Cal had tossed out that final promise, she’d actually found herself equal parts amused and irritated by their repartee. The teasing back-and-forth allowed her to maintain her snarky persona while safely exploring the boundaries of Cal Colton, a man she found surprisingly engaging.
She shook her head, reminding herself she’d be foolish to fall for any vague promises or put her faith inanylaw enforcement officer again. She’d been down that road and disappointed too many times already. With a sigh, she tried to set aside the disquiet of his parting words, the reminder of Chase’s stalking and the tension that had hovered all day since the body had been found near the gift shop. Good grief! Amurderat her doorstep was thelastthing she needed if she wanted to lie low around law enforcement.
After digging her car key out of her purse, she shivered a bit thinking about the creeps who had been in the store last nightand the body found beneath the sculpture this morning. A new possibility occurred to her and she paused, her heart thrashing.
Could Chase be connected to the murder? Was he the man in the red hoodie? She dredged up her memories of Chase Hamilton’s physical description, the sound of his voice. Was he that tall, that broad-shouldered? Was he killing random people in Jules’s proximity to send a message? To frighten her away from town? The possibility seemed unlikely, yet chilling.
