CHAPTER TWENTY
"Whose idea was bowling, anyway?" I said from the back seat of Jack and Penny's car. Why Penny had insisted on me riding with them was another mystery to add to the list, but I knew better than to try to fight her.
Jack passed Bucky's, which sat at the edge of town, and picked up speed as we entered the countryside. Ten Pins Down sat five miles out of town at the corner of two highways that led to a number of small towns like Star Junction, including Rose Lake.
Penny twisted in her seat. "The firefighters are thinking about joining a bowling league. I suggested they see if that's even a good idea before investing money in shirts, shoes, the whole shebang," she explained.
"Tonight'll be fun," Jack said as he slowed before turning into the gravel parking lot. "We invited everyone we know. They're going to have techno bowling later." He glanced at Penny with a wide grin on his face. "And the firefighters are going to be amazing at bowling."
Penny snorted out a laugh.
"Techno bowling?" I said, finally feeling excited about Penny dragging me out on a Friday night after a week of no sleep. "I love techno bowling." I managed a few disco moves despite being buckled in the back seat.
Jack pulled into a spot between two pickup trucks.
"I think we all remember what happened last time you went techno bowling," Penny said as we climbed out of the car.
"My foot slipped," I said, defending myself. "It's not my fault the ball flew into the other lane."
"We should have warned Dan she was coming," Penny said to Jack.
Dan was the owner, bartender, and de facto bouncer of Ten Pins Down. I didn't know what Penny was talking about. Dan loved me.
"Be nice, or I'm going home," I said to Penny.
"In what car?" she shot back with a sly grin.
I knew there'd been an ulterior motive for her offering me a ride.
The parking lot was packed, which wasn't unusual on a Friday night, especially in the winter when evenings at the lake or around the fire pit weren't comfortable options. "Are we going to even be able to get a lane?" I asked.
Jack held the door open for us and said, "We reserved a few lanes for tonight."
"A reservation. Ten Pins Down is going fancy on us," I joked.
We stepped into the chaos of families, couples, and groups like ours—laughing, joking, drinking, and blowing off steam after a long week of work. I knew from experience that in another hour, the families would head home to put kids to bed, changing the vibe of the bowling alley with the adults-only crowd.
Although smoking indoors had been outlawed years ago, the place still held a whiff of cigarette smoke from years of people bowling with a ball in one hand and a cigarette in another.
"There's our group," Penny said, waving to someone across the room.
I scanned down the lanes to see a bunch of guys from the fire department and police station standing around chatting at the end of three lanes currently occupied with other people.
"Our reservation is for six thirty, so those lanes should open up soon," Jack said as we headed over.
"I hope there's not an emergency in town tonight. Every first responder is already here," I said.
Karl, one of the firefighters, overheard me and laughed. He was as tall and skinny as Jack, Penny's husband, was broad and thick with muscles. Karl's brown hair was thinning on top and he wore wire-rim glasses. He looked more like an accountant than a firefighter. "Don't worry," Karl said. "We've got our walkies on. We're prepared to leave if necessary."
A man with a bushy dark-blond beard and large crooked nose laughed and said, "Plus, we left the probies back at the station."
"Now I'm even more nervous for the town," Penny said, earning laughs from the group.
I joined in the laughter, the stress and anxiety that had weighed on my shoulders over the last week sliding off like a ball speeding down a bowling lane. I turned to Penny and said, "Thanks for making me come."
"I think someone else is glad you're here too," Penny said with a gleam in her hazel eyes.
She nodded to our left, and I turned to see Finn watching us, his hands in the pockets of his jeans. Tonight, he was wearing a white T-shirt with an unbuttoned green and blue flannel shirt over it.
When I'd first met Finn, all I noticed was how out of place he looked in his fancy suits. Sure, he looked professional, but it made him look like the outsider that he was. After being trapped on the side of the road with him, I knew he wanted to fit in to Star Junction, make it his home. His wardrobe had taken a good turn as the week had gone by.
The man with the bushy beard and crooked nose that looked like it had been broken in a fight at some point and never set properly said something to make Karl and Jack roar with laughter. Penny leaned over and whispered in my ear, "That's Titus. New in town. Super hunky. If things don't work out with Finn…"
"You're incorrigible," I said, although I couldn't help the smile Penny's constant meddling caused. She meddled because she cared.
"You told me to help you find someone besides Chris. I'm just following directions," she said.
Titus was handsome in a mountain man kind of way, with a faded flannel shirt stretched across a thick chest that made it look like he chopped wood for a living. While his crooked nose hinted at some kind of altercation in his past, I could already tell he was good-natured by his joking around with the guys. Maybe he'd broken his nose saving someone from a fire instead of getting into a fight.
His bushy beard was at least five inches long, and a faded ball cap covered what I could tell was a mess of blond hair to match the beard. He was attractive in an unexpected way, but he wasn't my type. I caught Finn watching me and turned to Penny. "I'm going to go say hi to Finn," I said.
She was already talking to someone else and waved me onward in my task.
I weaved through the groups standing around chatting as we waited for our lanes, finally reaching Finn near the racks of bowling balls. "I didn't expect to see you here," I said.
Finn ran his hand through his dark-brown hair and grinned. "Tommy mentioned everyone was bowling. Didn't think it was something I should miss," he said.
I turned, and we stood shoulder to shoulder watching the bowlers for a moment, the silence feeling homey and comfortable instead of awkward. "How was your day?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.
Finn turned to face me. "Interesting," he said mysteriously.
I perked up. I was interested in interesting. Especially if it was about Justin's murder.
Finn nodded toward the bar and said, "I was just going to get a drink. Want to join me? It looks like we have at least six frames until that family of four is done over there."
"Will I get to hear more about your interesting day?" I asked.
"Is that a requirement for you to join me for a drink?" he teased.
I nodded, adopting a serious expression. "Unfortunately, it's a deal breaker."
Finn's smile widened, and he said, "Then I guess I'll have to tell you something about my day."
"About the case," I said, not eager to let Finn slide through on a technicality. "Not just about your day."
We moved to the bar and settled on two barstools covered in faded and cracked green leather. Dan, the bartender, slapped two cardboard coasters on the bar. Tonight, his Harley T-shirt was extra tight, showing off the muscles that made him an effective bouncer as well as bartender, not that he needed the skills often at Ten Pins Down. It was a family friendly establishment. For the most part.
"What can I get you?" Dan asked.
"Hey, Dan-the-man," I said. "I'd love a Lemon Drop."
He scowled at me before turning to Finn for his drink order. "And for you?" he asked.
"Just a club soda for me. With a twist of lime," Finn said.
I shot Finn a questioning look. Did he not drink?
"Technically still on duty," he said to my unvoiced question. "At least until this murder's over."
"And if you weren't on duty?" I asked.
Finn picked up the coaster and gave it a spin under his finger. "Whiskey. Neat."
"Huh," I said, attempting a spin of my own but only succeeding in flicking the coaster over the bar directly in the path of Dan, who was carrying our drinks. I stifled a laugh while Finn ducked his head, trying to hide his smile. "Sorry about that," I said to Dan.
Dan set a new coaster down in front of me with a little more force than he had the first one. Finn picked up his club soda and gave a questioning look to the bottle of beer in front of me. "What happened to the Lemon Drop?" Finn asked.
I picked up the beer and took a sip. "It's a fun little game Dan and I play. Isn't that right, Dan?" I shouted down the length of the bar.
Dan gave me another scowl. He might have even growled at me. I couldn't be sure with all the noise in the background.
I turned back to Finn and explained, "On my twenty-first birthday, some friends and I came in to have my first legal drink and do some bowling. I ordered a Cosmopolitan. I was very into Sex and the City at the time. Dan not so kindly told me he didn't serve frilly drinks and plopped a bottle of beer in front of me. I've been ordering all the frilly drinks I can think of ever since." I raised my bottle to Dan in salute. "I get a beer every time."
Finn chuckled and said, "And is Dan as delighted by this little game as you are?"
"I like to think so, deep inside," I said.
"So, what was that 'huh' response to my whiskey drinking?" Finn asked, switching topics.
Finn's question caught me off guard. I hadn't even realized I'd said it out loud. "Did I say that?" I asked, hoping he'd let the question slide.
"You most certainly did," he said, clearly intrigued. "And now you're blushing."
That's it. I was going to die of embarrassment, which meant I might as well give up on finding Justin's killer. It was up to law enforcement now. "It's nothing," I hedged.
"You can't get away with dodging questions. I'm a detective. I'm curious by nature," Finn replied.
I'd insist it was nothing, but I was having fun, feeling bold, and Finn wasn't going to drop it. "I've often thought your eyes were the color of whiskey," I said, forcing myself to hold his gaze, even though I could feel the heat in my cheeks.
The music didn't fade into the background. The chattering of those around us didn't miraculously stop like in the movies. There was no camera to push in on the two of us, but for a moment Finn held my gaze with those whiskey-brown eyes in a way that stole my breath.
He cleared his throat and took another healthy sip of the club soda. "I followed up on your Heidi lead today," he said, back to business.
"And?" I mentally followed him back into the land of murder investigations. Funny how that felt safer than whatever unspoken moment had just passed between us.
"She claims to have an alibi for the night of the murder. We're running that down now." He gave me a sheepish grin. "She also had some choice words for the two Star Junction 'idiots' who'd pointed me in her direction," he added.
"You told her it was us who told you where to find her?" I asked, horrified. I was never going to be able to go back to the mall unless I wanted to risk running into Heidi. Going back to Victoria's Secret was out of the question, although Penny had ensured I'd steer clear after her humiliating cover story of why we were there in the first place.
"No, but she assumed, said the timing of my call couldn't be a coincidence with your visit to the mall," Finn said.
I grimaced and said, "I've never run into her before. Not in town. Not in Rose Lake, and not at the mall. I'll just have to make sure to protect that streak."
"What about you?" Finn asked. "Any updates?"
"I do have some actually, although they're more theories and observations than anything concrete," I said.
"Even small things can break a case wide open," Finn said.
The door opened, and I glanced over my shoulder to see Chris walk in. I hadn't been expecting to see him here, but I should have. Although not a firefighter or police officer, he was buddies with most of the people here. He scanned the room, his face lighting into a smile when he saw the group huddled around lanes nine through twelve.
Finn stiffened besides me, taking a slug of the club soda, probably wishing it was whiskey. I felt the tug to go greet Chris, but I was in the middle of talking to Finn, and Chris could wait.
"You already know about Heidi and Derek," I said to Finn. Chris hadn't seen us yet, and I was hoping he wouldn't. We hadn't discussed my growing friendship with Finn, but I was sure Chris would have an opinion about it. An unfavorable one.
"I stopped by Derek's office earlier today," Finn said. "But his dad said he wasn't in."
"Star Junction tip—if Derek's not at work, check the gym," I said. I couldn't keep the disgust out of my voice, but if Finn noticed, he didn't say anything.
"Good to know," he said.
"I actually tracked Derek down at the gym myself," I said.
"And?" Finn asked.
"And he told me that Heidi's not pregnant, and he got super upset that I asked about it."
Finn pulled out his phone and typed something into it. "Thanks. His personal relationship with Justin's ex could be something to lean on. People say all kinds of things they wouldn't when they're upset."
I shook my head. "I always thought of Derek and Justin as good friends, but dating each other's exes? Being more upset about being questioned than your friend's death? I don't get it."
"It's hard to know what's really going on between two people. Maybe they were more friends of convenience than anything else," Finn said.
"I guess." I chewed on my bottom lip. I'd be devastated if a friend treated me how Derek was treating Justin. "There is one more thing," I said, remembering seeing Samantha at the gym. "I know you think the killer isn't a woman, because it would take a lot of strength to kill Justin with that screwdriver."
"I do," Finn said.
"I saw Samantha Weston, Justin's other ex-girlfriend, at the gym today. She was working out on one of the heavy bags," I said. "I was impressed with how much she got that bag moving. She's got to be stronger than she looks. It feels like she has a motive. I wouldn't count her out."
"Guys," Penny called from near the bowling lanes. "We're up."
Finn dropped a tip on the bar for Dan, and we headed toward the lanes. "Thanks for that info," he said. "I'll follow up on those leads tomorrow."
"Anything you can tell me that I don't already know?" I asked quickly. I had a feeling our open talk about the investigation was going to end the moment we reached the group.
"I talked to Tom out at the rock yard. I wasn't able to gather any forensic evidence since Justin had been fired weeks before and the trucks were both out on deliveries. I'm going to go back tomorrow and see if I can find any evidence that they'd been used to haul drugs. Besides that, I'm stalled until I get the rest of the forensics back. That is, unless something pans out with this Derek and Heidi lead," he said.
"If only the real world was more like TV," I muttered.
Finn chuckled and said, "I wouldn't normally agree, but in this case…"
"Good," Penny said, clapping her hands together, "we're all here. We need to divide up by lanes." Penny scanned the group. "Let's have a friendly competition. Whoever loses buys drinks."
"Do we get to pick our own teams?" Jack asked.
"Not a chance," Penny said, clearly taking charge of the group of firefighters and police officers. It didn't matter that most of them towered over her five-foot-four-inch frame or that she would be no physical match for any of them. Not even Kurt with his wiry frame. Penny's bossy personality—she called it leadership skills—wasn't based on size. "I'll pick the teams to make sure they're fair," she declared.
A minute later, we were standing in three groups of four. Penny may have wanted to keep the groups fair for her little competition, but I couldn't help but think there was an ulterior motive to her madness.
I was on a team with Karl, who I'd mentally labeled the faux-accountant; Titus, the mountain man; and Finn, the man I was having entirely too much fun flirting with. Chris was on a team with three of the police officers. Penny's team was conveniently situated in the lane between us.
I shot her a look, but she simply plastered an innocent expression on her face and said, "What?"
"You know what," I said accusingly.
She actually batted her eyes at me. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she said lightly.
Karl rubbed his hands together and adjusted his wire-rim glasses. "Let's get this show on the road. I'm looking forward to a free round of drinks."
"I'm going to run to the restroom," I said to the group.
"Be back before it's your turn," Karl said as he hefted a ball in his hands.
I gave him a salute and headed to the bathrooms in the back of the building. A gust of cold air blew in through the doors as they opened to reveal Mitch, sporting his signature faded wranglers and beat-up Texaco baseball cap, and Derek, his blond buzz cut looking freshly buzzed, walking in with two women. Scratch that—walking in with Heidi Fischer and a woman I didn't recognize.
Finn mentioned he'd been trying to talk to Derek. I rushed back to our lanes and grabbed Finn's arm. "Come with me," I said.
Finn glanced around as if trying to determine if there was some kind of threat. Maybe I was verging on deranged in my excitement.
"It's nothing bad," I assured him. "It's like a gift."
"A gift?" But he didn't question me further, instead following me toward the bar, where I could see Mitch and Derek ordering drinks.
"Where're you going?" Karl shouted after us.
"One minute," I called over my shoulder. Titus was up, which meant Finn was next. I didn't want to keep them waiting, but murder trumped bowling. I pulled Finn to a stop several yards away from the bar. "Look," I said gesturing toward the crowded bar.
"What am I looking at?" Finn said slowly.
I smiled proudly and said, "Derek Thompson. You wanted to talk to him? There he is."