Chapter 5
Coffee Bean was busy, and I loved it. The smell of fresh ground coffee, and sticky buns coming out of the oven made my stomach grumble as I glanced around my business. I was proud of my café.
"Tallulah," Scott said, grabbing my attention. "How have you been?"
I was surprised to see him after not hearing from him in months. I wiped my hands on my apron. “Bernie didn’t mention you were home.”
"I have some things to take care of."
"That's nice," I muttered, brushing past him. He followed me into the kitchen and closed the door behind him.
“Tallulah, what happened wasn’t my fault. Surely you know that." He ran a hand down his face. “If I could turn back the clock and save Tate, I would.”
I huffed out a sad breath. "I'm sorry, Scott. I don't blame you for Tate's death. Trevor is responsible for that as, are Aiden and Tate. What irritates me is that you knew something was wrong. I've thought about it, and I know I'm right." I trailed off as I realized I spoke the truth.
I rubbed my eyes, tired of this whole situation. "You know what? I don't want to think about any of this anymore. I'm tired of it all." I stepped toward him, hastily making my way out of the room.
“Wait!” He called to me. I stopped but didn't turn around. “I don't like this discord between us."
My shoulders drooped as I turned to face him.
"I don't like it either. I think we should just move forward the best we can.
" I offered him a small smile. The tension between us was palpable, but I knew we had to try to work through it, if only for Bernie's sake.
I took a deep breath and extended my hand, hoping he would take it.
"Thank you." He shook my hand.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee and a slice of your mother’s peach cobbler?”
"I'd like that."
Scott followed me into the café, where I came to a screeching halt.
The detectives were back. Part of me wanted to run and hide, but the inquisitive part of me wanted to stay and listen to what they had to say—or rather, to see if I could pick up on any more thoughts.
It was extremely weird. It scared me, too.
Why could I only pick up thoughts from the detective?
Carlisle, Scott, Bernie, and the other café patrons were silent to me. Thank goodness.
It's not like I picked up anything about what they were working on.
"Tallulah," Scott whispered before sidestepping in front of me. "Why are you staring at the cops?"
I snapped out of it. "Do you know them?" I reached for a plate and started to get the cobbler together for him while he went to the customer side of things, watching me closely.
"I met them. They're in town to talk to Aiden about everything that went on.”
My eyes sparkled with questions, and Scott held up his hands. "I don't know anything else. That's all I heard before the door between us closed."
"Well, you're no good as a spy," I whispered, hissing across the counter.
"What are you two whispering about?" Bernie nudged me.
"Scott's lack of snooping skills." I shoved a bowl of peach cobbler at him.
But Bernie took it from me and headed to the small freezer in the back. "Ice cream, huh?"
Scott grinned.
"Too bad I'm working. Otherwise, I'd take Red out on a date and have her riding me within an hour."
My eyes snapped wide open, and Scott paused while my cheeks burned.
Before I could stop myself, I narrowed my eyes at the detective who had spoken so loudly.
“My hair isn’t red, it’s strawberry blonde,” I hissed inside of my head.
Riley’s brows shot up before his eyes narrowed in my direction.
I held his stare, and he finally looked away when a flush appeared on his cheekbones. He was a handsome man, but ugh!
“What is going on with you and him?” Scott asked, frowning. "You looked like you'd seen a ghost."
"I'm tired, is all." I patted Scott's hand and moved toward the men. Riley straightened in his chair. “Hello again, Detective Riley.” I smiled. "I'm sorry, but I've forgotten your names," I said to the two men with him.
"Dean Hodges."
“Jeff Lane, and he’s Levi.”
I shook their hand and forced myself to face Riley, holding out my hand. "And you are?"
He smirked. "Levi Riley." He took my hand and held on tight.
A bolt of shock ricocheted through me at the image that came to mind: Levi Riley with a gunshot wound to his neck. I swallowed hard and forced myself to ask, "Are you interested in Aiden?" as I tugged my hand free.
"You feel the heat between us, too, don't you, babe?"
Don't respond, Tallulah. Act as though all is well.
"Maybe," Hodges drawled.
Lane sat forward, but not before I saw a puzzled look directed at Riley.
"Well, I have somewhere to be, so have a nice day." I shot back to where Bernie and Scott were watching my antics. Bernie raised an eyebrow, and Scott frowned. "I'm going to pop in and see Pen." I unfastened my apron and stashed it behind the counter. "Jessica is due soon."
Bernie waved me away. "I could manage a crowd if I had to."
As I was about to step out of the café, I heard, "Where is she skipping off to?"
I slammed the door and felt good when it rattled in its frame. I did wince, though, when I remembered that it was my door, not the detective's. His eyes followed me as I strode along the sidewalk. At the last minute, I turned and held his gaze before winking.
Carlisle popped into my head, and I could hear him saying, "Tallulah James, why are you antagonizing the cops?"
The fresh air would do me some good because I sure needed the cobwebs blown away. Then I realized that I had found a way to bring Penelope back. We had to solve Detective Levi Riley's murder before it happened.
As I pushed through the front doors of R&R Attorneys at Law, I was greeted by a blast of cold air. Was the heating system broken? Penelope's workspace was unattended and neat and tidy, as though she had finished for the day.
"Miss James," a voice called out from behind me.
It was Andrew Richardson, the senior member of the firm. "Hello there. I'm looking for Pen."
"I figured as much. She left for lunch and then called to say she was taking the afternoon off. Something important had come up with you," he paused.
"Oh!" I winced.
"I take it you have no knowledge of this."
"You would be correct." I sighed, not bothering to back up Pen because he knew she lied.
"When you find her, tell her I gave her a few days of paid vacation. She needs time to work things out. My wife can help us out for a little while." He smiled warmly, clearly pleased with his solution.