Chapter 15
“What the hell are you doing?” Rage vibrated Duke’s voice as he stared at Chrissy’s wide-eyed, feigned innocence. “You have some nerve to just be walking around town after what you did.”
She heaved a sighed. “And what exactly did I do this time?”
It took every ounce of self-control he possessed not to grab her by the arm and drag her to the sheriff’s department. But he’d never laid a hand on a woman and never would. Even one as vile as Chrissy.
“Are you seriously going to stand there and act like you’ve done nothing wrong? That you’re not the reason Heather is laying in a hospital bed right now? That you didn’t break into Suzy’s apartment?”
Chrissy’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God. What happened to Heather? Is she all right?”
He shook his head, not buying into her bullshit. “Enough lies. I don’t believe one word from your mouth. Besides, I’m not the one you need to convince anymore. I’m calling the authorities.”
She reared her head back. “Why? Because I didn’t leave town the second you told me to? Now tell me what happened to Heather. And what about your friend? Someone broke into her place? That’s horrible.”
Ignoring her, he fished his phone from his pocket and called Spencer. When the deputy answered, Duke said, “I’m standing on Market Street with Chrissy. Send a squad car. I’ll make sure she doesn’t go anywhere.”
“Wait, what? How the hell did you find her?” Spencer asked.
“She was walking out of the café,” he said, keeping his eye on her so she didn’t make a run for it.
“I just returned to the station. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Disconnecting, Duke put his phone back in his pocket. Anger tightened every muscle in his body.
With her lips pursed, she crossed her arms and tapped a booted foot on the ground. “Are you going to tell me why I’m supposed to talk with some deputy or just stand there in silence?”
“Trust me, I have plenty I want to say to you right now, but silence is probably a better option.”
“This is ridiculous. I should climb into my car and get the hell out of this place.”
He took a step forward, ready to keep her there himself if he had to.
She held up a palm. “But I won’t, because if someone really did those things you mentioned, they need to be found. And the sooner you and everyone else in this stupid town stops believing I’m some big, bad villain the better. I’ll tell the deputy anything he wants to know. I have nothing to hide.”
He snorted out his disagreement but kept his response to himself.
“Tell me one thing.” She stared up at him through long, thick lashes.
“Do you really think so little of me? That’d I’d do these things you keep accusing me of?
I told you, I came here to get closure. To really get to the bottom of what happened between us so I can finally move on.
Why would I hurt your sister, someone I’ve always called a friend, and harass Suzy who seems like a really nice person? What would I get out of that?”
“I don’t know. What did you get out of lying to me about Carl so I’d beat the shit out of him and put him in the hospital?
Why would you tell Suzy we lost a child?
You need a clinical psychologist to explain those things, not me.
” Just listing a few of her lies was enough to make steam billow from his ears.
Tears welled in her eyes. “Those were all misunderstandings. I swear.”
Before he could answer, Spencer strolled up the sidewalk. His brown cowboy hat shielded his face and he wore a thick, tan coat over his uniform. “Afternoon,” he said, dipping his chin in Chrissy’s direction.
Chrissy sniffed back tears and offered Spencer a watery smile. “Hello, deputy.”
Duke rolled his eyes. Of course she’d try to charm her way out of whatever bullshit she’d created.
“I appreciate you sticking around in this cold to speak with me. I have a few questions for you,” Spencer said.
“Anything you need, officer. What’s happened to Heather and Suzy is making me sick to my stomach.”
“Can you tell me where you were this morning?”
She let out a long breath. “Well, after I spoke with Duke I went back to The Tumbleweed and checked out.”
“Then why are you still in Hillmore?” Duke asked.
Spencer shot him a warning look then refocused on Chrissy.
“I was upset for a while after we spoke and I didn’t think it’d be safe for me to drive. I needed to calm down and, to be completely honest, I wasn’t ready to tackle that long drive again. Not so soon after arriving to town.”
“Understandable,” Spencer said. “Can you tell me where you did go?”
“I drove around a little. I wanted to see the mountains, so I went outside of town just far enough to get a lovely view. I mean, really, simply stunning.”
As she rambled on about cafes and vintage shops, the only thing circling Duke’s brain was she didn’t have an alibi. By the time he zeroed back in on their conversation he caught the tail end of their exchange.
“It’d be helpful if you could stay around until we get things sorted out. Would that be possible?”
“Wait,” Duke said, ready to explode. “You want her to just rebook her room and hang out while all this shit’s happening? She should be in a jailcell not a cushy bed and breakfast.”
Chrissy’s face fell and victim energy poured out of her in waves. “I’ll stay as long as you need me to, deputy,” she said, ignoring Duke’s outburst.
Spencer handed her a business card. “Here’s my contact information in case you need to reach me. Will you be staying at The Tumbleweed again?”
“Unless there’s somewhere else you recommend?” She batted her lashes, the tears suddenly gone.
Duke’s stomach heaved. Only Chrissy would have the balls to flirt with a sheriff’s deputy who wanted her to stick around because she’s suspected of foul play.
“Not really,” Spencer said, offering a small smile. “Ms. Sally provides the best lodging in town. I’m sure she’ll be delighted with your company.”
“Thanks. It’s nice to meet an actual gentleman in this place. Oh, and here.” Reaching into the purse dangling from her arm, she pulled out a piece of paper and pen. She scribbled something on it and handed it to Spencer. “My number. You know, just in case.”
Spencer accepted it and shoved it in his pocket.
Without another word, Chrissy folded her long legs into her car and drove away.
“Dude,” Duke said. “That’s it? A little conversation on the side of the road then ask her to stay in town?”
He shrugged. “Sorry, man, but I had no reason to book her. No evidence to tie her. At least this way she’s close, we know where she’s staying, and we can keep an eye on her.”
“No, you can keep an eye on her. I’m getting Suzy and taking her back to my place where Chrissy can’t get her claws on her.”
Spencer clapped a hand on Duke’s shoulder. “I know this wasn’t how you wanted this to play out but trust me. If she’s a part of this, I’ll bust her and put her in jail where she belongs. You just worry about keeping Suzy safe.”
Duke said goodbye then hurried back to the candy store to get Suzy. He didn’t want to waste a second more on Chrissy, but a nagging feeling in his gut told him this game she played was far from over. And she wouldn’t be satisfied until all the pieces fell.
Suzy averted her gaze from the pile of charred wood and plastic at the end of Duke’s driveway. There might not be any escaping the horrors making up her days, but she didn’t need a physical reminder of what she was hiding from.
Of who she was hiding from.
Duke hadn’t let go of her hand for the short drive to his house, but he also hadn’t spoke after giving her a run-down of what transpired with Chrissy. Not like she blamed him. The idea of that woman roaming free made jumping beans spring to life in her belly.
She had to trust that Spencer knew what he was doing.
The food they’d picked up sat in her lap, but she wasn’t even sure she could eat. Her nerves were stretched so tight it was hard to imagine being able to digest anything. Let alone a brick of thick, mac and cheese. As good as it was, the heavy meal was the last thing she wanted right now.
Once he parked, Duke hurried around the truck to open her door and grab her bag. He led the way up the porch and into the house, waiting for her to enter before locking up behind her.
She held the takeout bags. “Should I put these in the kitchen?”
“Sure. I’ll set your things in my room then come out and help you find plates and stuff.”
Her heart almost burst from her chest. “Your room?”
He wrinkled his nose and red stained the skin under his five o’clock shadow. “Heather has to stay in the hospital tonight, but her stuff is in the guest room. She’s pretty much taken it over. I’ll set your bags in my room and crash on the couch tonight.”
The idea of sleeping in his bed made her insides do somersaults. The thought of doing it alone brought her right back down to earth.
She offered a small smile and hoped to hide the torrent of emotions she waded through. “I don’t want to make you sleep on the couch. That can’t be comfortable.”
“I don’t mind.”
She did, but she didn’t want to come off too strong by insisting he joined her in his bed. They could make things PG, but she was sure her night would be filled with lots of restless tossing and turning if he didn’t lay beside her. “We’ll talk about it later. The food’s getting cold.”
Dipping into the kitchen, she set dinner on the counter and found plates the same place they’d been the night before. She set out everything they’d need before Duke joined her a few minutes later.
He leaned against the counter and a lazy smile slid up the side of his mouth.
She flipped open the Styrofoam boxes and tried not to squirm under the heat of his gaze. “What’s that look about?”
“I dunno. I guess I like how you look in my kitchen. Making yourself at home. It’s nice.”
“I thought you were just excited to try the mac and cheese.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure it’s great, but not what excites me when it comes to you.”
Awareness trickled through her like a cool rain in the desert.
She wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and soak it all in, but before that could happen, she had to settle her nerves regarding Chrissy.
When she finally let her guard down and fell back into Duke’s arms, she didn’t want that woman in her mind at all.
“How are you feeling about how things went down earlier?” she asked, scooping food on a plate.
“Not great. It still blows my mind that Spencer let Chrissy walk away. Knowing she’s out there, scheming, is enough to drive me crazy.”
“I get that.” She handed him the filled plate. “There’s one thing that’s tripping me up about the whole thing.”
“Only one?”
She snorted out a quick laugh. “Okay, more than one, but there’s something that’s bugging me at the moment.”
“What’s that?”
“Does Chrissy know how to build a bomb? How to plant it with a trigger and set it off at the right time? I don’t know her—not her background or areas of interest. For all I know she’s a chemist with a lab in her basement.
But making something like that takes some skill, or at least an ability to figure it out. ”
“It’s hard to believe she’d know how to do that,” he said, carrying his plate to the table. “She was never great at school, and she’s used her looks more than her brain to get what she wants. More street smart than book but also stubborn enough to figure out how to get her way.”
She brought her own lunch to the table and sat beside him. “Could her way involve getting someone else to help her? I mean, you said she lied to you before to trick you into hurting someone else. Maybe she’s doing that again.”
Duke’s hand stopped with a French fry halfway to his mouth.
“Shit. I didn’t consider that. Could explain how she’d have an alibi yet still be responsible for everything that’s happened.
Hell, would even be smart for her to be seen all over town this morning.
Her plan is executed but her hands stay clean. ”
“It’s just an idea.”
“A damn good one. I’ll make some calls to some people I still know from my hometown.
See if I can find out who she’s been close with lately.
Gives us something to do other than sit around and wait while Spencer keeps an eye on her.
I should have considered that. Lane might need to give you a promotion. ”
The knots in her stomach loosened enough to take a bit of pasta. She didn’t need his praise, but she’d be lying if she said it didn’t feel good. “Just trying to help. I want this behind us as soon as possible.”
“Me, too. I have more exciting things in my future.” He winked then took a bite of his burger.
She grinned like a giddy teenager. Yes, the future was filled was a ton of wonderful possibilities and she hoped like hell Duke was a part of it. But before she could figure out where the next days and months would take her, she had to survive the present.