Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Part of me wanted to drop in on Ruthie again, anything to prolong the inevitable argument I could feel brewing between me and Rob. But I dutifully followed him to his house, parked in front, and sighed.
“It will be okay, Olivia,” Millie said, her whiskers brushing my arm. “Just be honest with him.”
“I know. I’m blowing this way out of proportion, but I can’t help myself.”
I looked up to see Rob watching me, a puzzled expression on his face as he stood on the porch. Great. I was sitting here talking to my cat in front of him. I heaved another sigh and picked her up.
“Here we go.”
Rob held the door open for me. Usually, at this point, he’d be smiling. His eyes would crinkle in the corners the way I loved. But today he looked beyond tired, and there was a steeliness to his gaze that made me nervous.
I let Millie go, and she bounded off to the kitchen for a snack. I couldn’t blame her, but I sure could have used her particular brand of comfort in this moment.
Rob took off his duty belt and set it on the counter, resting his hands on his slim hips. He tilted his head to the side and looked at me. I shifted my feet.
“Is this how you break criminals?” I asked after the silence felt too heavy. “Give them this look until they crack?”
A tiny smile quirked his lips, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“I guess I’ve never consciously tried, but it might work. Good thing you’re not a criminal, huh?”
“I feel like one. I went through evidence that could have helped you. And now he’s dead. And then, of course, the whole speeding thing. I’ve never even had a speeding ticket before!”
“Well, you still don’t,” he said as he walked to the kitchen.
This time the smile he shot me was genuine. I followed him and found Millie crunching on her kibble as Rob reached into the fridge.
“Would you like a beer? It’s non-alcoholic.”
“No, although after today I could probably use one. I’ll make some tea, if that’s alright with you?”
He grabbed a bottle of beer and shut the fridge.
“Olivia, my house is your house. If you decided you wanted to paint the entire thing purple, I wouldn’t say a thing.”
I cocked an eyebrow as I walked over to the stove.
“Really? Purple?”
He opened the bottle and took a swig.
“I guess it would depend on the purple. Nothing too neon. I might have to put a foot down then.”
I laughed as I opened the cupboard and grabbed a box of herbal tea.
“Can you imagine? Oh my gosh, what would Tammy say?”
Rob nearly choked on his beer and put the bottle on the counter.
“I take it you’ve met?”
“This morning, when I was leaving, she was either worried your house was being broken into, or maybe she was worried about your virtue.”
He moved closer and slipped his arms around my waist as I filled the teakettle. I leaned back into his warmth, savoring the way his breath tickled the back of my neck.
“I think that ship sailed a long time ago. She’s all right, all things considered. At least she doesn’t throw any raging parties when I’m trying to sleep. She can’t help being nosy. Heck, it’s practically a requirement to live here.”
I left his embrace to put the kettle on the stove and immediately missed his warmth. I leaned against the counter and looked at him.
“I’m sorry, Rob. I didn’t handle things the way I should have.”
“I didn’t either, so we’re even.”
His gaze was steady as his eyes met mine, and I felt like I could get lost in those blue depths.
“I guess so. But...”
I trailed off and turned away from him, fussing with the handle on the kettle.
He gathered my hair off my shoulders, grazing my neck with his fingers.
“But?”
Here it was. The moment I stood up for myself.
In my marriage with Paul, I did an amazing impression of a doormat.
I was so good at it, it hadn’t been a surprise when Paul paraded his mistresses around town.
I was through with that. Keeping the peace came at too high a cost. If I learned anything from that marriage, it was that.
I turned slowly and looked at his collarbones.
Meeting his eyes right at this moment was a bridge too far.
“But I feel like you ignored the things I was saying. They were important, but they got brushed under the rug with the bag thing... and... Oh, I don’t know.”
Rob put a hand on my arm and squeezed.
“I’m sorry, Olivia. That was poorly done of me,” he said, running a hand through his closely cropped hair. “I know you mentioned an open door, and I’m a terrible cop for just blasting past that and focusing on the bag. Can you tell me again what happened?”
It was easier to look at him now.
“The back door was open. Someone broke in, and Millie found a tuft of dog hair. I’m pretty sure it belongs to Declan’s dog.
And then there was the manuscript in the bag.
I’m not an expert or anything, but I made sure to read as many books by Moorehead as I could before the signing, just in case a question came up. I had to be prepared.”
“I remember,” he smiled. “You didn’t think much of his writing.”
I snorted and took the kettle off the burner.
“It sounds terrible now, but it’s the truth. I wasn’t a fan of his style. But the manuscript I found in his bag wasn’t written by him. I don’t care that his name was on the title page. It was too... lyrical. Whoever wrote that was a much better writer than Moorehead.”
Rob frowned and reached for his beer.
“I read a lot, but you’re the expert in this. I prefer epic fantasy to thrillers and murder mysteries. I see a little too much of that on the job to want to read about it in my time off. I get a lot of flack at the department about it.”
I poured water into a mug, dredging my tea bag through it, watching as the reddish-brown color bloomed into the water.
“There’s nothing wrong with epic fantasy. There’s nothing better than the good guys winning the day.”
“Especially when they get their princess.”
He reached for me again, twining his hand into mine.
“I’m no princess.”
“You are to me.”
I squeezed his hand.
“Anyway, I’m sorry. I was angry that you brushed off what I’d seen, and I said some things that...”
He pulled me into a hug, resting his head against mine.
“Shh. I’m sorry. I will go right now and see if I can get any prints off the door. Do you have the fur?”
“Oh. Um. I think I left it there on the floor. I didn’t want to touch it.
But that’s not all, Rob. There’s something really off about Natalie.
I can’t put my finger on it... But she acted like she knew Declan well.
Very well. And Fang turned into a puddle of mush for her.
I think there’s something there, and I think it’s odd. ”
“You’re right,” he said, stepping away again. “And I’ve got an APB out for both of them as people of interest. Trevor is currently scouting for them. I don’t take what you say lightly, Olivia. You’ve got a fine mind. I just wish you worked for me.”
I squinted at him.
“You sure about that?”
“We make a great team. It’s a little awkward with you not being sworn in or anything, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
A little bubble of happiness brightened my insides as I took the tea bag out of the cup.
“Thank you, Rob. You don’t have to go get those prints right now, though. I’m sure it will wait until tomorrow. Besides, Meg and I touched the door and probably messed those up, anyway. I just wish I knew what he’d come for. It didn’t seem like anything was missing.”
“Well, once I track him down and get him in for questioning, I’ll ask. You’ve got your security system. I should be able to pull the footage.”
My mouth fell open as I realized I’d totally forgotten about the cameras we’d installed at both entrances to the shop.
“I’m an idiot.”
“Hush. No, you’re not. You had a bomb go off in your shop, Livie. It’s enough to rattle the best of us. It sure rattled me.”
“Well, it wasn’t in the shop, but close enough,” I said, taking a sip of the tea. “I just wish I knew why. Why would Moorehead be targeted? I mean, I guess maybe he scammed his drug dealer or something and they’re getting even.”
Rob choked on his beer again and wiped his mouth.
“What?”
“The white, powdery substance. I noticed he was acting strangely before the signing. He kept ducking into the bathroom, and when he came back out, he kept wiping his nose. I sure wish we knew what happened to his bag. Maybe someone saw it and decided to help themselves. I wish Marcie and Dorcie had seen more of what happened.”
“Those two aren’t exactly reliable witnesses. If it wasn’t for Evelyn acting as the brains in their group, they’d be entirely lost.”
I hid my smile with my cup and took another sip.
“Rob, that’s not kind.”
“Honest, though.”
“I’m glad we had this talk,” I said, putting my mug down on the counter. “It was very adult of us.”
“Well, we’re an honest pair. Speaking of honesty... there’s something I’ve noticed, and I was wondering if we could talk about it.”
My mind went blank for a split second.
“Sure... what?”
He opened his mouth to say something, but his radio crackled to life with Donna’s husky voice.
“Chief? You around?”
Rob grimaced and rubbed the side of his face as he walked over and picked up his radio.
“I’m here.”
“Trevor’s got a car stopped that matches the ID you sent out. Just one person, though. No passenger. What do you want him to do?”
Rob snapped to attention.
“Have him bring her into the station. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Donna confirmed the order, and the radio went silent. Rob drained the rest of his beer and grimaced.
“That’s why I switched to NA beer. Never a dull moment in Timber Falls. I’ll be back in a little while, Livie. Hold the fort down for me?”
He wrapped me in a hug, but all I could think about was the question he’d wanted to ask me. Nausea swam in my stomach.
“Sure,” I said finally. “I wish I could go with you.”
“I do, too. This shouldn’t take long.”
“Don’t forget to ask about the manuscript. And the bag. And maybe the drugs. Oh, and about how she knows Declan! Maybe you can find some dog hair in the back seat that will match what’s in my shop.”
He strapped on his duty belt and gave me a mischievous smile.
“Anything else?”
I tapped my finger on my bottom lip and frowned.
“Um... I’d really like to confirm her flight plans from Minneapolis. Mark my words, Rob. There’s something fishy going on there.”
“Your wish is my command,” he said, crossing the kitchen back to me. “If you’re hungry, don’t wait for me. I’ve got a few frozen dinners in the freezer. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.”
His lips brushed mine, and I closed my eyes, lost in the moment. We’d talked. Not argued. And nothing terrible had happened. I was growing. I could get used to this new version of myself.
“Maybe I’ll cook up a meal for you and keep it warm.”
He grimaced and turned toward the door.
“I don’t keep many fresh things in the fridge. With my schedule, it’s a recipe for wasted food.”
“I’ll figure something out. Fanning’s is still open.”
He smiled, gave me another quick kiss, and put his hat on.
“See you soon, Livie.”
I watched him walk down the steps and head for his pickup. Watched and waved as he drove off. Night had fallen while we’d been inside, and the air held a chill. I shivered and pulled the door shut.