Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
kole
I popped the cap off the bottle before handing it to Harry, who was sitting on the stool in front of me.
He snatched the beer, gulping down half of it before setting it on the bar.
He let out a sigh, running his hand through his long beard.
He looked as exhausted as I felt. The meeting at the clinic lasted over two hours where the assholes in the suits asked for every single detail of the murders.
All we did was give them everything we knew. No new evidence. They didn’t offer any advice. They expected us to do the work while they did nothing.
“Tell me how you’re already here and Dani is still stuck at work,” I said as I flicked open my small pocketknife to open a new box of napkins.
“She doesn’t report to me. Natalie was her boss, and now that Susan woman is. I’m sure they won’t stay there much longer.” His lips quirked up. “Got a thing for the intern, don’t you? I’m guessing you’re glad Fiona fucked up the housing arrangements now.”
I ignored him, not denying anything since he’d seen my arm around her this morning. If the town wanted to gossip about me and Dani, then maybe it would stop assholes like Riggs from touching her.
“You think they’ll stay in town?” Harry asked after another sip of his beer.
“No idea,” I muttered, gazing around the bar. It was packed tonight with no empty tables. Football was playing on the mounted televisions, and a few men were bickering about who was in line for the next game. “They didn’t seem like they wanted to be here.”
“And if we don’t find the killer?” Harry asked under his breath. “I don’t think—”
“We’re out of pretzels. Want me to restock?” Adella asked, interrupting Harry as she stepped up beside me. “We’re going to through more this winter than last year. I don’t think we’ll have enough to last to January.”
“Go ahead and open a new box,” I told her with a shake of my head.
I had a feeling this would happen after seeing how this week was going. My bar was always busy, but it had been packed every single night since the murders started. It was almost as if no one wanted to be alone. The atmosphere was also more somber, heavy with fear.
The door opened, and a sense of relief shot through me when Dani entered the bar.
She was bundled in her thick jacket with her hands buried in her pockets.
In the hours I was at the clinic today, I was barely able to say a word to her, but I didn’t miss that something was wrong.
After her talk with Susan, she wouldn’t even meet my eyes.
Though, even when I saw her in the morning with Riggs, something seemed off with her.
I frowned as she strode closer, not watching her surroundings like she usually did. I clenched my jaw when I noticed Tristin and his little group of friends staring at her. He wasn’t dumb enough to try to go near her in my bar after my warning.
My eyes cut to Harry. “You’re in her seat. Move.”
“You aren’t serious,” he sputtered with a scowl.
“Do I look like I’m kidding? Move your ass, Harry.”
He cursed at me under his breath as he snagged his beer and staggered away. Adella chuckled, grabbing the napkins from me. She rounded the bar to restock them on the tables. My attention went back to Dani as she slid onto the stool Harry just vacated.
“You want to talk about it?” I asked quietly.
Her gaze snapped to me. “Talk about what?”
“Whatever’s been bothering you since this morning.”
She blew out a heavy breath. “It’s just been a shit day.”
I had a feeling it was far more than that, but she didn’t keep talking, so I dropped it. It was just like when she had her nightmares. If she wasn’t ready to share, then I wouldn’t pry. No matter how badly I wanted to know what was going through her head.
I reached for the vodka to make her usual drink, but she shook her head. “Just soda, please. I need a clear head.”
“A clear head for what?”
Her sweet smile shot suspicion through me. “I need your help, Kole.”
I placed my palms on the bar, leaning closer. “Help with what?”
“Susan wants us to move back into the police station in two days.” She met my eyes, looking unsure about telling me this. “I need fifteen minutes alone in the police station.”
“Why?”
She bit her lip, hesitation flashing across her face. “I can’t tell you.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?”
“Harry has had people standing guard day and night…” she trailed off as if choosing her words carefully. “You’re technically a deputy now. If you just volunteer for tomorrow night’s shift and let me slip inside for a few minutes—”
“Oh, you have this all planned out, don’t you?” I cut her off, failing at hiding my amused grin. “And what if I say no?”
“You won’t help me?”
Fucking hell. Her question made me realize how deep I was with her already. Because there wasn’t any part of me that wanted to deny her. If she wanted my help, I’d do it without question.
I handed her the glass of soda. “I’ll switch shifts with Adella tomorrow. We’ll do it after you get off work.”
She smiled, opening her mouth to respond until someone bumped into her. My good mood disappeared when two of Tristin’s friends surrounded Dani. She stiffened, her eyes darting between them.
“Can I get another shot of tequila?” Leon slurred, dumping two empty glasses onto the counter. Dani shifted slightly to the right when he brushed against her in his drunken state.
“I need to talk to you. Alone.” Tristin’s other friend, Monty, was on the other side of Dani, and he seemed stone-cold sober. “It’s important.”
“You.” I pointed to Leon. “Move your ass away from my bar. You’re cut off for the night.”
Leon slouched forward, his eyes unfocused. “What? Why? I haven’t—”
“Kole, please,” Monty interrupted, pulling my attention back to him. “I’d talk to Harry, but he’s already drunk.”
My aggravation grew when Leon bumped into Dani again. “Then go talk to someone else who works for him.”
“I heard you work for him. Aren’t you a deputy now?” Leon snorted out a laugh, glancing at Dani. He swiped his long brown hair out of his eyes. “Oh, hi. You’re the intern Tristin hates—”
I reached over the counter, grabbing his shirt. “You have two seconds to get the hell away from her or I’m throwing you outside,” I growled.
“Okay, okay.” He stumbled back once I released him. “You don’t have to be such a dick.”
Dani sipped her soda, not saying a word as Leon went back to the table. Monty was still waiting, and I scrubbed a hand down my face before catching Adella’s attention to have her come back behind the bar.
“This better be quick,” I grumbled, jerking my head in a silent order for Monty to follow.
I pushed open the door that led to my tiny office. It was stacked to the ceiling with boxes since I used it for storage. Monty shut the door behind us, nerves gleaming in his eyes when he faced me.
“What is so important that we had to come in here?” I asked, not hiding my annoyance.
“I think the killer was outside my house last night.”
I stared at him as he rubbed a hand over his buzzed blond hair. He was twitchy. Nervous. He paced a few steps, not caring that his work boots were untied.
“And why would you think that?”
“There were footsteps in the snow near our backdoor. Tristin and Leon never go out there. I think you should have Harry check it out.”
His words weren’t ringing true. “If you’re so worried, why wait an entire day to say something? It’s already dark out. You think I’m gonna spend my night checking out your house?”
“Come on, Kole. Harry won’t do shit about it. What if the murderer comes back to my house tonight—”
“Then lock your damn door,” I snapped. There was something off about this entire conversation. “You’re acting like the damn interns being scared of the dark.”
He scowled. “People in this town are supposed to do their damn jobs. You work with Harry. Protecting the citizens—which is what I am.”
“Tristin is the one who takes the emergency calls. Want to make a report? Talk to your damn roommate.”
I shoved past him to open the door, ignoring his protests. Maybe his story was true, but there was something about it that was rubbing me the wrong way. Monty wasn’t my friend. He spoke to me when he ordered drinks and that was it. Why was he so adamant about talking to me now?
Adella caught my eye the moment I got behind the bar again, her frown shooting unease through me. I glanced at the empty stool with her half empty soda on the counter where Dani had been when I walked away. I scoured the room, not seeing her anywhere.
“She left,” Adella informed me. “With Tristin.”
My heart dipped. “What?”
She shrugged. “He whispered something in her ear once you were in the back, and she followed him outside.”
“She went willingly?”
“Yeah. She didn’t look happy, but she wasn’t scared.”
The words barely left her mouth before I was storming across the room.
People moved out of the way, and I ripped open the door, stepping outside.
Snow was falling lightly, and while footsteps were still visible, there were too many of them to know which ones were hers. I peered down the dark street.
“Dani?” I called out.
Only silence met me. My pulse sped up, dread coiling through me. I pushed the door back open, only to come face to face with Monty. He froze in his tracks, a sheepish smile on his lips.
“See you later,” he muttered, attempting to move around me.
Things began clicking together, and anger jolted down my spine.
I lashed my hand out, wrapping my fingers around Monty’s throat, forcing him backward.
His words were nothing but a choked gurgle when I squeezed harder.
The crowd around us backed up, some gasps and murmurs being heard over the football games.
“Kole,” Monty managed to croak out, grabbing my wrist in a useless attempt to get me off him.
I slammed him onto the top of the closest table, glasses of alcohol shattering when they hit the floor. All the talking and conversations ceased as everyone surrounded us.
“You think you can distract me for your piece of shit friend and get away with it?” I asked, my voice low. “Where did he take Dani?”
Monty shook his head, his face turning red. “I didn’t—”
“I swear on fucking everything, you won’t leave this bar alive,” I threatened, meaning every single word. Giving him a chance to answer, I loosened my hold on his throat.
“You can’t kill me,” he screamed hoarsely, struggling beneath me. “There are rules in this town—”
I cut him off with a cold laugh. “Rules?”
“Harry,” he yelled, trying to crane his neck to find the person he thought would save him. “He’s the sheriff. It’s his job.”
I lifted my gaze, finding Harry in the crowd. “You gonna stop me, Sheriff?”
Annoyance filled his eyes as he took another swig of his drink. “I don’t see shit.”
“Anyone else?” I asked loud enough for everyone to hear.
Not a single person answered. Panic swarmed Monty’s features when he realized no one was coming to his rescue.
“I’m not a fucking rat,” he spat out, kicking at me. “Tristin is my friend.”
I shook my head in mock disappointment. “Fine.” Using my free hand, I reached into my pocket and flicked open my pocketknife. Monty’s struggles intensified when I showed him the blade.
“Kole, please,” he cried out.
“You can be a living rat or a dead friend.” I pressed the knife against his cheek. “Your choice. But if you don’t tell me where she is, you’re going to fucking suffer.”