Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Claire
I felt deflated as I walked down the hallway—then annoyed at the way my heart lifted when I saw Vance. The way he made me want to smile. The way I wanted to run into his arms and have him hold me again, like some pathetic weakling who couldn’t take care of herself.
I couldn’t get caught up like that. He would be leaving soon. I had to stay strong—for myself and for everyone around me. Even if my heart fluttered when he shot me a concerned look and tilted his head slightly, indicating that I should come into his office.
“Everything okay?” he murmured, surveying me as I followed him in and closed the door behind me.
Stay strong. “Everything’s fine.”
The look on his face told me he knew it was a bald-faced lie.
“We need to talk,” he said, keeping his voice low. He glanced at his watch. “Not here. Let’s get something to eat and regroup. You said Whiskey Creek is the best in town. Does that sound good to you, or is there somewhere else you’d like to go?”
“It’s my favorite.”
It felt bittersweet that he remembered. That he cared about my preferences. Why did I have to meet someone like him if I could only have one kiss? One searing, life-altering, mind-blowing kiss.
It wasn’t fair.
We were silent as we walked through the empty bullpen out the back door. But when we got into Vance’s SUV, he let out a long breath.
“There’s something you should know.” He quickly filled me in on the conversation he’d overheard Trey having in the storage closet.
My jaw dropped. “I’ve always known he was a snake, but…”
“I don’t know for certain that he was referring to you. He never said your name, and he mentioned spinning something. That could be about a lot of things. But he does seem to be sabotaging you professionally.”
“He wanted this case.” I shook my head, clamping my lips tightly. “He even grabbed my arm and warned me not to make him look bad that first day.”
“He grabbed you?” Hot rage filled Vance’s eyes.
My heart did somersaults. Dammit. Why did I have to be such a sucker for the protective thing?
“It’s fine,” I said, trying to wave it off.
“It’s not fine. You need to watch your back around him,” he warned.
“I will,” I promised. “I can handle Trey. Fill me in on Laramie.”
I tried not to think about how he hadn’t texted once while he was there, as if our partnership didn’t mean half as much to him as I’d thought it did.
“It was productive,” he said, starting his engine and pulling out of his parking spot. “I got the cell phone and the laptop. Unfortunately, the laptop doesn’t look like it’s going to be much use to us.”
“Nothing good on it?”
He shrugged. “Who knows? The uncle scrubbed it and gave it to his kid to use for school. Now, the only documents on it are eighth-grade reports and the internet search history is all YouTube and soft porn.”
“What?” My jaw dropped. “They just gave her laptop away, without even knowing she wasn’t coming back?”
He nodded, irritated. “I told you the mom said she had a history of running away. When I stopped in to talk to her, she said Katelyn had been trouble since the day she’d been placed there.
Started running away at age eight, disappearing for longer and longer periods of time.
I think they’d given up on her long before this incident. ”
The lack of concern made me want to punch something. “But she got into college. She can’t have been that much trouble.”
He shrugged. “She was strong-willed. When she wanted something, there was nothing that could stop her. College became one of those things, according to the family. They were happy about it and hoped she would make something of herself. But I think they’d pretty much washed their hands of her.”
“Hmmm.” My eyes narrowed as I thought it over. “Do you think we’re looking in the wrong place? She ran away all those times… Maybe we should look at the mom and the uncle.”
Vance shook his head. “I’ve ruled them out.
Mom is in a wheelchair. She’s completely disabled and doesn't even drive. That’s why she didn’t pick up Katelyn’s things personally,” he explained.
“She could barely lift her arms, so there’s no way she could have strangled Katelyn, much less have dumped the body.
And the reason it took the uncle so long to pick up the boxes is because he was deployed when she went missing.
Didn’t get back to the States until August.”
“So way after our time frame,” I said, disappointed. I would have been thrilled to have another suspect.
“Exactly. Beyond that, Katelyn’s running away started before this placement. She didn’t get placed with Marjorie—her adoptive mom—until age thirteen. She went through seven other families in the meantime and eloped from all of them.”
I sighed, hating it. “She really was troubled.”
“It sounds like it,” he agreed. “From what I was told, Marjorie is the best thing to ever happen to her. But Katelyn was always looking for more. She didn’t just want a family—she wanted to be someone.
She thought she was better, smarter than everyone else and she craved wealth and power.
She had Reactive Attachment Disorder—an inability to form healthy attachments—and delusions of grandeur, according to her psychiatric history. ”
“How is someone supposed to form healthy attachments when they’ve never had a stable home?” I asked, throwing my hands up in frustration. “And why is it that when some people are driven to achieve greatness we celebrate it, but when others do we call it a syndrome?”
He glanced over, admiration on his face. “I love that you aren’t jaded. Most people in law enforcement are.”
I smirked. “Well, clearly, I haven’t had much law enforcement experience. And I might never get it.”
“What do you mean?” he asked as he pulled into a parking spot in front of Whiskey Creek.
“Mayor Evans issued a complaint about my behavior,” I said, trying not to let my emotions show. “I got a warning from Sheriff McGrath today. One more strike and I’m out.”
“Shit.” He pounded the steering wheel with his palm. “I should have known he would do that. I could have given Sheriff McGrath a heads-up about what we had done and why. But I got distracted.” He looked miserable.
I shrugged. “We both did. How could we not have gotten distracted after finding out about Sheriff McGrath and Katelyn? It’s alright. It’s not my first warning. It’ll blow over.”
Although, I wasn’t so sure this time. Sheriff McGrath had been different during this meeting. He looked exhausted and angry, completely different than his normal easygoing self.
“I’m sorry, Claire.” There was true remorse on Vance’s face. “This is my fault.”
“It’s fine,” I said, waving him off. “Come on. I’m starving. Let’s get some food and you can tell me about the cell phone.”
But his face darkened. “I agree about the food. But we have more important things to talk about than Katelyn’s phone.”
My stomach cramped. That didn’t sound good. “What is it?”
“Food first,” he said, his mouth set in a firm line.
So I followed him inside and tried not to think about all the ways my life was falling apart.
Vance stood in front of the shiny wood bar, studying the chalkboard menu that hung on the back wall.
“What’s good here?” he asked, nudging my elbow.
“Everything.” My voice sounded oddly hollow. I fought to bring it back to normal. “I’m a big fan of the burgers. The salmon one is my favorite. But if you like red meat, the rest of them use a blend of bison and ground beef. They’re grilled fresh to order. You can’t go wrong.”
“Sounds good,” he mused.
Pete, part-owner of the bar, came out from the back, wiping his hands on a towel. “Oh, hey, Claire.” He eyed Vance.
“Hey, Pete. This is Agent Vance Weston from Wyoming DCI.”
Pete’s eyes grew big. “I guess you’re here about that girl’s murder.”
“Actually, I’m here for lunch,” Vance said, chuckling. “But if you know anything about what happened, I’ll take that, too.”
He was back to being the disarming detective with a charming smile, having somehow completely erased the anger and worry that had been on his face outside. He was so much better at that than I was, at moving easily in and out of character and using whatever he needed to gain information.
“I’m sorry, I don’t,” Pete had said, shaking his head. “Wish I did. First Rhett, then Cheyenne, then this.” He cut his eyes to me. “Wildwood doesn’t feel the same as when we were kids, does it?”
Vance shot me a questioning look. “What happened with Rhett and Cheyenne?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.” I turned my attention back to Pete. “I’ll take a salmon burger. You know how I like it. Sweet potato fries on the side.”
“Sure. You want a beer to go with that?”
I shook my head. “I’m on duty. Just water.”
“Got it. What about you?” He turned to Vance.
“Same as her,” he said as he pulled his wallet from his pants. “Lunch is on me.” He fished out some bills from his wallet and slid them over to Pete, telling him to keep the change.
Pete’s face lit up as he calculated the generous tip. “Thanks. Find a seat wherever, and I’ll have it right out.”
Vance placed his fingers under my elbow and steered me toward a booth in the back, far away from any of the other customers—more strangers, I noticed. I still couldn’t get over how people actually came out here just because a murder had happened.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said. “Again. But since you did, next time is on me.”
He ignored my words, motioning for me to have a seat. When he sat down across from me, that dark look from the car was back. It was fierce, angry. Determined.
I swallowed hard, imagining that this must be what it felt like to be across an interrogation table from him. It was fascinating. He could be so charming, so easy to like and open up to when it served him. Or he could be completely intimidating when that suited him instead.
But I had no idea why he was turning that look on me. I hoped I hadn’t made some mistake that would earn a reprimand from him today on top of the one I’d received from Sheriff McGrath.
And if that was what I was in for, I really hoped it wasn’t because of the way I’d kissed him, losing myself and climbing into his lap like I’d lost my ever-loving mind.
Clearly, I’d crossed a line, and maybe his time away from me had made him decide I needed a reprimand for it.
But he’d started crossing lines before that, telling me things that made my head spin.
So if he was going to lecture me, well, then I’d lecture him right back.
I crossed my arms and put a stern look on my face, preparing myself.
But nothing could have prepared me for what he actually asked.
“Why doesn’t Serena McGrath like you?”
“What?” I dropped my arms, confused. “What are you talking about?”
He studied my face. “She tried to pick Sheriff McGrath up for lunch. When she found out he was in a meeting with you, she presented with clear anger and jealousy.”
“ What ?” My jaw dropped.
“Does she have a reason to be jealous?” He watched me closely.
“No,” I protested. “Of course not.” But then a realization hit and I bit my lip.
“What is it?” His voice was calm, but his eyes were narrowed in on me like I was prey in the water and he was going in.
I shook my head. “Nothing that I’ve done.
But… Serena used to work for him. That’s how they met.
He was married at the time. They’ve always said nothing started between them until later, after he got divorced.
But the consensus in town was that they had an affair and that’s the reason he left his wife.
” I felt guilty repeating old gossip, but we all knew that it was true.
Vance’s eyes lit with clarity. “Ah. I see. She knows her husband is a cheater, so she’s worried it will happen to her, too.”
“Maybe,” I admitted. “But ew. He’s my dad’s age. I’ve never thought of him as anything except a mentor.”
“Maybe you’ve never considered it. But has he ever given you reason to think that he has a special interest in you?”
“No, of course not,” I said, shaking my head. But then I paused. He had taken a special interest in me. I knew that was partly why Collins gave me such a hard time. But it wasn’t a romantic interest, was it?
“She’s blonde, you’re blonde,” Vance pointed out. “She’s younger than him, you’re younger than him. She worked for him, you work for him.” He shrugged. “It’s a pattern. I can see why she’d be concerned.”
“Ew.” That was the only word that came to mind.
Vance chuckled. “It’s clear from your face that you’re shocked she would consider you a rival.”
“Totally shocked.” I grimaced. “I’m kind of disturbed now. But for the record, he’s never made any kind of move on me. None whatsoever. I don’t know if the pattern is the reason he encouraged me to apply for the job, but he’s never once crossed the line, I promise you that.”
“Good,” Vance said quietly. He looked around to make sure no one was paying any attention to us.
“What?” I asked, leaning in.
“I just have to point out that someone else fits the pattern. Blonde, young. Looking for an older man…” His brows rose.
My jaw dropped as I realized what he was getting at.
Katelyn Brown had also been a young blonde.
And that realization made his coffee date with her look even worse.