“It’s a drug deal.” She moved to allow Lucas a glimpse.
“Let’s bust them.” When Lucas faced her, his gaze ran down the front of her.
She’d dressed as his girlfriend again, just in case. His appreciation of the false version of her once again disturbed her.
“Do you prefer this?” She swept her hand down the front of her oversized boobs, visible between the sides of her jacket.
“I prefer what’s underneath.”
Without time to berate him more, she removed her gun from the thigh strap hidden by the black skirt. What did he mean? Underneath her disguise as one of his hot girlfriends or clothes in general?
Lucas reached the door first and waited for her. “Use your gun for protection. Let me handle the bust. You’re supposed to be my girlfriend, remember?”
She nodded, not liking how the idea of being his girlfriend appealed to her and dressed as someone she wasn’t.
He turned the knob and kicked the door open, charging in and yelling, “Police! Put your hands where I can see them!”
All three turned startled faces toward them, Slater still holding the money and the stranger holding a bag of drugs.
Demi covered where Lucas’s pistol didn’t aim, which landed on Slater. He watched her intently as she moved toward him. At the table, she picked up his gun and put it into her coat pocket, never shifting aim.
Lucas went to the stranger and patted him down, then did the same with Paulie.
“Maybe now you’ll admit you knew it was Devlin who paid you to say you saw Demi Colton at my brother’s crime scene,” Lucas said into Paulie’s ear.
Paulie’s eyes rolled toward him, guarded and tense.
Lucas read them their rights and called for backup. Demi worried whether anyone would recognize her, but she wanted to hear what Slater and Paulie would have to say now.
* * *
Lucas had gotten her into the observation room where Paulie was being questioned by the chief, Finn Colton.
Lucas stood next to Demi with his arms at his sides. He’d decided not to be the one to interrogate Paulie so he could be with her. He also told her he thought maybe Paulie would open up to someone else. Lucas could be intimidating, but Demi thought that would work in his favor rather than against. She was grateful that he stayed with her, though.
So far no one had recognized her. On the way in, one officer had eyed her too long for her comfort but he didn’t confront her. Now, inside the observation room, she was away from prying eyes.
Facing charges for drug dealing, Slater had readily started talking when offered a reduced sentence. He admitted to selling Devlin the same type of gun that had been used in certain killings—the same model she and Lucas fought so hard to find. It was another crucial big step toward proving Devlin was the Groom Killer. Slater also told of his dealings with the Larson twins, detailing specific drug and gun deals he’d orchestrated for them. With the Larsons in jail for threatening a cop, he’d felt safe enough to do so in exchange for immunity.
Now she wanted to hear Paulie confess that Devlin paid him off. So far he was refusing to cooperate and had only said someone paid him. Another witness had said he recognized Devlin’s voice.
“You’ll get a stiff sentence for drug trafficking,” Finn said. “If you tell us the truth about who paid you to say you saw Demi running from Bo Gage’s crime scene, we can help you out with that.”
“Maybe I should just ask for a lawyer.”
“That’s your choice. We’ll pursue the maximum sentence in the drug case.”
Paulie began to fidget, biting his lower lip and tapping his fingers on the table. “I don’t know who paid me, like I told you before.”
“Another witness already confessed to being paid by Devlin Harrington to say he saw Demi near a crime scene. That leads us to believe she isn’t the killer, that Devlin is.”
Finn waited patiently.
“I can’t say what isn’t true.”
“I can understand if you’re afraid, with Devlin on the run, but you’re going to do time for drug trafficking no matter what. The only difference will be the amount of time. We can arrange to reduce that time if you cooperate now. And if you’re in jail, Devlin won’t be able to get to you.”
“I might get off with probation.”
“Not with the amount we caught you with.” Finn explained what he’d be able to do for Paulie if he cooperated.
Paulie fidgeted some more and then finally said, “Devlin did pay me.”
Demi closed her eyes and let her head fall back in relief. Beside her, Lucas took her hand and gave her a squeeze.
“He left the cash for me, but I saw him walking away from the back of the gas station. He must have waited for me to get the money. He didn’t know I saw him, but he sent me threatening text messages that said he’d kill me if I told anyone I was paid.”
“We won’t let that happen to you. Bail will be set at about fifty thousand. Don’t post bond and stay in jail until we can find him.”
“How long will that be? What if I go to trial before you find him?”
“We’ll find him.” Finn stood.
Lucas turned from the one-way glass and faced Demi. “We’re getting closer. Now we just need to find that missing gun.”
“We’ll keep looking.”
“I’m determined.”
“After these two confessions, will I be arrested?”
“I don’t see any reason to until Devlin is brought in. Most likely they’ll want you to stay in town in case they need to question you.”
Available for questioning was kind of a fine line. He hadn’t committed to not arresting her.
“Don’t worry. Let’s get out of here.” He took her hand and opened the door, checking the hall before leading her down the white hallway toward the exit.
On the way, Lucas spotted John Williams, who must have heard that two drug dealers had been hauled in. He intercepted them before they could reach the exit.
“How’d the interview go? John asked.
“Slater confessed to selling the same model of weapon used in some of the killings—the missing weapon—and Paulie confessed to knowing it was Devlin Harrington who paid him to say he saw Demi Colton running from the crime scene.”
“That’s compelling,” John said.
He didn’t seem convinced, even still. The man was hardcore when it came to the arrest of criminals, more on the side of guilty until proven innocent.
“Still don’t have the gun, though. Just because some low-end drug dealer says Devlin paid him to say he saw Demi doesn’t mean Devlin’s the Groom Killer.”
“It’s enough to pursue him as a prime suspect.”
“Maybe you’re hiding Demi.” The officer’s offensive gaze moved to Demi, checking her out with lowering and lifting eyes.
“Have a nice day, John.” Lucas took Demi to the door, glancing back to see John scrutinizing her, but he didn’t feel the man was a threat.
Lucas walked with her toward the rental car. “I think you’re safe to dispense with the disguises, Demi.”
She stopped at the rental. “If Finn wants me available for questioning, that means he isn’t completely convinced I’m innocent.”
“He doesn’t think you killed anyone, Demi. Besides, the cops who want to arrest you don’t have the authority. And I’m beginning to think that if you were more out in the open, Devlin would stop trying to kill you. You become more of a threat when no one believes you’re guilty and when you are no longer running.”
She thought he might have a point. She’d take a risk going public, but it could have a positive effect. And she wouldn’t be running anymore. That, above all else, tantalized her.
Lucas opened the passenger door for her. She faced him, uncertain. Then she began to notice how close he stood. He had his arm on the top
of the door and sort of leaned toward her, a light in his brown eyes and his mouth slightly upturned. The entire picture made her feel he enjoyed his ability to read her.
Or was it the disguise?
She decided to test him. Putting her hand on his chest, she inched closer. “Do you like me in this disguise?”
His eyes smoldered and lowered to her chest. “You do look great.”
“Is this the type of woman you prefer?”
“I wish you’d stop that.”
“Stop what?” She pressed her body against him.
“That...and...saying that.” He’d clearly become uncomfortable with how she deliberately tried to turn him on.
“Do you want me to dress like this all the time?”
“No.” He no longer seemed uncomfortable.
“Why not?”
“Demi, it’s not the fake boobs that get me. It’s what is underneath that sexy dress and all that makeup. It’s your green eyes and your red hair. I liked your red hair longer, but you look really good with it shorter, too.”
Demi didn’t feel like egging him on anymore. No, rather, she felt like staying right there against him.
“Could have fooled me.”
After looking into her eyes for several hot seconds, he put his finger beneath her chin. “Do you need some reassurance?”
“No.” He’d made it sound as though she was insecure. But wasn’t she? When it came to him...maybe.
He touched his lips to hers.
Demi sucked in a much-needed gulp of air, closing her eyes to sensation. He kissed her softly and just on the lips, making love with utmost patience.
When he at last ended the sweet contact, she gazed up at him, wishing they were somewhere more private.
Then she noticed someone watching, looking over Lucas’s shoulder. It was that cop they’d run into earlier, John Williams, the disbeliever.
Chapter 12
“He doesn’t have any power.”
Brayden had stopped by to check on Demi and they’d talked about Paulie and Slater, how Slater’s confession had led to others coming forward to give statements about the Larsons. They’d be in prison for the rest of their lives.
Lucas noticed how Brayden tolerated him more now. Maybe he could see Lucas meant no harm to Demi. If he had intended to take her in, he would have done it by now. Lucas wondered if the Gage–Colton feud had had anything to do with Brayden’s reluctance to trust him or with it having taken him so long. If Lucas had to guess, he’d say no.
“He doesn’t need any power if there’s enough evidence to arrest me.” Demi sounded worried. She’d been in hiding so long she must be finding it difficult to decide when it was time to come out.
“I won’t let anyone arrest you.”
“I won’t, either,” Lucas chimed in. “No one can get to you here.”
He met Demi’s look and felt her concern and also something else. Looking at him seemed to calm her, as though she had begun to trust him. Today she was just in jeans and a short-sleeved purple T-shirt, but she was as sexy as when she dressed like one of his girlfriends. He hadn’t realized he chose women like that. Maybe he cared more now about the kind of woman he took as his girlfriend. Maybe Demi made him care more.
When she softened even further, Lucas refocused, seeing Brayden hadn’t missed their exchange.
“There are a lot of people who don’t think you should be arrested,” Brayden said. “They outnumber those who would. Even if one of them did manage to arrest you, there wouldn’t be enough to keep you. The bribes alone cast enough doubt as to whether you were the one who wrote your name in blood and left a necklace at the scene. It’s obvious you’re being set up.”
“I’ve tried to tell her that.”
“Don’t be afraid, Demi,” Brayden said. “From what I can tell, it’s just Williams and Miller who want you arrested.”
Lucas nodded his agreement. He hadn’t noticed anyone else taking the conservative road. “I’ll have Finn talk to them. Would that make you feel better?”
“Not if Finn is on the fence, and he seemed like it the other day.”
“Finn is a reasonable man,” Brayden said.
“That’s what makes him such a good chief,” Lucas added.
“Exactly why you need to come clean. People are starting to suspect you found Demi and are lying,” Brayden said to Lucas. “Some noticed her at the meeting and didn’t believe you’d bring one of your model girlfriends there. I think you better just be honest now.”
“They think I’m in disguise?”
“They already know you changed your appearance. They know Lucas went looking for you at that cabin that was in another person’s name. And look at you. You’re beautiful. Just what a guy like Lucas needs to sweep him off his feet.”
“Ha, ha, very funny,” Lucas said.
“I’m not the only one who noticed the way you look at her. Elle. Shane. Even Finn said something.”
“What did Finn say?” Lucas asked. He hadn’t revealed any of that when they’d stood in the observation room.
“He asked why you brought your new hot girlfriend to the meeting. I said I didn’t know. Maybe you had plans for right after. Demi dressed well enough to make that believable.”
Demi folded one arm in front of her and bent the other to nibble on her thumbnail.
“Think it over.” Brayden walked closer to her. “Can I ask you something outside?”
She came alert, pulled from her inner musings. Lucas didn’t say anything, just watched them go out onto the front porch. He noticed Demi had left the door ajar and moved there.
“It seems like you and Lucas are...you know...getting along pretty well.”
“We are.”
“He’s still treating you good?”
“Yes, Brayden. You don’t have to worry. I think it’s time everyone forgot the old Gage–Colton feud and started planning more parties together.”
“There will be plenty of those as soon as Devlin is captured.”
“Yes.”
“I just want you to know that if you’re happy with him, then I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, Brayden.”
Lucas heard sounds like they hugged and walked away from the door before Demi came back inside.
* * *
After Brayden left, Lucas made dinner while Queenie followed Wolf on a crawl around the living room. She’d been protective of the baby ever since meeting him. Demi half imagined the dog picking Wolf up like a puppy if he ventured somewhere too dangerous. Watching that distracted Demi from her worry. Placing trust in others didn’t come easy for her, even her own half brother’s judgment.
Sitting on the floor with her legs bent to one side, she waited for Wolf to crawl toward her, his big open-mouthed smile telling all about his fun. When he reached her, she lifted him and planted a loud kiss on his soft cheek. Queenie stuck her nose to the spot as though participating in the kiss. Demi laughed and petted the dog’s head.
Lucas chucked as he served two plates of steaming potpie. He’d made chicken potpie from scratch, filling the cabin with a delectable aroma and making her tummy growl. Demi sat on the couch and put Wolf on her lap as Lucas brought over two mugs of iced root beer.
Earlier, he’d lit a flat-based candle and put it on the big ottoman. Now he turned on a compact stereo and played contemporary country music. The candle, the music, the homemade dinner...was he romancing her?
“I’ve had more elegant dinners than this with men,” she said.
“You’ll never have a better chicken potpie than this.” He scooped up some food and ate a bite.
“Why not the dining room table?” She raised a forkful and blew to cool it before putting it in her mouth.
Wolf’s tiny hand grasped what he could of her wrist.
“I’m trying to sooth you
. This is more relaxing.”
She eyed him, seeing him meet her look and appearing nonchalant. She could see he didn’t mind romancing her; in fact, she didn’t think he could resist. His motive was to relax her but he enjoyed being with her and doing all of this for her.
“You know I won’t let anything bad happen to you, don’t you?” he asked.
She finished chewing and swallowing, not sure how to reply.
“Why don’t you start working on your trust issues like you did your anger issues?”
Wolf made a sound and patted his hands up and down on his legs. She put a small amount of cream from the potpie on her spoon and put it to his mouth. He opened and she let him taste.
“It’s not you I don’t trust.” Not when it came to whether or not the police would arrest her. If she was to be arrested, she would be arrested and he wouldn’t be able to stop that.
“I’d go on the run with you if the police proved me wrong and did try to arrest you.”
That was so sweet. Did he really mean it? She felt herself shy away from trust as she always did. What if she tried letting go with him? Took a chance? Would he run off when Devlin was captured and charged with the Groom Killer murders? Her heart said he would. Her gut had a braver reaction.
He stopped eating as he became aware of her looking at him. “Do you believe me?”
To her amazement, she did. “Yes.”
“Do you trust me?”
That seemed important to him, which went against his anti-marriage and –family ideology. A man like that wouldn’t care about trust. He wouldn’t be involved long enough for that to be an issue, would he?
“Can you trust me?” he asked. “Or how about this—you just trust me for tonight.”
That she could do. “All right. I trust you.”
His entire face smoothed into warm satisfaction and before she could process his intention, he leaned in and kissed her.
Wolf’s grunts and batting hands drew them apart with brief laughter.
Colton's Fugitive Family Page 15
