Crime & Passion

by Chantel Rhondeau

  Suzie tossed her hair over her shoulder, beaming at Donovan. “I went to lunch with Dad yesterday, and I waited for him in his office while he took care of other business. You’re file was on top so I had a little peek.”

  On top of his desk in an unsecured office where anyone could see it? Not locked in the filing cabinet? Donovan wondered how long his file was left out, and who else might have ‘had a little peek.’ If the person framing him got their hands on that file, they would know exactly who to go after to make Donovan look guilty.

  “I haven’t killed anyone,” he said softly, “and I’m not going to. Neither are you.”

  Suzie’s eyes widened. “But I thought—”

  “You’re wrong.” He shook his head slightly. “I appreciate you telling me about the rope,” and my file, “but I’m not a killer. Someone wants people to believe I am, though.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Someone’s setting you up?”

  He nodded.

  “I’m so embarrassed. I thought...”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “I know you are only trying to watch out for me and thought you could help me.”

  “Because I love you.”

  Shit. Will she never give that up?

  He gathered their lunch dishes and put them in the sink. “Was there anything else you needed to tell me?”

  She shook her head. “No, but do you want me to do some more snooping? At least listen in on conversations? I’m in the police station all the time. I might hear something that will help.”

  Donovan hated to enlist her help. She might get the false sense that in doing so she was on her way to winning his affection. Then again, he had no other friends with as much access to police business as she had. She seemed so fragile and was a constant fixture around the station. Most of the guys would talk freely in front of her, never worrying about what she might overhear or thinking she could be a threat.

  “If you want to help me out, as a friend, that would be great.”

  “Just friends, huh?” A wistful expression crossed her face as she gazed at him. “I guess I’ll accept that for now.”

  Donovan led the way into the living room, hoping he could get rid of Suzie without a scene. “I’ve got other stuff I need to do today, Suzie. Do you want to call me if you hear anything else?”

  Her mouth narrowed. “Do those things you need to do include Madeline Scott?”

  If only I could do her. No, no. I’m a better man now.

  He took a deep breath to refocus his thoughts. “I thought you understood how things were between us, and how I feel about Maddie.”

  “I’ll worry about Maddie later, if she sticks around.” Suzie opened the front door. “In the meantime, we need to keep you out of jail.” She leaned in and kissed Donovan on the mouth, surprising him. “I’ll keep my ears open.”

  Donovan watched her skip down the stairs and to her car before he shut and locked the door. After Suzie offered to help him kill people, he was a little worried about what she might do to Maddie.

  And Maddie still hadn’t called. Donovan glanced at the clock. It was 1:45. She couldn’t have missed the slip of paper with his number on it by now. Even if she didn’t feed her tea addiction last night, she would have had some this morning.

  It would be up to him to make things right. Even if he had to beg, plead, or bribe. Once Madeline talked to him, he could explain everything. She would forgive him for the way things happened yesterday once she understood about Madison.

  He picked up the phone and dialed her number. It went to voice mail after the fourth ring and he hung up, hitting redial.

  Voicemail again.

  She obviously didn’t want to talk to him. Donovan wondered if a different flavor of tea would get him back in the door. Normally he’d take chocolates at this point, but given Madeline’s concerns about her weight, that might be a tad insensitive.

  He grabbed his car keys and wallet and headed out the door. He’d find some sort of peace offering. Things would be fine once they talked.

  Chapter Eleven

  Madeline switched off the television after the news. The station in Eureka had picked up the story of Frank’s murder, and Madeline was relieved her picture didn’t appear as finder of the body. It was a small stroke of luck.

  She scooped another spoonful of chocolate frosting from the container and ate it straight. No sense watching her figure. The only man looking at it was Brandon. Madeline shuddered and scooped up another bite.

  She wondered if she should report to the police that Brandon had knowledge about the murder he shouldn’t have. All day she’d been bothered by the nagging feeling Brandon lied when he said his source told him about the call. But if she believed that, she was pretty much admitting she thought Brandon placed the call himself, using Donovan’s phone. If he did, that must make him the murderer. It seemed impossible Frank would get a call and then twenty minutes later wind up dead in unrelated circumstances.

  A knock sounded on the door, and Madeline popped the red lid back onto the frosting container and set her spoon next to it. No one from the police station had been over since this morning, and it was probably time for the gatekeepers to check on her. Now, she had to decide whether to tell them or not.

  What if Brandon told the truth and a source had leaked the information to him? The cop she reported it to might be his source. That could be bad. It was all too confusing. If Donovan had kept his pecker in his pants for five seconds, Madeline could have asked his opinion.

  She walked to the door and checked the peephole. Speaking of peckers, there’s the dick now.

  Madeline rested her forehead against the cool door. “What do you want, Donovan?”

  “We need to talk, Maddie—uh, Madeline. Open up.”

  Madeline looked out again. Great, flowers. What was his game? She didn’t understand why he would show up with flowers for her. His actions confused her so much. It was like he sent mixed signals on purpose and delighted in her confusion. “Go away. There’s nothing more to say,” she shouted.

  “We have everything to say. Please, open the door. Be reasonable.”

  He dared to call her unreasonable after what he’d been doing all morning? Madeline unlocked the door and yanked it open, glaring at him. “Be reasonable? Me? Listen, Donovan, only one of us is unreasonable here.” She put her hands on her hips. “And it’s not me.”

  Donovan made an abortive step forward, and Madeline shook her head sharply.

  “Don’t even think of entering my home.”

  Donovan held the roses bunched in his hand out to her. “I brought these to say I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. It was a misunderstanding.”

  Madeline glanced at the flowers, not moving from the doorway or reaching to take them. “I didn’t misunderstand your little playmate today. What do you want?”

  “Now I don’t understand.” Donovan tilted his head to the side. “What playmate?”

  How dare he? He would really sit there and pretend he hadn’t been playing strip tease with another woman this morning!

  His friend must not have mentioned my call. Asshole was probably too breathless to talk to her.

  “I don’t want to fight with you, Maddie. Please. Let me explain everything, and we can get back on track.” He held a tea canister in his other hand and thrust it toward her. “I brought you a chocolate oolong tea. The kid at the store said it was even better than the silver stuff.”

  She sighed, wondering if he knew oolong was a weight loss tea. Was that a dig at her weight, or did he truly just take the clerk’s suggestion without any idea of what he bought? Madeline guessed he’d likely been too busy today to take much time studying teas. He probably thought it was a good idea because it was chocolate flavored.

  She took the canister from his hand. He acted like the perfect gentleman now, and even though Madeline knew it was a bad idea, she considered letting him in. After all, they did need to talk about Brandon.

  He waved the flowers aro
und again. “Let’s put these in water and make some tea. I want to talk about where we stand. I know you’re mad, but I want to make things right.”

  Why is he doing this to me? Maybe he thinks he has to pretend to want me in order for me to help him.

  He rubbed her arm lightly. “You’re important to me. I want to be with you.”

  What a joke. After sleeping with whoever warmed his bed this morning, had he decided to sleep with her after all? She didn’t want his pity sex. She snorted and moved her arm out of his reach. “You have a peculiar way of doing things. I see why everyone warned me about you. It’s no wonder half the town hates you.”

  Donovan fell back a step, a pained expression on his face. “I don’t understand. You’re still that mad about what happened yesterday? Let me explain why I stopped things.”

  Madeline rolled her eyes. Even if the woman in his apartment didn’t tell him she called, he should have figured things out by now. Why did men always think women wouldn’t find out when they slept with other people? Not that she had any claims on Donovan or dictated who he slept with. Or even cared.

  Keep telling yourself that, Madeline.

  “Yesterday’s not even a blip on my radar.” She infused her voice with ice and lifted her head proudly. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

  “I hurt you. I know that. I’m trying to be a better man. Just let me—”

  “A better man? I’m so sick of hearing that.” Madeline balled her free hand into a fist. “It’s a goddamn lie, and we both know it.”

  Throughout the hallway, she heard her neighbors’ doors opening as they stepped outside their apartments to listen in. Apparently, she yelled too loudly. She didn’t even care anymore.

  Donovan’s face reddened. “How can you say that? You don’t know me well enough to judge that, Madeline. And I’m guessing you don’t want to. I thought you were someone special. Do you leave all men who try to care for you so cold?”

  “Right, Donovan. I’m the bad guy here.” Madeline let out a short bark of laughter. “You’ve left a trail of people battered and broken, while you screwed anything that moved.”

  The elevator dinged in the hallway. Madeline didn’t care if the whole damn complex listened in.

  “I’ve made mistakes,” Donovan shouted back at her, not seeming to notice the crowd gathering. “I guess that makes you better than me. Ask anyone—I’m a womanizer and a murderer. And you’re small-minded enough to believe it.”

  “It’s true though, isn’t it?” she asked, lowering her voice. “If it wasn’t for you, Lori would still be alive.”

  “Lori?” Donovan closed his eyes and nodded. “You talked to Brandon and believed every word he fed you about what happened.”

  The sound of a throat clearing drew her attention down the hallway. Eric stood with one hand at his hip on the handle of his gun. His eyes roved between Madeline and Donovan. “Things are a bit heated out here. Everything okay, Madeline?”

  Madeline took a deep breath and nodded. What did Donovan mean? What possible spin could Brandon put on a story like that? It was awful enough with no embellishments needed. Part of her wondered about Donovan’s side of the story, but not enough to ask about it right now.

  “Donovan was just leaving,” Madeline said to Eric, needing space away from him to think. “I’m fine and I appreciate the police department continuing to check on me. It’d be a big help to me if you’d escort Donovan downstairs when you leave.”

  She caught the door in her empty hand to swing it shut.

  Donovan’s arm shot out, stopping it from closing. “Please, Maddie. Please don’t leave things like this. I’ll explain everything. Let me in.”

  “Just go home. I have nothing more to say.”

  Donovan hands curled into fists and his face reddened. “Damn it, Maddie! What is wrong with you?”

  He could ask that after claiming to want to date her, seeming to encourage her, and then throwing her aside all in less than a day? It was more than she could handle.

  “Goodbye, Donovan.”

  Donovan’s fist slammed against his thigh, frustration rolling off him. “Be careful tomorrow at Woofy Cuts.” He shook his head. “You’re going to be all alone, and there’s a killer on the loose who has made it clear he’d have no problem getting rid of you.”

  Madeline swallowed hard, realizing he had a point. If she made up with him, she knew he’d help look out for her, even if he did have a girlfriend now. From what she’d seen so far, Donovan wasn’t the type of man to turn his back on someone in trouble.

  She shook her head. She couldn’t—not right now. It hurt too much. “Please go,” she whispered.

  There was a sudden gleam of moisture in his eyes as he turned away from her. “What the hell are you all looking at?” he asked the people standing in the hallway. “This isn’t a damn reality show.” He walked to the elevator and punched the call button.

  Eric shrugged one shoulder and gave her a worried look. “You sure you’re okay?”

  If she could control her pendulum of emotions as far as Donovan was concerned she would be fine. Just fine.

  She nodded, forced a smile, and closed the door.

  ***

  Madeline’s phone rang an hour later. She leapt from the couch to answer it. A small part of her hoped it would be Donovan. After cooling down, she hated the way she’d left things with him.

  Maybe he had good explanations for everything that happened. Even if he didn’t, she should at least talk to him calmly and let him know he didn’t need to pretend to like her. She still couldn’t figure out why he was doing that.

  She’d brewed a pot of chocolate tea after he left and sat staring at the ocean, sipping it for the last hour as it went cold, wondering if she had the courage to call him and try to start a conversation. Mostly, she wondered what his side of the story was concerning Lori Feldman.

  Madeline glanced at the screen of her phone and stifled her disappointment. “Hey, Lindsey. What can I do for you?”

  “I haven’t talked to you since all the problems Friday with Brutus, and I was a bit scatter-brained that day. I called to check on you.”

  If Lindsey had never been engaged to Donovan, Madeline would have talked to her about what happened yesterday and also in the entryway of her apartment this evening. However, Lindsey would likely have no sympathy for this predicament, since she’d warned Madeline to stay away from Donovan in the first place.

  “Things have been okay,” she said instead. “Though I’m not real pleased with the story Brandon wrote about me. My dog walker clients all canceled.”

  Lindsey gasped. “Oh, sweetie. That’s horrible. As soon as Donovan’s arrested for killing Frank Johnson, everything will get back to normal.”

  Lindsey sounded so sure Donovan did it. Most of the people Madeline knew seemed to hold the same opinion. Was Madeline just blinded by her deep attraction to the man? Even after fighting with him, trying to convince herself she hated him for hurting her like he had and then having sex with someone else, she still wanted to work things out with him.

  “Brandon told me what happened to his wife,” she said, curious about the older woman’s response. “He said you really helped him back then.”

  “It was a horrible time for Brandon. He can’t forgive Donovan for what happened to her,” Lindsey said. “He can’t forgive himself, either.”

  “I figured as much. What I don’t understand is why you forgave Donovan.”

  Seconds ticked by and Lindsey didn’t respond. Madeline had just decided she wasn’t going to when Lindsey cleared her throat. “Donovan wasn’t entirely to blame, if I’m being fair. Lori wanted him. When Donovan found out she was married, he broke things off, but Lori pursued him.”

  Madeline let out a breath, only realizing she’d been holding it in when she started feeling lightheaded. She was surprised Lindsey told her this, instead of backing up Brandon the way she normally did.

  “I wondered why you’d want to marry him after
what happened,” Madeline admitted. “I’m glad to know Donovan wasn’t intentionally sleeping with another man’s wife.”

  “No, he wasn’t. However, that doesn’t mean he’s a good guy.” Lindsey sighed. “I thought I could change him, but he won’t change, Madeline. I hear that sound in your voice, and I know you want to be with him. I hope you’re keeping your distance. He’ll only hurt you.”

  “Too late for that,” she whispered. “Mostly though, I hurt myself. I guess like Lori must have.”

  “What happened, sweetie? Do you want me to come over and we can talk about it?”

  Madeline wondered exactly how that visit would go. ‘Why, yes, Lindsey. I threw myself at your ex, and I’m the only person in town he won’t have sex with. Don’t you feel sorry for me?’

  “I’m okay,” she replied. “I’m really tired and think I’ll call it an early night. I have to open the shop in the morning. At least, if I still have a job with you.”

  “Of course you do.” Lindsey made a tisking sound. “It’s a shame about the canceled walks. People will settle down soon, and you’ll get the dogs back. Try not to worry.”

  “I’ll try. Thanks for being such a good friend.”

  “You’re the sister I always wanted, Madeline. We’re more than friends. You’ll get through this. And soon, Donovan will be a distant bad memory. It happens that way for most of us around here.”

  Madeline snorted. “Ha. Thanks, sis. You’ve given me so much to look forward to. I can hardly wait.”

  “There’s the sarcastic girl I’ve come to love. I’ll be in the store tomorrow around noon, okay? Chin up.”

  “Thanks, Lindsey.”

  Madeline ended the call. It made her feel better to know Donovan wasn’t entirely to blame in what happened to Lori Feldman. For some reason, she was more inclined to forgive him for his indiscretions, knowing he didn’t target married women.

  She wanted to call him, but by now he probably romped around his bedroom with another woman, not giving a thought to the fight they’d had.

  Madeline grabbed the tea service and carried it into the kitchen to clean the pot. She hoped Lindsey was right and she’d soon forget about Donovan.