But something nagged at him. Why were the pictures on Tessa’s laptop? Was his ex-wife blackmailing Jerry’s new wife? And if so, was that a strong-enough motive to want her dead?
That thought disappeared when he noticed Lainey Garcia walking toward Madelyn’s desk. Bending to whisper something in her older sister’s ear, her silky blouse ballooned out, revealing a scallop of lace outlining her cleavage.
Danny whistled. “Now that’s one helluva looker. Wonder if she goes for younger men.”
Colt laughed out loud. “You call her older? She can’t be much past twenty-eight or so.”
“Hey, remember I’m not ancient like you. I still get turned on by a pretty girl.” Danny licked his lips. “Let’s see. Twenty-three goes into twenty-eight with a little to spare,” he said, gawking at Lainey. “Come on, Maddy, sink down in that chair, so she’ll have to bend over more.”
“Get out of here,” Colt commanded, his voice barely able to conceal his amusement. “And tell Sean thanks for the catch.” He waved Danny out the door, then settled back in his chair to watch Tessa’s sisters in an animated conversation. He wouldn’t mind seeing a little more skin himself.
He studied Lainey for several minutes, trying hard not to stare at the gaping blouse. She’d left Vineyard before graduating from college, which would put her in her late twenties. From this angle, her dark black hair looked like silk as it fell across her face when she giggled, the soft curve of her mouth inviting as she ran her tongue across her lips. With her short black skirt, cinched tightly at the waist by a wide belt, she could still be a girl on campus somewhere.
The only time Colt noticed details like that on a woman was when he interrogated her.
Jesus! She’s your ex-sister-in-law, fool.
He stood and walked around his desk, hesitating only momentarily before pushing through the door. Lainey glanced up as he approached, unable to hide the surprised, almost guilty look that flashed in her eyes. Had he caught her telling Maddy something she didn’t want him to know?
Quickly, she recovered and straightened up, a half-smile now replacing the guilty look. “Hey, Colt. I just stopped by to con Madelyn into buying me lunch.”
Colt noticed the look that passed between them before Lainey continued. “Anything new with the murder investigation?”
He shook his head and shrugged. In a precinct as small as this one, it was a given Madelyn had heard about the pictures of the ex-porn star. Hell, she probably knew about it before he did. “We found a few pictures on Tessa’s computer that suggest she may have been blackmailing—”
“You think my sister was blackmailing Roxy Moretti?” Madelyn interrupted.
So much for the police chief being the first to know. “We aren’t sure, Maddy. Like I said, it’s only a couple of pictures, and Flanagan and Rogers are checking it out.”
The phone rang suddenly, and Madelyn reached for it. “Vineyard Police Department.” After a few seconds, she held it out to Colt. “Speak of the devil. It’s Flanagan. They’re still down at the Shady City Motel asking about the guy in the pictures. He needs to talk to you.”
Colt grabbed the receiver, annoyed that everyone seemed to know more about the case than he did. “What’d you find?” After a few minutes, he handed the phone back to Maddy.
“Well, who was he?”
If he didn’t love Tessa’s family so much, he would have reminded Maddy she was paid to answer the phones and keep up with the paperwork. Period. But she had always been his favorite, and she adored Gracie. That bought her a little leeway.
“Know anyone named Kate Forney?” he asked, biting his lip to suppress the smile as both sisters caught the play on words.
Lainey threw back her head and laughed. “Can’t say that I do, but I’ll bet she’s related to Ima Slut.”
Maddy jumped up and high-fived her sister. “And I know she was reading Hole in the Mattress by Mister Completely.”
“Cut it out, you two,” Colt commanded, unable to pull off a serious look.
Still grinning, Lainey glanced at her watch. “So, are you going to take your starving sister to lunch or what? I have to be at the lawyer’s office at two.”
Maddy wrinkled her nose. “Can’t. I promised Father McElroy I’d stop by the rectory. In a weak moment, I let him talk me into heading up the renovations committee for the elementary school. I really have to be there for our first meeting.”
Lainey’s face dropped. “No problem. I’ll just grab a bite on the run.” She reached for her purse. “We’re still on for tonight at the hotel, right?”
Maddy smiled. “Oh yeah. Even Kate’s coming. We’re all dying to hear what you found out from Carolyn this morning.” She slammed her hand to her mouth. “You remember Mom’s friend Carolyn from San Antonio?”
Colt watched silently as the unspoken conversation played out on the two sisters’ faces. Between Maddy’s, Oh-my-God!-What-have-I-done? look and Lainey’s meant-to-kill glare at her sister, it was obvious something was going on. His instincts told him it couldn’t be good.
Without thinking, he grabbed Lainey’s arm. “Do you remember that great country café down on Main Street?”
“Ruby’s?”
“That’s the one. They still serve the best damn chicken-fried steak in the state of Texas.” Colt paused. “I was just thinking about going there and could use some company. Otherwise, Ruby will talk my ear off the entire time I’m trying to eat.”
Lainey looked away, patches of red appearing on her cheeks. “I don’t think so, Colt. That would blow a whole day’s calories.” She pulled her arm away, a pensive look on her face. “I haven’t eaten chicken-fried steak since I left Vineyard.”
“All the more reason to indulge yourself.” He let his eyes wander over her body. “Trust me, Lainey, you don’t need to worry about calories.” He grinned as the red splotches on her cheeks spread. “Come on. Say yes. My treat.”
“Go, Lainey,” Maddy urged. “Colt doesn’t spring for lunch very often.” She reached into her desk for her purse and waved as she walked to the door. “See you tonight,” she said over her shoulder.
Colt caught Lainey’s elbow and gently guided her toward the door, acutely aware that everyone had stopped to stare. He stole a glance at Danny, who grinned and gave him a thumbs up.
He increased his stride. The faster he got her out of there the better. “Come on. We’ll go in my police cruiser. I’ll even wager you can’t make a dent in Ruby’s lunch portion.”
A faint light twinkled in her jet-black eyes. “What if I do?”
“Then I’ll run the siren all the way back to the station,” he teased, seeing the smile return to Lainey’s face. This woman definitely loved a challenge. He mentally filed that away for future reference.
“You’re on.”
He held the cruiser door open for her to slide in. Instinct told him Lainey knew something about the investigation she wasn’t telling, and he was damn well going to find out what it was before she popped the last bite of gravy-covered, chicken-fried steak into that pretty little mouth.
_____
“Ohmygod! I forgot how unbelievable this was.” Lainey shoved another chunk of steak into her mouth. When she looked up and caught Colt staring, she rolled her eyes and laughed. “You must think I’m a glutton,” she said, glancing at her nearly empty plate.
“The only thing I’m thinking is how I’ll explain the siren to the guys at the station.”
Lainey’s eyebrow hitched. When Colt pointed to the plate, the sudden memory made her grin. “Oh, the bet.”
“I love a woman who isn’t afraid to eat like a lumberjack.”
She sighed out loud. “Now I’m really embarrassed.” She shoved the plate aside. “I don’t think I can eat another bite.”
“Liar,” Colt challenged.
She looked up, eyes narrowed, before reaching for the plate and moving it back in front of her again. “Thanks to you, I’ll need an extra hour in the workout room today.” She cut another
piece of meat.
“Want dessert?”
Colt turned to the waitress, who suddenly materialized holding the dessert menu. “Who eats dessert after your chicken-fried steak, Ruby?”
The woman’s broad smile almost matched her hips. “Who’s your lady friend, Colt?”
“Oh, sorry. Ruby, this is Elaina Garcia, Tessa’s sister. Lainey, Ruby Dalton, the best damn cook in the entire state of Texas.”
Her smile spread. “You’re such a bull-shitter, Colt.” She looked at Lainey. “I was sorry to hear about your sister, Elaina. She did a lot of good things for the community.”
“Thanks. I’ll bet she loved this place.”
Ruby shifted from one foot to the other. “Actually, she rarely came in here.”
Oh, here we go. Now’s when she tells you what a worthless human being I was.
Lainey jerked her body to the left just as Tessa waved, then slid into the empty seat. Quickly, she turned back to Ruby, hoping no one had noticed the sudden body shift. “Guess she watched her figure, like I should be doing.” Lainey pushed the plate toward Tessa and sipped her sweet tea.
Ruby stepped back and squinted. “Honey, I saw you walk in here. The only one who’s watching your figure is Colt.” She waved her hand around the restaurant. “Not to mention every other cowboy in here.”
Much as I hate to admit it, Lainey, your ass does look amazing in that skirt. Tessa winked. You still have a way to go to beat mine, though.
“Maybe I will have some of that dessert, Ruby,” Colt said, effectively changing the subject as if he didn’t like where the conversation was headed.
“Your sister didn’t care much for me,” Ruby said, folding her arms across her chest.
I never got any warm and fuzzies from you, either. I learned a long time ago to think like a dog. Tessa waved her arm in the air. If I couldn’t eat it or screw it, I’d piss on it and walk away.
Lainey wiped her mouth with the napkin, biting her lip to hide the smile. “I’ve been told Tessa didn’t get along with a lot of people.”
Ruby shook her head. “Everyone in Vineyard loves Colt. After what Tessa did to him, she lost a lot of friends.”
Oh, please. Why don’t you run back to the kitchen where you belong? I heard there were a couple pans of cobbler you forgot to eat.
“Yeah, your sister was a piece of work, all right.” Ruby continued. She glanced over her shoulder at the cashier who was hollering her name and waving frantically. “Gotta go. My granddaughter can screw up a one-man roll call.”
Her gene pool could use a little chlorine.
Ruby turned back and smiled, unaware that Lainey had shot Tessa a look meant to kill.
What? Tessa asked, her eyebrows arched, her face scrunched.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Elaina,” Ruby said. “I’ll have Jenna bring coffee with the desserts.”
“Oh no, there’s no way I can do dessert,” Lainey protested, but Ruby was already on her way to the front of the restaurant.
“Guess you’ll have to take one for the team. Ruby hates people leaving any of her bread pudding in the bowl.”
Lainey groaned. “You’ll have to carry me to the car.”
“That can be arranged,” Colt said, successfully bewitching her with a huge smile.
Uh oh! Brace yourself, Lainey. When that man flashes those pearly whites, panties drop all over Vineyard.
Damn! He was flirting. He thought he had forgotten how to do that. He took a deep breath, noticing the way Lainey was staring at him. “Do I have food stuck in my teeth?”
She glanced away, the adorable blush returning to her face. “Sorry. I was curious about what Ruby said about Tessa.” She shrugged. “Never mind. It’s none of my business.”
Colt studied Lainey’s face, wondering how much she knew about him and her sister. “Tessa and I made a lot of mistakes. We were much better at being friends than being married.”
“I know how that goes,” Lainey said, making Colt wonder about her own relationships. “I’m sorry, Colt. I know the last thing you want is to dredge up old memories.”
“How much do you know about our marriage?”
Lainey squirmed in the seat. “Well, I know—” she paused, shaking her head. “Nothing, really. Only that one day you were just friends and the next you were married. Seven months later, Gracie arrived. What else should I know?”
He met her gaze. “That’s another whole conversation.”
The waitress interrupted with the dessert and coffee, giving Colt an opportunity to sit back and observe Lainey as she laughed with the girl about calories. He knew nothing about Tessa’s sister, and for his own sanity, he wanted to keep it that way. Something about this woman got under his skin, and it wasn’t a good idea to find out why.
“We did get something right, though. Gracie is the best thing that ever happened to either of us, despite all the bad stuff.” He lowered his head, remembering his argument with Tessa the week before she died. Quickly he pushed that to the back of his mind.
“Gracie’s a doll.” Lainey stirred cream into her coffee and sipped, then glanced at her watch.
“Do you need to go?” He wasn’t ready to end this, not without getting a handle on what she was hiding. He plunged ahead. “How long has your mom been friends with Carolyn?” He had no idea who Carolyn was, but the shared look between Lainey and her sister at the mention of her name told him Carolyn was someone he needed to know about.
Lainey’s eyes widened in surprise. “A long time,” she blurted.
He decided to go fishing, remembering Madelyn had asked what she’d found out that morning? “Flanagan said he saw your rental car parked in front of Carolyn’s house this morning.” He held his breath, hoping she took the bait.
She inhaled sharply. “I only stopped by for a minute.”
Colt leaned across the table. “Lainey, if you know something you’re not telling me, I’d suggest you do so now.”
“I just stopped by to chat. That’s all.” She took her first bite of the bread pudding, licking her lips as the vanilla pecan sauce dribbled. “Wow, this is fantastic!”
Despite the many images that sight conjured up, most of them X-rated, he didn’t want to lose his edge while he was making progress. “You chatted with Carolyn?”
“Yes.” She met his stare then shook her head. “You didn’t already know that, did you?”
Colt smiled. “That’s why I’m the cop, and you’re the reporter.” He rubbed his forehead. “Who’s Carolyn?”
The corners of her mouth tipped in a smile, and she shook her finger at him. “That wasn’t nice.” She paused as the waitress took away the empty dessert bowl and refilled her cup. “Carolyn Winters,” she said, almost inaudibly.
“Carolyn Winters?” he repeated. “Why would you talk to her? Everyone knows she hated Tessa, but that was years ago.”
“Her son delivered takeout to my sister a few hours before she died.”
Colt’s jaw dropped. “How could you possibly know that? The little bit of evidence we retrieved after the fire is still being processed in Dallas. Even I won’t know anything for another day or so.”
Her luminous eyes flashed with mischief. “Because I’m the reporter, and you’re the cop.”
Colt threw his head back and laughed out loud. “Boy, did I deserve that one.” Leaning forward, he reached for her hand, the smile fading from his face. “Seriously, Lainey, this isn’t some weirdo you’re interviewing. Tessa was murdered in cold blood. Whoever did it will not look kindly on your questions.” He released her hand but held her stare. “Especially if you’re getting close.”
She shook her head. “I’m not. It was a wasted trip. When I first found out Joey Winters delivered the food, I thought he or his mother might open up to me since I’m virtually a stranger.”
“You still didn’t tell me how you knew Joey delivered the food.”
She wrinkled her forward, as if pondering whether to tell or not. “Deena knew. Tessa had me
ntioned it to her earlier.”
Colt watched the way she lowered her eyes. In his experience, that was a sure sign someone was lying, but it wasn’t proof. He moved on. “What did you find out from Carolyn?”
“Nothing,” she answered quickly. Maybe too quickly. “We thought Joey might be mad at Tessa because she had a thing with his dad, and we wondered if he blamed her for the broken relationship between his—”
“And did he?” Colt interrupted.
Lainey pushed a strand of black hair behind her ear, exposing a pale pink earring that matched her silk blouse. And her lips.
Since when did you start noticing lip gloss, Winslow? He forced himself to refocus.
“According to Carolyn, Joey would have thanked Tessa if he could have. Seems his father roughed him up on a regular basis.”
Colt scowled. “Do you have any idea how dangerous it was for you to go to their house and ask questions about this investigation? What if Joey did poison her food? Do you honestly think they would let you walk away, knowing you would go straight to the cops?” When she didn’t respond, his voice softened. “I’m just saying you need to leave the police work to me.” His ringing phone interrupted. “Excuse me.” He pulled it out of his pocket and pushed the button. “Winslow.”
“Boss, you better get back to the station. Flanagan’s nephew found something,” Tom Rogers said, his voice rising an octave and about three speeds faster.
“Slow down, Rogers. Tell me.”
“He found out where the cyanide came from.”
Colt straightened and glanced at Lainey, drumming his fingertips impatiently on the table as he waited. “Are you going to tell me, or do you want me to guess?”
“Sorry, Chief. Flanagan just dropped the invoice on my desk. We found an online order for cyanide salts from a place in Indiana.”
“Whose computer?”
“Tessa’s laptop.”
Colt gasped. “You’re sure about this?”
“Yeah, boss. It was ordered two weeks ago and paid for with a company credit card.”
Colt blew out a breath. Why would Tessa order cyanide? “Did Sean find anything else on her laptop?”
Heard it Through the Grapevine Page 6
