“You mean she had a man with her?” I asked, feigning surprise. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I wouldn’t forget a guy like him. Guess she found someone else to celebrate with.”
“Good for her,” I said. “I don’t want to disturb them, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to wait around until they check out.”
“That’s not possible.”
“I promise I won’t loiter or disturb your other guests. I’d really just like to wish her a happy birthday myself.”
“It’s not that. I mean, you can’t wait for them because they’ve already checked out.”
I blinked. “This early?”
She shrugged, and then leaned in close, looking left and right to make sure we were alone. “Can I tell you a secret?”
I met her half way with an encouraging expression on my face as I whispered, “I love secrets.”
“They checked out separately and left alone and … he winked at me on his way out. If you ask me, her birthday wasn’t that happy. Poor thing. He was hot, but I’m thinking he wasn’t that good. What a shame. She looked like she could use a little excitement in her life.”
“No worries. I know exactly what to do to put a whole lot of excitement back into her life. And there’s no time like the present,” I said, heading out the door on a mission.
“Where’s the fire?” Detective Stevens asked as he leaned against his car in the parking lot of Lakeshore Heights.
“Excuse me?” I stopped short, and my cheeks flooded with heat at the mere sight of him.
“I see your fever’s back,” he said, eyeing me suspiciously.
“Yup, that’s right. In fact, that’s why I’m here. I didn’t want to contaminate anyone. But I’m feeling a little better now, so I decided to go home. See ya.” I walked around him and headed to my car.
“Not so fast,” he said, falling into step beside me. “I talked to Jaz, who woke up and had no clue where you were. Then I talked to your mother who thinks you’re working on your book. So I checked out all the possible quiet places you might be with no success. Finally, I went back to Jaz. When she told me about the latest you had found out, we put two and two together. I took a chance and came here. Imagine my surprise to see you investigating alone when we had specifically agreed to share information and work together.” He grabbed my arm to stop me until I faced him. “Why are you avoiding me, Kalli?” Especially after what we shared. You can’t tell me you didn’t feel anything.
“That’s why,” I said on a shaky breath, pulling away from his hand.
“What’s why?” He arched a brow. “I don’t understand.”
Ugh, it was so frustrating not being able to tell him that I could hear his thoughts, but the last thing I needed was for him to think I was even more of a freak. “I know you don’t. I just …”
“Is it because we kissed?” he asked quietly.
I met his gaze. “No. Yes.” My shoulders slumped, and I looked down. “I don’t know.”
“Hey,” he waited until I looked at him, “I’m not sorry for kissing you.”
I took a minute to trace his features with my gaze before admitting, “I’m not either.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“You wouldn’t understand.” The men I’d dated in the past never did.
“Try me.”
“It’s just hard for me.”
He paused for a minute and then said, “Because of your quirks?”
“Bingo,” I laughed harshly. “Scared yet? Ready to run for the hills?” I folded my arms in front of me.
“Not at all,” he said without hesitation. “It was just a kiss, Kalli. It doesn’t have to be anything more. We both agreed we didn’t want a relationship, but sometimes the most unexpected surprises happen. Let’s just take this one day at a time and see what happens, okay?”
It felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. “Okay.”
Until he added, “As long as we’re honest with each other, it will all work out.”
“Right.” I sighed, knowing total honesty at this point was out of the question, unless I wanted him to think I was crazy. Jaz was counting on me. I didn’t know a lot about the law, but I was pretty sure crazy people weren’t allowed to help out with an ongoing murder investigation.
“In the meantime, we have a case to solve, and you seem to have a head for this,” he said, solidifying my point. “Since you appear to be on to something, how about you fill me in on what you just found out while I drive.” We started walking back to his car, which reminded me of mine.
“But what about my car?”
“I’ll send someone to pick it up and drive it back to your place.”
“Okay. In that case, let’s go find Sully Anderson.”
While Nik drove all over Clearview looking for Sully’s UPS truck, I filled him in on what I had found out so far.
“Wait, back up a step. You climbed into a filthy dumpster yet you have a problem kissing me?” He arched his eyebrows and gave me a disbelieving look.
“Neither snow nor rain nor a stinky dumpster will keep me from seeking justice.” I fluttered my lashes at him.
“Cute,” he smirked, “but you aren’t helping the post office, you’re helping a police officer, and you didn’t answer my question.”
“Speaking of the post office, did you know the U.S. Post Office doesn’t actually have a motto? ‘Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds’ is really just an inscription the architects put on the General Post Office in New York City. Most people think it’s their creed.”
“This isn’t a game of Trivial Pursuit, Kalli, this is real life. And you, my dear, are avoiding giving me a straight answer. Classic evasion. Why is that?”
“A woman can’t tell all her secrets, Detective. Then there would be no mystery, and what would be the fun in that?” I gave him a Mona Lisa smile, trying to act like Jaz, but then my stupid cheeks heated again.” I studied the road as if it were the most fascinating thing I’d ever seen—anything to avoid direct eye contact—as I added, “Besides, I thought we had a case to solve. Don’t you think we should focus on that?”
“You’re a mystery, all right,” he said with a sigh.
“That’s me, a regular enigma,” I muttered, and then I noticed Sully’s truck parked in front of the construction company that Johnny Hogan worked for, Banks Construction. “Look, there’s Sully’s truck.” I pointed.
Nik pulled into the parking lot. “Remember, you’re not a cop, but I am, so let me take the lead. Okay?” I nodded, and we went inside the main office. Sully was chatting away with Ronald Banks, the owner of Banks Construction. Ron was a short, stocky man with a bald head and glasses. He looked much older than a man in his fifties, like all the years spent working in the sun had finally caught up to him, which reminded me to reapply the sunscreen I always carried in my purse and used year round.
They had just finished talking, and Sully headed in our direction. Sully was tanned and toned, with brown curly hair with model good looks. Jaz had just never been into him. He wasn’t big enough for her tastes, but he wasn’t a blonde. Boomer had been the only exception, which I still believe made him special, no matter how many times she denied it.
Sully stopped short when he saw us. “Hey, Detective Stevens.” He nodded at him and Nik nodded back. Then Sully looked at me. “Ms. Ballas. How y’all doing? How’s Ms. Alvarez these days?”
“Hi yourself, Mr Anderson.” I smiled pleasantly, trying to keep him at ease.
He held up his hand to stop me. “Please, call me Sully.”
“Only if you call me Kalli.”
“Done,” he said while wearing a charming smile. It was easy to see why he had the entire town under his spell.
Nik frowned and cleared his throat.
“Jaz is hanging in there,” I continued. “Not an easy task after being accused of murder and missing out on her spring launch.”
�
�I heard about that. It must be hard for a woman like her. I know she takes her work very seriously.”
“Yes she does,” I said. “That’s why it’s killing her that there is still a murderer on the loose while she is innocent.”
“Speaking of suspects,” Detective Stevens interjected with a serious tone as he took the lead. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you since you got back from your convenient vacation.”
“What do you mean convenient?” Sully’s charming smile faded, and he eyed us both carefully. “My sister and I surprised my parents with a cruise for their fiftieth wedding anniversary.”
“That just happened to take place right after the first murder Clearview has seen in decades,” the detective added.
“I couldn’t have predicted that guy would die in Jaz’s shop right before my trip. What does any of that have to do with me?”
“You could have planned the murder,” I jumped in, trying to help, even though the detective gave me a warning look, which I promptly ignored. “It’s no secret you had a thing for Jaz. Maybe since she kept turning you down, you turned to her competition out of spite. You delivered Jaz’s new secret spring line, so you could have easily found out where she ordered it from. Then you gave it to her competition, killed Jaz’s date to frame her for murder and have her shop closed down just before the launch so Ana could beat her to it, then you conveniently took off out of town.”
His face registered a mix of shock and horror. “You’re both crazy.”
“Where were you on the night of the murder?” Detective Stevens asked, pulling out his notebook and pen.
“With my sister, going over last-minute details for our trip. Ask her.”
“All night long? Because the murder happened in the middle of the night just before dawn. Was your sister awake then to verify you were still at her place?”
Sully’s jaw hardened. “I didn’t kill anyone, and I would certainly never do something like that to Jaz.”
“You would if you were sleeping with Anastasia Stewart,” I blurted, and Nik just shook his head.
“You son of bitch!” a deep voice boomed, and before we knew what was happening, Johnny Hogan launched himself at Sully Anderson, hitting him square in the jaw.
The men fell to the floor, landing blows and rolling about on the ground. I jumped out of the way, making sure no drops of blood landed on me. I searched my skin for any cuts, shuddering to think of what would happen if someone else’s blood mixed with my own. God forbid I ever needed a blood transfusion. I seriously don't think I could handle it.
“Break it up, you two,” Nik bellowed, stepping between them and pulling the big blonde giant off of Sully.
They slowly rolled to their feet, battered and bruised and panting heavily.
“What the hell gave you the idea I was sleeping with Ms. Stewart?” Sully asked.
“First of all, you flirt with her all the time,” I said, pointing out the obvious. Nik just tossed his hands in the air and gave up trying to stop me.
Sully shrugged. “Truthfully, I flirt with everyone. It’s just my nature.”
“Well, I saw you Monday morning at the back of her store, when for every other store you pulled up out front.”
“You followed me?” he asked, looking stunned.
“Never mind that. She’s working with me,” Detective Stevens covered for me. “Why pull into the back of Vixen?”
“Because Ana—I mean Ms. Stewart—had a private delivery she didn’t want anyone to know about.” Sully looked at me to drive his point home. “Same as Ms. Alvarez has had me do in the past. You of all people should know that.”
“Then why did Ana give you this?” I asked, thrusting the note that had fallen out of his pocket that day at her shop. Nik gaped at me like he couldn’t believe I’d kept it instead of turning it over to him. Whoops, I mouthed, realizing at that moment I really didn’t know much when it came to investigating.
Sully remained oblivious to our exchange as he took the note and read it. “I was wondering where that went,” he said, not looking surprised in the least. “This isn’t mine.”
“But I saw her give it to you when I was in the dum—”
“When she was with me,” Nik amended. “We know it’s yours, so cut the act.”
“It’s not his,” Johnny said, taking the note from Sully. “It’s mine.” He looked at Sully apologetically. “Sorry, man.”
The detective and I looked at each other in surprise. Sully Anderson wasn’t the one who was having the affair with Anastasia Stewart. Johnny Hogan was.
CHAPTER 15
* * *
“Freeze!” Detective Boomer Matheson yelled as he barged into Banks Construction.
“Boomer, what the hell are you doing here?” Detective Nik Stevens ground out.
“I called the police,” Ronald Banks said, adjusting his glasses.
“I am the police,” Nik growled.
“Looked like you needed backup to me.” Ron shrugged, then gestured to Sully and Johnny. “I didn’t need these two gorillas messing up my office.”
“Put your gun away, Boomer,” Nik said with a sigh. “I’ve got everything under control.”
Jaz poked her head around Boomer’s back, her honey-brown curls bouncing as she spoke. “What on earth is going on?”
Boomer did a double take, then slid his gun in its holster. “Jazlyn Alvarez, I thought I told you to stay in the car. Are you ever going to listen to me?”
“Probably not.” She patted his shoulder and then stepped around him. “Kalli, what’s going on?”
He shoved a hand through his russet hair and then dropped his palms to his hips as he looked at Nik, who raised his own hands helplessly, looking as though he felt his pain.
Ignoring them both, I filled Jaz in on what had just happened. And that’s when World War III happened.
“You’re sleeping with Ana?” Jaz shrieked, launching herself at Johnny.
He caught her mid-air and pinned her arms to her sides. “You’re the one who broke it off with me.”
“I don’t want you back, you big buffoon. I just can’t believe you fed that bottom sucker my spring collection. It was bad enough you trashed my car.”
“Easy, there, Hogan.”
“Me? Talk to your girlfriend. She’s the psycho.”
“I’m not his girlfriend, you traitor,” Jaz spat and hit him again.
Boomer pulled Jaz away from Johnny and kept a firm grip on her so she wouldn’t attack again.
“I didn’t feed Ana anything, and I didn’t trash your car,” Johnny said to her. “You’re delusional. I’m glad I’m in a relationship with her and not you.”
“Relationship? Ha! She’s using you, and you can’t even see it. It’s kind of sad actually.”
“Kind of like you used me? I’d say you’re the sad one.”
This time Sully launched himself at Johnny. “That’s no way to talk to a lady,” he said, as his fist connected.
“She’s no lady, and you’re downright pathetic if you think you stand a chance with her. You’re probably the one who leaked her spring collection to Ana, but she turned you down too. How’s it feel to know nobody wants you?” Johnny replied, following his words up with a punch of his own.
They tumbled to the floor once more and rolled around, each one trying to get the upper hand. Johnny was bigger, but Sully was faster.
“For the love of God,” Nik said, this time pulling Sully off of Johnny.
“You’re all nuts,” Johnny said, backing up a step like he might make a run for it.
I reacted without really even thinking about what I was doing or how much trouble I was going to get in or how mad Detective Stevens was going to be as I pulled his gun from its holster and shot the ceiling. “You’re not going anywhere, Mr. Hogan.”
Everyone froze as little particles of sheetrock floated down from the ceiling.
Then chaos erupted as their shock turned to shouts and reprimands and lectures and arguments and accus
ations. Boomer tried to calm everyone down, while Nik tried to convince me to give up the gun. Everyone talked over each other, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I did the unthinkable and pulled the trigger again, this time taking out a ceiling light.
“I’ll tell you where you’re all going,” Ron thundered, running into the room with a shotgun. “Straight to jail.” And then he picked up the phone.
A couple hours later, Jaz and I sat in a holding cell at the police station. Her for inciting a riot, and me for discharging a police officer’s weapon. One cell over, Sully and Johnny were in for disturbing the peace. Meanwhile, Boomer and Nik were in their captain’s office, getting a stern talking to by the sound of the raised voices down the hall behind closed doors.
I’d take the cell any day, although I wasn’t about to sit on the moth-eaten cot or touch anything within the small space
The detectives finally emerged from the room down the hall, and I was thankful for the bars between us. That was a thought I never imagined having. They stopped in front of our cell and just stared at Jaz and me, clearly furious with us both. We both took a step back and exercised our right to wisely remain silent.
Sully and Johnny weren’t so smart.
“Hey, let me out of here,” Johnny yelled. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I am an innocent victim in all of this.”
“You’re a lot of things, Hogan, but innocent isn’t one of them,” Sully replied. “I’m the one who didn’t do a thing wrong. This whole thing is ridiculous.”
“Yeah, well, you weren’t the one who had a gun pointed at him. I should sue you all for the emotional damage you’ve given me.”
“You big overgrown baby. I still don’t get how any woman could possibly find you appealing.”
“Keep it up, you two, and neither one of you is going anywhere,” Nik said.
That finally shut them up.
Boomer pulled out a key and unlocked the door to our cell.
“What are you doing?” Jaz asked.
“You’re free to go,” he said, a muscle in his jaw bulging.
“Both of us?” I asked hopefully.
Peril for Your Thoughts (Mind Reader Mystery) Page 13
