by Diane Bator
“If she won’t, then you’d better seek protective custody for yourself. Maddox won’t be a happy camper. You really should’ve thought this through better.”
“I thought I had. I tucked her away before the raid and planned to have someone pick her up and get her on board.”
“Guess you should’ve either talked to her sooner or tied her to the bed before you left.”
“I thought about that. Not tying her up but…” He ran a hand through his hair. “Forget it. I’ve got to go. I need to figure out what to do now. I’ll keep you up to date.”
“Don’t you want to know who’s no longer on the suspect list?”
Danny groaned. “Please.”
“Roland’s girlfriends from the party. One died of an overdose and never even knew Dunnsforth. The other one’s brain is so fried she’s not even smart enough to frame pictures, let alone people.”
“Thanks. Keep digging.”
Two suspects down. Three to go. Still at a loss, he rubbed his eyes and called Bobby. “Any news from the lab about Dunnsforth?”
“Still waiting. You find Paulina?”
“Yeah. We need to move in, but we need to keep her safe. Any suggestions?” His head hurt too much to think.
Bobby blew out a breath. “I’m packing up to head out your way tomorrow morning. How soon can you get back to the city so we can all get on the same page?”
“Less than an hour.”
“I’ll set up a meeting with the rest of the task force. We can discuss some options. The way I see it, Maddox’s got too many places to hide in Newville. If we can draw him out there…”
“You’ll put the whole town in danger, including my family. No thanks.”
Bobby hesitated. “You forget, a big chunk of my family’s out there too. It’d be easier to go to Paulina rather than bring her back kicking and screaming. She might alert Maddox, then we’d lose her for sure.”
“No.” Danny shook his head. “She’s different than she was in the city. She’s sober, she’s alert and she’s afraid. Even of me. She has too much to lose now.”
“You need to come back. If we’re going to get her into custody, we’ll have to work as a team. No renegade stuff.”
“Agreed.” Danny ambled from the picnic table to the house to tell Hannah he was leaving. He wouldn’t tell her about dinner or else she’d make him sit and eat. The smells that met him at the door almost made him change his mind. He did cave in when she waved a slice of warm apple pie beneath his nose.
Once the pie and a healthy scoop of ice cream were history, Danny made his way upstairs to pack. He made sure to bring his receipt from the bookstore, untouched since Katie had put it in the bag, so they could confirm her identity. He needed to be back in Packham early enough to get in Katie’s good graces, especially if she was Paulina.
It was going to be a long night.
Chapter 22
Katie
“You had a date with my brother last night.” Hannah handed Katie a cup of coffee around ten the next morning. Her black hair coiled like a thick cat’s tail over her shoulder. She had the same blazing blue eyes as her brother but was smaller and smelled like fresh-baked bread and vanilla.
Katie stared at the cup, not sure if it was a peace offering or full of poison. “Yeah. Don’t worry, it won’t happen again.”
Hannah’s eyes widened then she laughed, her teeth perfect and white like she hadn’t drank coffee in her life before now. “I’m not here to tell you to back off. He’s my brother, not my husband. I just wondered how it went. Danny made a lot of noise when he got home, which usually means he’s ticked off about something.”
“I see.” Katie sat on the stool before her knees buckled. She wished she hadn’t sent Laura to the bank. Ray hadn’t come in yet, which was unusual—unless Hannah had spoken to him first.
She’d replayed her conversation with Danny so many times she was convinced he was hiding around every corner trying to catch her. Every little creak and thump in the bookstore nearly made her scream. “You think he was mad at me?”
Hannah picked up a gardening book off the clearance table and shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought maybe he said something to you about…anything. He’s been acting kind of weird and I can’t seem to get much out of him lately. He’s been going back and forth between here and Newville and not getting a lot of sleep.”
“He’s a cop, isn’t he?” The coffee smelled too good to resist. Katie put her faith in Hannah and took a sip. “Maybe he’s on a case and doesn’t want you to worry.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time. How’s the bookstore going?” The tinkle of little bells sounded from Hannah’s purse. She pulled out her cell phone and smirked. “Speak of the devil. Danny’s stuck in…traffic.”
“Fine. Busy.”
“It looks great. Clean.” She smiled. “Ray thinks you’re doing a good job. I know he doesn’t say much to you, but he’s told everyone else in town. If he wasn’t happy, he’d tell you.”
Katie set her cup down so she didn’t slosh coffee on her hand. “Nate did a nice job on the shelves and floors, didn’t he?”
Hannah smiled. Her eyes crinkled like Danny’s. “Yeah. He’s a wonderful carpenter. Between him and Danny, they could be great contractors, but Danny would rather work on cars or chase bad guys.”
“If you want me to stay away from him, I will.”
Hannah’s gaze swept around the store then focused on Katie. “He’s my brother and he’s a grown man. I can’t tell him or you to do anything. I just wanted to know what happened and make sure everything was okay. Really.”
“I got hit in the face when Mitch Davidson pushed the door open and ended up with a killer headache. After that, it was all downhill.”
Hannah’s face went blank then her lips twitched and she burst into laughter. “On my first date with Nate, we went to Canelli’s Bistro and the waiter dumped spaghetti and sauce all over me. I was so embarrassed. I figured we weren’t meant to be, so I avoided him for a month.”
“How did you get back together then?”
“Nate built a flower box for the farmhouse and burned my name into it. He told me there was always going to be someone dumping stuff on us so we better get used to it.”
“He’s a smart guy.”
Hannah nodded. “So is Danny. Don’t hurt him. Or else.”
When Hannah left after uttering her threat, Katie swallowed hard, glad Danny’s sister was one of those people who gave others a second chance. Possibly not a third, however.
“What’s up, kiddo?” Ray strolled in with a bakery bag in one hand.
The jingle of the chimes made Katie’s muscles clench. The sight of the bag made her drool. Pavlov would have loved her as a test subject.
Ray narrowed his eyes. “Whoa. You ever think of giving Valium a try?”
“I’m fine.”
“Uh-huh.” He opened the bag and waved a butter tart beneath her nose. “This ought to relax you.”
Unfortunately, it would. “You keep bringing treats and I’m going to have to install a treadmill in here. Why are you trying to fatten me up?”
Ray shrugged. “I don’t have any other hobbies. How was your date last night? Seemed like it was done awfully early. Danny took off for the city like a shot.”
“It was fine.”
When Hannah walked past the front window again, Katie cringed, not sure what to think about Danny’s sister or why Danny would leave for Newville in such a hurry anymore.
“Sorry. I’ve got some book work to do.”
By the time Laura returned from the bank, a tension headache had seized Katie’s jaw and the back of her head. She hoped Danny wouldn’t bother to show his face at the store. She had enough explaining to do to Ray and Laura as it was.
“Okay, time to dish out the dirt.” Laura closed the till. “How was the date?”
“Fine.”
“That’s it?” Her mouth dropped open. “The way you’re twitching at every little noise,
I thought he was a psycho or something.”
“Danny’s no psycho.” Ray snorted from the loft.
“She wouldn’t tell you either, would she? Come on, Katie. If he was a total jerk, tell us. Ray can straighten him out later.”
“He wasn’t a jerk.” Not totally. “The date was fine.” She managed to keep them both at bay for then.
Just after noon Laura sighed. “I’m going for lunch. You want anything?”
“No thanks.”
“You’re just gonna live on coffee today? You’re gonna get gut rot.”
“I’m not hungry. Go get your lunch.” Actually, she wanted to go home and hide in her bedroom under the heavy blankets with an entire bag of gooey chocolate chip cookies and a magnum of wine to contemplate life. She flinched when the chimes signaled Laura’s departure.
Ray’s groan echoed from the loft above. He lumbered down the stairs and then leaned on the counter. “It’s Danny, isn’t it? The two of you went out for dinner last night and now you’re mad as a hornet. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that boy messed up.” He hitched up his drooping slacks and puffed out his thin chest. “I’ll straighten him out.”
He moved to the front door.
“Ray. No.”
“What? I warned him. I told him you deserved to be treated well.”
She put her hands on his bony shoulders and sighed. “Danny didn’t do anything. It’s just me. My last boyfriend was abusive. Going on a date freaked me out.”
He didn’t seem convinced. “Did he walk you home?”
“Yes.”
“Did he get fresh with you?”
“No.”
“Why the hell not? What’s wrong with that boy?”
Nothing except that he scared the crap out of her. “Ray.”
He sighed then drew in a deep breath. “Are you gonna see him again?”
“I don’t know.” Her shoulders sagged.
“Why not? You’re a good-looking girl.”
“Because I—” When the door opened with a jingle, Katie spun around and ended up with her face in a huge bouquet of colorful lilies and greenery that smelled like summer.
Danny peered at her from behind the foliage and flashed a sheepish smile. Dark circles shadowed his eyes like he hadn’t slept all night. “I tried to bring flowers earlier but got cornered by a crazy lady in glass slippers and a party dress.”
“Mimsy Lexington.” That must have been the traffic he’d texted Hannah about. She avoided his gaze and gently fingered a pink lily petal. “She comes and buys every romance novel that comes out.”
“Oh, you know her.” He handed her the bouquet. “That explains it. She said my first choice wasn’t good enough for you and made me order a bouquet of lilies. Apparently any loser can pick up carnations and daisies. Lilies are more romantic and you, I hear, deserve nothing but the best.”
Ray shook his head. “Oh, brother.”
All thoughts drained from Katie’s pounding head. She couldn’t remember the last time any man had bought her flowers. Beyond the bouquet, Danny waited eagerly for her approval. She forced a weak smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His goofy grin made her laugh.
“Mimsy likes lilies, huh?” Ray’s voice was gruff. “That old broad’s about as wacko as they get, but she’s still one hot chick.”
“Yeah, she especially likes the white ones.” Danny hadn’t taken his eyes off Katie since he handed her the bouquet.
“I’ve got an errand to run.” Ray clutched his coffee cup. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
She didn’t even pay attention to the chimes when he left.
Danny blew out a nervous breath. “I hope you like the lilies, especially after all the trouble it was to pick out just the right ones. Mimsy’s a particular lady, but she does have good taste.”
“Particular or peculiar? Thank you. The flowers are gorgeous. I’m just having a rough morning.”
He followed her to the back room and waited while she found a vase. “Is this about last night? Look, I know things got a bit awkward. Part of the reason I’m still single is because I can be a real ass sometimes.”
Katie looked up in mock surprise. “I would never have thought.”
“Okay, I asked for that.”
She plunked the flowers into the water and placed the vase on the counter out front to cover the faint blood stain from the tattered book.
“Think that’ll cover the dead animal smell?”
Her eyes widened. “Are you serious? Does it really smell?”
“No. Well, it does, but not like death.” He leaned on the end of the counter beside her. “It smells like you.”
“Me?” Katie met his gaze. “I smell like musty books, bleach and paint? How romantic.”
“That’s not what I meant.” A slow blush deepened the tan of his face.
Katie had forgotten how mesmerizing his eyes were and regretted being so bold. The tingle started in her lips and flowed in a wave down her body. It vibrated every cell of her being until she struggled to breathe. That she should be afraid of him crossed her mind but was gone in a poof of glittering lust. She needed to escape but couldn’t move. “I meant that you smell like—”
The chimes jingled.
“Hello, love.” Mimsy thumped her way across the hardwood floor wearing a long burgundy gown, a mink coat and a glittering tiara. Her usual sidekick, Mark, had stopped for a smoke outside and turned his back to the store. She stopped at the counter and reached for Katie’s hand. “You look unusually pale, darling.”
“I’m fighting an awful headache.” She forced a smile. When she clasped her hands behind her back, Danny’s hand covered hers. Katie remembered who he really was and shook him off.
“Do you get those often, dear?”
“Only lately.” A wave of nausea washed over her. “When I’m around people.”
“Oh, darling, you should go home and rest. At least get a cup of chai tea. It’s wonderful when you feel unwell. The spices will warm you right up.”
“I’ll get some when Laura comes back from lunch.”
Her eyes lit on Danny. “Well, if it isn’t Sir Daniel. I trust the lilies were a hit.”
“They were.” His face reddened. “Thank you for your help.”
Katie raised her eyebrows at him in amusement. “Sir Daniel?”
“Why, of course, my dear.” She beamed and patted Danny’s hand. “This handsome boy came roaring up to the flower shop on his motorcycle like a knight in shining armor. How could I not help?”
“How indeed.”
“That floozy at the flower shop is awful with her advice on flowers for wooing a lady. Why, she probably hasn’t been wooed by a man in at least fifty years, the dried up old shrew.”
Katie opened her mouth in surprise.
Danny buried his face in a Vogue magazine. His shoulders trembled then he laughed and traded the fashion magazine for a Sports Illustrated, flipping through it upside down.
“I’m glad you loved the flowers, my dear.” Mimsy patted her hand.
Katie turned her attention back to Mimsy. “They’re gorgeous. Thank you for the suggestion. Is there something I can do for you today?”
“Oh, now that you mention it,” Mimsy rifled through her silver sequined purse, “I’m having a party next weekend. It’s a wine and cheese gala at my son’s new restaurant, and I have invitations for you and Laura. I’ve chosen a literary theme, and I’d like everyone to come dressed as their favorite character from a book.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“It will be so much fun. Be sure to bring a date.” Mimsy batted her eyes toward Danny. “Maybe he could come as a cover model. A bare-chested pirate or a cowboy with a large gun. We could all pose for photos with him and his motorcycle.”
He reddened and moved even farther away from the counter.
Katie pressed her lips together to stifle the urge to laugh at the fear on his face. “Are you inviting Ray?”
“So, who will you be dressed as?”
“I shall be there as my favorite heroine of all time. Mimsy Lexington.” Mimsy turned, laughed then made her way toward the door. “Ta, darlings.”
Mark led her to his blue truck and helped her step up like he was a carriage footman and she really was Cinderella.
Katie stared after her for several seconds before she realized she was smiling. For as unreal as Mimsy acted, she seemed far more sane than Katie lately. Mimsy had no fears, no pretenses and no secrets, save being a closet writer. She might live in a fantasy world, but she was as real as people came. There was no façade. She lived the life she loved. Katie supposed that, at a youthful eighty years old, Mimsy had earned the right to do so a long time ago. At least she didn’t have to worry about undercover police officers or mobsters tracking her down.
“If she was fifty years younger, she’d have every man in town hot for her.” Danny leaned against Katie, his shoulder warm and comforting, yet unnerving.
“What makes you say that?” Her gaze never left the door. “Aside from the fact she’s obviously taken with you.”
“What you see is what you get. What guy doesn’t want a woman who’s confident, sexy and wears push-up bras all the time?”
Her eyebrows rose. “You think Mimsy Lexington is sexy? I think there’s something wrong with that. Maybe you need therapy.”
Danny gave her a nudge. “No. She thinks she’s sexy. Some guys find that hot.”
“Guys like you?”
“Guys like Ray. She’s way too old for me.”
“What about Laura?”
Danny raised a devilish eyebrow. “She’s too old for Laura too.”
Katie groaned and rolled her eyes. All of her eye rolling lately was giving her a headache. She needed to break herself of that bad habit before she caused brain damage.
He leaned closer until his breath tickled her ear. “Are you jealous?”
