Kerrie just nodded. Tessa took that as a sign it was time to go. She guided Kerrie into the reception area but not before shooting Hansen an eye roll. “I’ll text you.”
THE WOMEN WERE barely out of the main door and on the street before Doug shot back up from his seat at the reception desk. He hovered right in the doorway as he looked at Ben. “Should I go with them?”
Hansen had planned on ignoring the kid, but not now. “Excuse me?”
“Ms. Jenkins shouldn’t be alone.”
The waver in his voice. The way he kept turning around and watching Tessa leave. Hansen was starting to get Doug’s issue now. “You mean both women.”
He made a not-really face. “Sure.”
“They’re fine.” Hansen knew his tone came out sharper than intended when Ben frowned at him.
“You’re watching over the one who just showed up.” Doug shook his head. “I’m not talking about her.”
He sounded . . . judging. Yeah, because that wasn’t annoying. “Kerrie? Her husband died.”
“I know, but I mean, maybe someone should watch Ms. Jenkins. Since you’re busy and all.”
Before Hansen could respond, Ben jumped in. “For now, I need you to answer the phones and keep an eye out. I don’t want you investigating, but if you see anything out of place, let me know so I can check it out.” Ben nodded toward the reception area. “Not right now though. I need you on phones. Use the conference room.”
Doug’s shoulders fell and Hansen had his answer. The kid had a crush. For the first time Hansen felt bad for him. They’d all been there. Teen love came with a knock-you-on-your-ass feel. Everything seemed larger than life and impossible.
Still, Hansen wanted to be clear on one point. He didn’t play with Tessa’s safety. “And I’ll take care of watching over Tessa. To the extent she’ll let me.”
“I thought . . .” Doug started and stopped the sentence twice before abandoning it. “Never mind.”
Hansen watched Doug go. Made sure he walked into the conference room before moving across the desk from Ben and lowering his voice. “Is it just me or does the kid have a crush on Tessa?”
Ben smiled. “Yeah, I think we know why he made the stupid move in the parking lot. His friends likely found out and he was trying to impress them and touch her.”
“Still not okay.”
“Nope and I’ll talk with him about that.” Ben inhaled a long, dramatic breath. “Then there’s the other crush.”
Hansen didn’t even pretend not to understand. “Boyfriend is just a word.”
Ben chuckled. “Oh, we’ll get back to that interesting bit. I meant Kerrie.”
Damn it. “What are you talking about?”
“You really don’t see it?” Ben leaned against the side of his chair, looking far too comfortable with the subject matter. “She hangs on you. Drops hints. Wants to meet for coffee.”
Hansen knew because it freaked him the fuck out. She’d cried about him in front of a judge. Now this.
He taped the notecard he still held in his hand to the board. “Her husband is dead and she needs support.”
“She might be looking for someone to rescue her, and you did try that once, so her perception could be off about what role you’re playing for her now. Be careful.”
Hansen did not want any part of this. He’d tried to save her from Judson for her own sake, not because he wanted her. “She’s in mourning.”
“She was married to an abusive jackass who probably killed your sister.”
Wrong word. “Did kill.”
“The point being her main emotion right now might be relief, not sadness.” Ben pulled out his chair and sat down. “Now, about Tessa and the boyfriend thing.”
“You should go check on Maddie.”
Ben rolled his eyes. “Subtle.”
“I never claimed to be.” But Hansen wasn’t wrong about Maddie. She didn’t fall down on the job. The fact she was now meant something was wrong.
“The only thing that’s saving you from a conversation that would make me laugh and you squirm is that I actually do need to see Maddie. I texted and said I’d be there in . . .” Ben glanced at his watch. “Oh, shit. Five minutes from now. Damn it. Where did the morning go?”
“Want me to tag along?”
Ben shot him a quick look as he grabbed for his keys. “I can’t have you playing amateur detective on this case. Not until you’re officially cleared.”
Hansen knew Ben had been working every second since they’d found Judson’s body. Checking the island and interviewing witnesses and anyone with potential information. But the whiteboard was right there. Hell, Hansen had helped to fill it. “Aren’t we too late for that?”
“Yes, but I can pretend to follow the rules.” Ben slipped his wallet into his back pocket and slammed and locked his top desk drawer.
“Interesting.”
“And the answer is no.”
Hansen must have missed the question. “What?”
“No talking to Arianna and Ellis. Stay away from Cliff. Don’t even look at Ruthie.”
Oh, that question. Hansen absolutely intended to ask around. There were things people might say to him that they’d hold back from Ben because he was an official. Residents took the we’re-private-here unofficial motto of Whitaker seriously. “Sure.”
“Why don’t I think you’re listening to me?”
Hansen winked. “I’ll let you know what Cliff says.”
Chapter 20
When Hansen called to see if she wanted to come with him to “visit” Cliff, Tessa jumped at the chance. She’d been hoping to talk to Cliff. She also needed some space from Kerrie.
That part made her feel like a shitty person. The other woman had been through so much and deserved patience and understanding. Tessa could handle all of that. The problem came from Kerrie talking nonstop about how decent Hansen was and how he deserved better. Tessa wanted to keep her feelings for Hansen, which were still in the blurry stage, separate from Kerrie’s newfound adoration of him.
Tessa understood Kerrie’s obsession, mostly because Sylvia explained it to her. Kerrie needed a lifeline and she’d grabbed on to Hansen. That all made sense and Tessa would make room and keep her mouth shut if Hansen wanted to be a support for Kerrie, but Tessa was pretty sure he didn’t. He looked ready to jump out of his skin whenever Kerrie showed up. Tessa couldn’t blame him since one of the court orders that had sent him traveling across the country away from his family stemmed from a run-in with her.
Fake or not, imposed by Judson or not, Hansen needed to exercise a bit of self-protection in case someone other than Kerrie wanted to enforce the order. Or if he continued to be the number one suspect in Judson’s murder. Ben might not think Hansen did the deed, but sooner or later, and likely sooner now that the storm had moved out, investigators would work through any jurisdictional wrangling and arrive on Whitaker, ready to solve the case.
“Ben thinks Kerrie has—”
“A crush on you.” So much for not thinking about Kerrie for a few minutes. Tessa held in the eye roll but just barely. “Definitely.”
Hansen stopped on the uneven pebbles leading in a path along the side of the house to Cliff’s front door. “She’s grieving.”
She was. All true. That wasn’t really Tessa’s point. “She praised you during the entire ride to the lodge. We’re sleeping together, and I don’t say such nice things about you.”
“Dating.”
Oops. “Hmm?”
This time he sighed at her. Didn’t even pretend not to be annoyed. “We’re dating.”
Tessa bit back a wince. “I’m not really used to the word yet.”
“Join the club. But I would point out Kerrie also told a judge I scared the shit out of her because I went up to her and . . .” His words trailed off as he slicked his hand through his hair. “Forget it. I screwed up. It doesn’t matter that I was trying to help. I should have left her alone and didn’t.”
“You thought yo
u were protecting her.” Tessa didn’t doubt that at all. Now, neither did Kerrie. Ruthie seemed to be the only one in town holding on to the idea of Hansen’s guilt.
“And I was wrong. Going to her might have made things worse for her with Judson.”
All the grumbling in Tessa’s head had blocked out the problem right in front of her. If she thought Hansen were violent or dangerous or engaged in harassing behavior, she would have been the first one protesting outside of his cabin. But Judson set Hansen up. Killed his sister, and when Hansen got too close or made things too uncomfortable, Judson unleashed, using his wife as a weapon. He’d put her in a terrible position. Abused her. Used her.
Judson was a terrible man and Tessa just couldn’t figure out a way to mourn him, but she understood why Kerrie would. They built a life together. Judson, not Kerrie, had ripped it down. Hansen hadn’t done anything other than get lost in his grief.
“Judson insisted she get the order to get back at you. She’s said that more than once.” Outside of the abuse and the orders, there was one other thing Tessa tried to make sense of in her head and couldn’t. Maybe Hansen had an explanation. “Speaking of Kerrie.”
Hansen’s head dropped back and he looked up at the clouds racing by on the wind. “I’d be fine if we talked about something else.”
“I helped check her in and went to have a cup of coffee and a bit of girl chat with Sylvia.”
He lowered his head again and looked at her with a guarded expression. “Not sure if that should scare me or not.”
“You were discussed. Get over it.” Only men thought women didn’t talk about sex when they got together. “But when I passed through the lobby on my way back out to meet you, I saw Kerrie in the dining room.”
“Okay.”
“Sitting with Ruthie.”
For a few seconds Hansen stared at her with his mouth open. She took pity on him and hooked a hand under his elbow and guided him on toward Cliff’s front porch.
Finally, Hansen shook his head. “That’s the kind of news that makes a grown man shiver. And not in the sexy, very welcome way.”
“How would they even know each other?”
“Ruthie probably sat down, introduced herself, and is right now trying to convince Kerrie I killed her husband.”
That was the conclusion Tessa had reached as well. She had to give Ruthie points for consistency. “That does sound like her.”
They came around the end of the porch and froze. Ellis and Arianna stood there on either side of Cliff’s empty porch swing.
Ellis was the first to move. He came down the steps with his hand out, greeting them. “Hello.”
“The weather is finally clearing.” Arianna’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.
Tessa dropped her fingers from Hansen’s arm. She didn’t know what to do except stand there and soak in the surprise visitors. “And you thought this was the perfect time to say hello to Cliff?”
Arianna folded her arms across her chest. “We wanted to check on him.”
Hansen’s eyebrow lifted. “Do you even know him?”
“I thought I heard voices.” The screen door smacked against the jamb as Cliff stepped onto the porch. He wore a heavy flannel shirt and brown pants. Still had his bedroom slippers on as he sipped on a steaming cup of what Tessa assumed was coffee. Although, with Ellis and Arianna hanging around, they might all need something stronger.
“Hey, Cliff.” Hansen touched his hand against Tessa’s lower back. “Do you know—”
“Tessa.” Cliff nodded before taking a long sip. “The one you’re sleeping with.”
“The gossip on this island can outrun a violent storm,” Hansen said.
“Nah, no big deal. People talk.” Cliff shooed Arianna out of his way, then sat down on his porch swing. “Besides, we’ve been making bets on whether Hansen would stick around on the island if he found some young thing.”
“Young thing?” Tessa decided to be flattered.
Cliff glared at Ellis and Arianna over the rim of his mug. “Are you two done here?”
“It was nice to see you.” Ellis gestured for Arianna to come off the porch and turned back to Hansen and Tessa. “And you two as well.”
Arianna flashed them a smile. “We should have dinner one night.”
“Nope.” Hansen added a what-the-fuck expression to make his position on that idea clear.
Even though neither Ellis nor Arianna looked offended, Tessa rushed to clean up Hansen’s response a little bit. “Once things calm down.”
She could feel Hansen glaring at her as she watched the couple leave. When she turned back around, his expression hadn’t changed.
“Are you serious?” he asked.
Now was not the right time for this but easing up on the grumpy attitude would not kill him. “I was trying not to be rude,” she insisted.
“Hansen’s right. They deserve to be run off. Nosy jackals.” Cliff practically shouted the last part.
Tessa ignored the male-bonding moment. “That’s some impressive name-calling.”
Not waiting for an invitation that Tessa assumed would never come, she and Hansen walked up the steps and joined Cliff on the porch. He sat in the middle of the swing, which struck Tessa as one of the most impressive turf-defending, don’t-even-think-about-sitting-here gestures she’d ever seen.
Hansen leaned against the railing and she stood next to him. If Cliff started yelling about that choice, they’d move somewhere else. He ran this show.
“They’ve been around twice. Yesterday, in the middle of all that rain, and I pretended not to be home.” Cliff used his foot to keep the swing moving. “Even saw the lady peek in my front window.”
Now that was interesting. A little bold even for them and not very covert. Tessa immediately wondered if they had a secret relationship with Judson and why they’d be so obvious about it. “What did they want?”
Cliff shrugged his thin shoulders. “Same thing you do, I’d guess. Information on the fight I overheard.”
“They specifically asked about that?” Hansen asked.
“Who knows? I wasn’t listening because they talk over each other.” Cliff swore under his breath. “The man never shuts up.”
That sounded pretty accurate to Tessa. “Ellis.”
“What?”
Hansen shifted his weight around. Scanned the area but hid it pretty well. “That’s his name.”
“I don’t care.” Cliff used his mug to point at the railing behind them. “Stand there and ask your questions. I’ve already talked but I can do it some more.”
His head bobbed as he blew on his coffee. She could smell the delicious aroma. Not that he offered them any, but if he had she would have been stunned.
“Could you identify the voices?” Hansen asked.
“Nah. They were over by the treeline.” Cliff pointed to the far right of the house. “It started as mumbling. I could only make out a man’s voice. Little else.”
Tessa looked over the property. Cliff had an amazing hundred-eighty-degree view of the water about fifty feet below. His two-story farmhouse sat up high enough to clear the trees on the incline in front of the house that would otherwise block his view.
She couldn’t see Throwaway Beach or the marina from here. But she’d been cursed with a challenged sense of direction and a total inability to read maps. Directions made her brain go blank. But the area did look familiar, as if she’d been on the beach around here.
“I’m trying to get my bearings. What’s over there?” She pointed to the treeline he referenced, wondering if the marina and downtown lay that way.
“The hill down to the lot people park in to walk that trail to the beach.”
That was not exactly helpful. “Wait, which trail?”
“Not Throwaway Beach.” Hansen shook his head. “Pioneer. Where kids fish.”
“Stupid kids.”
Sounded like Cliff was two seconds away from saying get off my lawn. His mop of white hair and the way he had hi
s shirt buttoned all the way up to his neck, almost choking him, fit with his grumbling attitude.
Reminded her of another guy she knew.
“The Ridgewells and the Taylors live just up the hill from the lot. They’re my closest neighbors on that side, but a shock of trees separates us.” Cliff returned to sipping on his coffee.
Tessa’s brain started spinning with possibilities. “The Taylors?”
He scowled at her. “That’s what I said.”
“Could you make out any words?” Hansen asked.
“When?”
She assumed he was being purposely ornery now. Hansen must have thought so, too, because he shot Cliff a look that said come on. “In the argument you overheard.”
“He sounded pissed . . .” Cliff pressed the back of his hand to his mouth and peeked over at her. “Oh, sorry.”
“I’ve heard worse.” She’d thought worse when they turned the corner to find Ellis and Arianna on the porch.
“Dating Hansen, I’d guess you would.” Cliff saluted her with his mug.
She had to admit that was cute. “Who told you about that?”
“The dating? Saw it in the paper.”
Hansen’s eyes bulged. “What?”
The laughing started a second later. Cliff had managed to crack himself up and send Hansen into an emotional spiral with just a few words. “Calm down. That was a joke. The kid that delivers my groceries said it. That weird couple that just left mentioned it. And I have friends.”
That was a lot of people. Tessa almost broke into a coughing fit. She struggled to come up with a question instead. “Was anyone with you the night of the argument?”
“Some things are private, young lady.”
Hansen rolled his eyes. “So, that’s a yes?”
“No, but I’m tired of all these new people moving in and being nosy.” His stare moved from Hansen to Tessa. “Walking across my land like they think I don’t see them.”
She was about to point out how Whitaker needed a bit of new blood when Cliff dropped that bombshell. She glanced at Hansen and he glanced back.
He took the lead on the question. “You mean Arianna and Ellis?”
Her Other Secret Page 19