by Lily Rede
“Was there something you needed, Deputy?”
EVIE FLINCHED AT THE cool tone, but reminded herself that it was for the best. The man was a distraction, and although there hadn’t been an incident in two days, Evie couldn’t relax – the stalker was still out there, waiting. There wasn’t any time to waste on relationships that were doomed before they even got started.
“I need to talk to Tom and Candace.”
“About security? They’re being careful. I had Tony put a detail on – ”
“Not about security.”
Evie saw the realization hit home and braced herself.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?!?”
His voice was loud enough that Evie was surprised that the windows stayed intact. Colin stood up, unable to keep his seat as the fury bubbled over.
“Candace and Tom had nothing to do with any of this!”
“I’m just covering all my bases.”
A timid knock on the door.
“Go away!” Colin yelled. He turned on Evie, seething. “You don’t know them the way I do – they keep this office and my life running. Candace worked for my father, for God’s sake. She used to babysit me! And I’d trust Tom with my life.”
Evie was out of her chair and in his face before she even realized that she was moving.
“Do you get that someone has a sick obsession with you? Every woman you touch is a threat. Every person you talk to is in danger. The stalker is someone close to you, Colin. Someone you see all the time, maybe someone you’ve had sex with. You have to take this seriously!”
Colin paced, and Evie could see him struggling with her brutal words.
“They’re my friends.”
He leaned against the window frame, staring out at the main square.
“I know,” Evie said, her voice softening unintentionally, “but there’s somebody in this town who thinks that the way you live your life is an abomination, who wants you to think and act in a manner they’ve prescribed. And when you don’t follow that ridiculous, impossible set of invisible directions – ”
“People get hurt,” Colin finished.
“People get hurt.” Evie echoed.
She joined him by the window.
“I want my world back,” he murmured.
“Then let me do my job,” said Evie.
For a moment, he just looked at her, and her stomach fluttered as he raised a hand to cup her cheek, his skin warm and slightly rough against her.
“Don’t – ” she whispered.
“So touchy,” he teased. The ghost of fingers traced her lips and she had an insane desire to suck one into her mouth, to savor the salt of his skin. His hand dropped and he sighed.
“Come on, let’s get this over with.”
Ten minutes later Evie was sitting at Colin’s desk across from a cool and collected Candace Wilkinson, while Colin pouted in the adjoining chair.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” Evie noted sternly, and watched Colin set his jaw.
“It’s my office, and there isn’t anything you have to say to her that you can’t say to me.”
Evie calculated the odds of getting Colin to leave her to question his employees in peace and threw up her hands in resignation.
“Fine, but no interruptions.”
Insolently, Colin “zipped” his mouth closed and adopted the air of an angelic choir boy.
Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, Evie turned her attention to Candace.
“Mrs. Wilkinson – ”
“Just call her Candace.”
Evie glared at Colin, who subsided back against his chair. She raised an eyebrow at the severe woman sitting across from her, and Candace nodded. There was something off-putting about someone that neat, thought Evie. Her brown hair was smooth with just a hint of gray, her shirt pressed and smoothly tucked into a blue plaid skirt. Every move was economical and efficient. And her light blue eyes had a look of steel that Evie knew all too well. The woman would have made a great cop.
“So, Candace. How long have you worked for this office?”
“Since Hank Daniels stepped in, twenty-five years ago.”
“That’s a long time.”
Candace smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You find something you excel at and you stick with it, Miss Asher.”
“Deputy Asher.”
Candace smiled in apology. “Deputy Asher, of course.”
“Can you tell me where you were Monday night?”
Evie ignored Colin’s restless movements.
“I was in my car. Alan’s prescription was filled by the pharmacy across the bay by mistake.”
“Jocelyn doesn’t usually make those kinds of mistakes.” Colin frowned.
“Yes, well, she’s had more on her plate than usual. At her age, she really shouldn’t be making house calls at all hours.”
Candace smiled again, but Evie felt the sting – the last house call the good doctor had made before the murder was hers. She felt the pull of her wounded side as she shifted in her chair.
“I suppose the pharmacy can confirm that.”
“Of course, dear.”
“Are we done?” Colin sounded aggravated.
“You are free to leave anytime you want.” Evie pointed out, waspish.
Sheesh, if the temperature in here goes down any further, I’m going to need a parka.
Between Candace’s ice maiden routine and Colin taking every question personally, the weather in the Mayor’s office was feeling decidedly chilly.
“Candace, can you think of any reason someone might want to harm Colin?”
“Everyone loves Colin.” Candace frowned for the first time. “Everyone loved his father, too. Bright’s Ferry has been lucky to have such fine, upstanding men to lead the way.”
Colin managed to look self-conscious, and Candace noticed.
“Now Colin, you need to learn to take a compliment. You’ve done a wonderful job and you know it. Alan and I are very proud of you.”
“What about Colin’s former girlfriends? Did any of them express any sort of unhappiness or anger after the relationship was over?”
Evie could feel the icicles growing on her insides as Colin glowered, but the question had to be asked.
“Not that I can think of. Although Millicent Grayson was not terribly happy to see him with Deirdre. Really, Colin, what were you thinking, taking her to that restaurant?”
Colin sunk into his chair, chastened.
“I’ve never dated Millicent Grayson,” he muttered.
Interesting. Evie pressed onward.
“Just a couple more questions, and we’ll be done here.”
Candace cocked her head and considered Evie.
“I remember your mother. We were in school together. You look just like her.”
Evie swallowed hard, but forced a smile.
“Can you tell me about the letters? How did they arrive?”
Candace frowned, looking uncomfortable for the first time.
“They’ve always been slipped under the door when I arrive on Mondays.”
“And you’re the first one here?”
“Yes.”
“Video cameras? Alarm system?” Evie asked, looking to Colin, who shook his head.
“It’s on the To Do list, but the wiring in the building can barely keep the lights running. You might think I’m the most popular guy in town, but watch what happens when I try to request additional funds from the Town Council for an upgrade. Ever seen an angry mob?” Colin grinned ruefully.
“Security guards?”
“Crime has never really been a problem in Bright’s Ferry,” offered Candace reprovingly, “At least, not until recently.”
She pursed her lips with a pointed look at Evie.
“The building is locked up at the end of the day,” Colin added hastily, “and only a handful of people have keys. But the idea that one of them is the culprit – ”
Evie sighed, scrubbing her hands down her face.
&n
bsp; “I really need to have Tony give you a lesson in basic security. I realize Bright’s Ferry is a tiny speck on the map, but this isn’t the 1950s, and even if there weren’t some crazy psycho out there, break-ins happen all the time. I could pick the main lock downstairs with a pen and a pair of tweezers.”
“Thank you for that expert opinion.” Candace’s voice was frosty. “If that’s all, I do have work to do.”
Evie nodded.
“I may have some follow up questions for you, but that’s it for now.”
Candace got up to leave, contempt apparent in every line of her frame, but Evie’s voice had her turning back.
“Candace, please keep in mind that my only goal here is to keep Colin and the rest of the town safe from harm. There is someone out there, and we’re all in danger. I really wish the members of this community would remember that and start cooperating.”
Candace stared her down.
“You’re an outsider, Deputy, even if you are an Asher. The people of Bright’s Ferry don’t appreciate outsiders poking their noses where they’re not wanted and accusing the neighbors of obsession and murder. Whoever did this is clearly not one of us.”
With that, she flounced out, leaving Evie with a scowling Colin.
“Satisfied?” he asked, petulant, “She had nothing to do with it.”
“I need to call the pharmacy and confirm her whereabouts.”
“You don’t let up, do you?”
Evie could feel another argument brewing, but she didn’t care.
“How about this? Why don’t you make a list of everyone you know for a fact is not the killer? How many people would be on that list, Colin? Ten? A hundred? More?”
Colin was silent, fuming, and Evie leaned her hands on the desk, locking eyes as she made her point.
“The sooner you learn that none of these people are really who they say they are, the better. Underneath the surface of one of these good, hardworking citizens is someone who mutilated a poor animal and left it as a message, who shot at us from the woods, who emptied a clip into Deirdre Small. Until that person is caught, you can’t trust anyone!”
“Is that how you get by?” Colin asked, “Assuming that everyone is hiding something? Pushing everyone away so that you run no risk of getting hurt? There are people you can count on in this world if you just let them in.”
“This from the man who refuses to date a woman long enough to learn more than her name and cup size.”
They were nose to nose now, furious.
Evie was horrified to feel unexpected tears welling up, and hastily swallowed them as his eyes widened.
“Don’t go anywhere without an escort,” she ordered, and fled.
CHAPTER TEN
“WANT ANOTHER ONE?” GRACE asked as Evie slurped up the dregs of one of Mary’s famous cherry shakes in the corner booth of the diner.
“Keep ‘em coming.” Evie muttered, and Grace signaled a waitress.
“Must be serious. Or are you one of those people who can suck down carbs and not regret it in the morning?” Fiona Morton’s brown eyes brimmed with amusement as she twirled a forkful of salad.
After the confrontation with Colin, Evie stormed out of the building, forgetting that she still needed to question Tom. Ten minutes of aimless wandering and Evie had her temper under control, and was surprised to find herself just a few steps away from Bright’s Ferry’s lone library. Remembering that she had promised Grace that she would stop by, she headed inside. Grace greeted her effusively, and Evie was once again bemused by the contrast between the librarian’s perky personality and her dramatic Goth look. Grace insisted on giving her the tour, and Evie was impressed by the scope of the little library’s collection. Clearly the library was something Grace was passionate about, and Evie felt a little pang of emotion as she filled out an application for a library card.
Like a normal Bright’s Ferry resident.
“You look like you need a drink,” Grace had noted astutely, and dragged her through the stacks in search of Fiona. Upon introducing her to the young woman with the beautiful mocha skin and slim figure, Evie was surprised to find that she was Dreyer Morton’s granddaughter, just out of college – a sweet and even-tempered young woman with a wry sense of humor. The girl was easily persuaded to take a long lunch, and a few minutes later they were tucked into their “regular” booth in the back corner.
When Mary set a luscious pink cherry shake in front of Evie, all thoughts of a double shot of tequila vanished into an overload of sweet, creamy goodness. Grace’s eyes widened as Evie downed the first shake in a matter of moments, while a waitress came around with a tray full of chicken salads.
Evie took a deep breath and pushed the empty glass away.
“So, spill. What did Colin do now?” Grace asked.
“Nothing. Everything. He just refuses to accept that someone he knows is guilty, and it’s getting in the way of my investigation.”
“Colin needs to fix things. It’s hard for him to step back and let someone else take the lead.”
“Yeah, I got the total control freak vibe right off the bat.”
Fiona laughed, but Grace only grinned into her salad.
“That’s because you two are exactly, precisely alike.”
“I think I’m insulted,” said Evie, but she shrunk into her seat.
“Come on, Evie, you know it’s true. And as for Colin’s…let’s call it popularity…with the women in this town – the last thing Colin wants is for anyone to get hurt. Including himself, so he doesn’t get too involved. Sound familiar?”
“Maybe a little.” Evie stabbed a fork into her salad.
For a moment, they chewed in silence, as Evie stewed over Grace’s perceptive comments. Maybe a lot, she thought, The difference is that I don’t sleep with everything that moves. No, I just don’t get involved at all, because look at what happens when I do. God, Asher, maybe you should take a page from his book and just get laid. No emotions, no sweet words or promises.
“Well, this table got really serious all of a sudden,” said Fiona, and leaned over for a sip of Evie’s second shake, which had just arrived at the table. “Mmm…don’t let me have any more of that. Hey, Evie, I heard you had a date with Matt Harris.”
She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. If Evie hadn’t been watching, she would have missed Grace’s almost imperceptible stiffening across the table.
“It wasn’t really a date. Just dinner.”
“If I had a hot firefighter interested in me, I wouldn’t settle for just dinner.” Fiona shivered delicately.
“You’re single, right?” Evie remarked, “Why don’t you ask him out?”
“Because my grandfather would have a heart attack.” Fiona scowled, “He’s still pissed that I went to Boston to go to college instead of up here, so I’m trying not to antagonize him.”
“Why come back at all?”
Fiona laughed.
“Haven’t you noticed? There’s something about this place. Besides, a certain violet-haired librarian offered me a job.”
She good-naturedly elbowed Grace in the ribs.
“So for the moment I am single and, sadly, celibate. But Gracie here could stand to see a little action. But she thinks Matt is too nice.”
“He is too nice.” Grace grumbled.
“The man is smart, funny, polite, kind to animals, and built like a freaking sexual beast, Gracie, and the way he looks at you is in no way nice.” Fiona insisted, but Grace shook her head.
“Look, we’re not compatible, okay? He needs a nice wholesome girl with normal tastes. Can we just drop it, please?”
Fiona shrugged and reached for Evie’s shake again.
“Do you mind?”
“Go for it,” said Evie absently, wondering about the puzzle that was Grace. She was a study in contradictions – sweet and bubbly, but with a love for the dark and spooky and Goth. And if she read between the lines, Evie would hazard a guess that she was looking for someone with slightly darker se
xual preferences than a wholesome blond firefighter could provide. But she kept this thought to herself. Despite the frustrations of the morning, having lunch with “the girls” was a new experience for Evie, and she was determined to nurture these friendships.
“Do you – ” she began, hesitant, “Do you two want to come over for dinner next week? I know you’re busy with the Harvest Festival, and we’re all kind of at DEFCON One, but I thought it might be nice…”
“I’ll bring the wine,” said Fiona immediately, “And Grace will make brownies, because she has a way with chocolate that would bring a grown man to his knees. Maybe you should make a batch for Matt Harris, Gracie. One bite and I’ll bet all those nice, wholesome tendencies would go right out the window.”
Gracie frowned and threw a balled-up napkin at her friend, whose eyes were twinkling.
“Just for that, no brownies for you.”
Evie laughed.
COLIN HUNG UP THE phone with a sigh as Tom walked in with an armful of files.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s fine.”
Tom set the files down on the desk.
“I thought Deputy Asher wanted to speak with me?”
“I’m sure you couldn’t avoid her if you tried.”
“I didn’t see anything, I promise. I told Sheriff Arnetto everything the night Deirdre was killed.” The young man looked anxious.
“I know you did, Tom. Everything’s going to be okay, I promise.”
God, I hope everything’s going to be okay, he prayed fervently.
Colin felt stretched thin, the events of the last few days wearing him down. Yesterday he’d had to tackle the guest room, which was covered in Deirdre’s blood – he was going to have to repaint, among other things – and the grief that had overwhelmed him as he stared at the bloodstains on the carpet was deep and frustrating. He could only imagine how Tom must feel, having found Deirdre in the first place.
“Tom, why don’t you take a few days off? I’m sure Candace and I can handle things here.”