She inhaled a deep breath. She’d had that little conversation with herself numerous times over the last few days. It definitely would not happen. Ever.
She pulled her car up next to Daniel’s in the station parking lot and got out. Drawing herself up to her full height, Julia pushed open the door and approached the front desk. The attending sergeant met her gaze with kind, smiling eyes. She returned his smile.
“Hi, I’m Julia Kershaw. Is it possible I can speak to Detective Inspector Conway, please?”
“I’ll see if he’s available. Take a seat. I’ll be right back.”
A few minutes later, a door to her right clicked open and she turned. Oh-My-God. Julia clamped her lips shut to prevent her tongue from lolling out. He wore a dark, navy blue suit with a crisp white shirt left open at the collar. His jet-black hair had fallen over his brow and a five o’clock shadow faintly greyed his jaw line. His shoulders seemed to brush the wooden frame of the doorway on either side of him, making him look huge and deliciously masculine.
In short, he looked good enough to eat. In very, very small bites.
“Julia? Are you all right?”
Her heart rolled over in her chest. The deep and moving concern in his eyes made her drop her gaze to the moss-colored carpet tiles beneath her feet. Here she was, thinking what she’d like to do with some whipped cream and a very small spatula while he all he cared about was her welfare.
Shame on you, woman.
The desk sergeant silently watched them, a faint smile curling his lips. She stood and forced herself to meet Daniel’s gaze. “I’m absolutely fine, Inspector,” she said, aiming for breezy. “Thelma Palmer asked me to drop by to see if I could find out if you’ve managed to make any headway.”
He stared at her for a long moment before moving closer, his manner solicitous. “There’s not much I can tell you at the moment, but if you’d like to follow me back to my office...”
He left the sentence to drift off. She tilted her head, considering, then nodded and brushed past him. In his office Julia gratefully sank into the visitor’s chair and crossed her legs. He walked around the desk and sat down before leaning forward on his elbows. Silently, he watched her.
Julia shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because I haven’t heard from you.”
“You haven’t heard from me? You said you’d let me know what was going on, not the other way round.”
He ignored her statement. “I had to let Marcus Lowell go, Julia.”
She found a spot above his head and focused on it. “I know.”
“Have you seen him?”
“No,” she lied.
“Are you sure?”
Her eyes shot back to his. “Yes, I’m sure. Can we stop talking about Marcus? I came here to find out information for Thelma.”
“I was hoping you’d change your mind and press charges against him,” he said.
“Well, you shouldn’t have, because I told you I wouldn’t. Can we drop this subject now. Once and for all?”
Their eyes locked and Julia found herself having to squeeze her thighs together to stop the throbbing there. He broke eye contact and lazily looked down the length of her body. Her skin burned.
“I’m here for Thelma,” she said, hurriedly. “She’s beside herself and from what I can tell you haven’t done much to lessen her nerves.”
He blinked. “I’ve been doing everything I can.”
“And?”
He leaned back in his chair. “And that’s it. I have nothing to tell you and worse, I have nothing to tell Thelma.
“But surely—”
“I am trying my best.” His jaw tightened.
He looked so damn handsome all dressed up, she couldn’t resist finding out why. “Your best? That must be why you’re dressed up like you’re going out for dinner,” she said, dryly.
He slowly shook his head. “You are unbelievable.”
“Thank you.”
That sexy curving of his mouth appeared. “It wasn’t a compliment.”
“No? I’ll take it as one anyway. You see, Inspector, from my experience with cops, they don’t often masquerade as James Bond in the middle of a murder investigation. It smacks of bad taste.”
“As much as I like the comparison to James Bond, I’m only dressed like this because I’ve spent the morning in court.”
Heat flooded her face. “In court?”
“Yes,” he said, all humor now gone. “I’ve been to court making sure a pedophile from the last town I was stationed at doesn’t touch another child as long as he lives.”
The unbearable shame started in her toes and rose higher and higher until she could feel the roots of her hair tightening. “Oh, God...I’m sorry.”
He gaze was hard. “Apology accepted but please do me a favor. Stop with the assumption that the entire police force is a waste of space. We’re not. Now, about Thelma…”
Julia watched from beneath her lashes as he shuffled through the files in front of him. No, no, no—this just isn’t fair. He’s handsome, sexy and locking up the ultimate of the earth’s scum. What next? He’ll be flying all over the world, saving starving orphans? Why is it the more I learn about him, the more I want to pounce on him?
She shook her head to clear it. “She needs to know something, Daniel. That something, anything, is being done to capture the man who killed Derek.”
He wiped a hand over his eyes and blew out a tired breath. “I would love to give Thelma some good news, but the truth is I still have little to tell you. I can go over to see her later today, if you think it will help?” He put down the file in his hand and stood to take off his jacket. “I’m not avoiding her, I just don’t want her to lose faith. I’ve told her that the next time she sees me, I’ll have good news. I’m thinking maybe that was a bad idea now, but I wanted to make her understand I won’t rest until Derek’s killer is in custody.”
He sat back down and slowly rolled back the sleeves of his shirt to reveal muscular forearms.
Julia found herself having to look away. “What about the boat? Anything on that?”
“Nope. We’ve checked the local marina, nothing. I’ve managed to get the all clear to send some officers further along the coast to check others, but that’s all I can do right now. I hate to admit it, but this case could take longer than I’d originally hoped.”
She snapped her head back to look at him. “How can I sail away from Corkley Parker knowing Derek’s killer is still out there and I’m the only person who actually saw it happen?”
“I’ll get him, Julia, it’s going to take time, that’s all.”
“I can’t stay here. I can’t...” She stopped herself. What the hell was she doing? Did she want him asking questions? Snooping into her background?
His gaze bored into hers. “There’s that word again.”
She stared back at him, her lips pinched tightly together.
He leaned forward and she noticed his tone had softened when he asked, “There’s more to your desperation to get out of town than Derek’s murder, isn’t there?”
She laughed dryly. “Isn’t murder enough?”
“Please. Just tell me what it is.”
“Don’t, Daniel. Just leave it.”
She didn’t need to involve him in her problems. Whether that be Marcus or her mother. Police assistance consisted of shoot first, ask questions later. The fact that her brother’s body was lying six feet under at the churchyard would always be a deep reminder of how cops worked when push came to shove.
“Look, I just wish there was more I could do to help,” she said, standing. “I’ll get out of your way and let Thelma know you’re doing all you can.”
She turned to leave but he jumped to his feet. “Wait. I was about to go to the betting shop. I haven’t heard anything from Suzie. If you really want to help, why don’t you come with me?”
She frowned. “You wouldn’t mind me doing that?”
&
nbsp; He lifted his shoulders. “To be honest, I’m still having trouble getting the people around here to talk to me. For some reason, I don’t seem very popular and I have no idea why.” He looked directly at her. “You wouldn’t hazard a guess as to why that might be?”
Her stomach contracted. Did he know? How could he not? The realization left her feeling trapped—and afraid.
She hitched her bag onto her shoulder. “No idea at all, Inspector. But if I had to take a guess, I’d say it’s probably due to that strange face of yours.”
“What?” The furrows on his forehead deepened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She gave a small smile, determined to mask her unease. “Oh, I didn’t mean the way your nose turns the left or the fact that you have one ear slightly lower than the other,” she said. “Nothing like that. I just meant people don’t know you well enough yet, that’s all.”
He lifted a finger to his nose. “My nose doesn’t turn—”
Her sudden snigger cut him off. “Come on, Daniel. Let’s get out of here.”
He shrugged back into his suit jacket. “You’re one cruel woman, Julia Kershaw.”
He came round the desk and stopped just inches away from her. Her blood immediately burned hot in her veins, heating her face and other more intimate places as she tipped her head up to look at him.
His eyes roamed languidly over her face as he said, “Even so, I’m finding it harder and harder to stay away from you.”
With that, he turned on his heel and left the room.
Shock catapulted through her, leaving her glued to the spot for the next few seconds. Did he just say...? Julia closed her eyes. This cannot be happening.
Half an hour later Julia pulled her VW Beetle to a stop outside the betting office just as Suzie turned the sign to closed. Julia and Daniel got out of the car and approached the door.
“Suzie? Hey, Suzie!” Julia waved through the glass paneling.
Her friend looked up and Julia frowned at the nano-second of—was that panic?—that skittered through her friend’s eyes before her face broke into a smile. Suzie pushed back the bolt of the door and held it open for them to enter.
“I was expecting a visit from one of you two sooner or later,” she said.
Julia glanced at Daniel. Had the momentary panic in Suzie’s eyes been as obvious to him as it was to her? The somber expression on his face gave no indication either way. They followed her inside and Suzie flicked a switch, flooding the room in fluorescent light.
“Suze? Is everything all right?” Julia ventured.
When Suzie turned to meet Julia’s gaze, the habitual laughter now shone in her friend’s eyes, although it seemed a bit strained. “Sure, honey. I’m fine. Why don’t you both take a seat?” Suzie asked, hopping up onto one of the many stools that dotted the room.
Julia and Daniel sat down. Daniel pulled a notepad from his inside pocket. “No guesses as to why we’re here, Suzie,” he said. “Do you have anything useful for me?”
She laughed, the sound forced. “No small talk today, Inspector? Let me at least catch my breath?”
Daniel didn’t laugh in return.
Suzie pointed a finger at him. “That is one serious face, Inspector. Am I in some kind of trouble now, too?
Julia touched her friend’s hand. It was icy cold. “What’s happened, Suze? Why are you being like this?”
Her friend pulled away. “I’m just trying to lighten him up. What’s wrong with that?”
“It’s wrong because you know we’re here about Derek,” said Julia. “Now, how about telling me what’s going on? You look upset about something. What is it?”
For a long moment, Suzie said nothing, her eyes darting from Julia to Daniel and back again.
“I’m fine.”
“Come on, Suzie. It’s me you’re talking to,” insisted Julia. “What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing. Honestly. I’m...”
Suzie’s eyes filled with tears. Julia jumped from the stool and embraced her.
“Hey, hey. Come here. Whoever or whatever has you this upset is not nothing,” Julia said, holding her friend. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you cry, Suze. You’re the rock of Corkley Park.”
Although conscious of Daniel sitting behind them, no doubt taking in the scene and filing it for future reference, Julia didn’t care one way or another. If they had to wait a little longer for Suzie’s findings, so be it. Her friend’s feelings were just as important right now.
Eventually, Suzie slipped from her arms. She wiped a finger under each eye, smudging glitter across her cheekbones. “It’s all this business with Derek,” she sniffed. “I have asked question after question to the blokes in here but every one of them says they don’t know anything. I’ve got nowhere. I haven’t found out one teeny, tiny thing to help you. I am such a big, fat, waste of space.”
Julia lifted her hand to rub her shoulder. “No you are not.”
“I am. Everything I do is wrong, I’ve got zero intelligence—”
“Suze! What’s gotten into you?” cried Julia. “You’re the most positive person I know. The last thing Inspector Conway wants is for you to get yourself all stressed out like this.” She glanced at Daniel, but he remained tight-lipped, his notebook tapping rhythmically up and down against his knee. Glaring at him, Julia turned back to Suzie.
“Anything would have helped but if you haven’t managed to uncover anything new, it’s no big deal. You tried. Derek was a very private man. How were any of us to know what was really going on in his life?”
“That’s just it. I did know what was going on with him and never did a thing about it,” Suzie said, throwing her hands in the air. “Do you know I popped in to see Thelma the day before yesterday and the woman hasn’t slept a wink in days. I can’t help thinking I did that to her. What if I would have told her sooner?”
“Hey, you’re going to stop this right now,” said Julia, firmly. “Thelma knew what was going on. She tried to help Derek but he just got himself further and further into trouble.”
“You say that, but...”
“Suzie, stop it! This isn’t like you at all.”
Julia snapped her head around to look at Daniel.
“It’s not Suzie’s fault is it, Inspector?” She raised her eyebrows meaningfully at him, but he ignored her question and continued to stare at Suzie. “Inspector?”
But Daniel kept his eyes narrowed on Suzie. “So you’re telling me not one man who sits in here day after day, knew anything about Derek’s situation?” he asked, quietly. “I find that pretty hard to believe, don’t you?”
Julia’s eyes widened. Couldn’t he see the state Suzie was in? “Inspector, I really think—”
But he didn’t break his stare from Suzie. “Please, Miss Kershaw, I am talking to Suzie right now.”
Indignation rushed through Julia on a tidal wave. How could he toss her aside like that? Cop or no cop, as soon as they got out of here, she’d tell him just how little she appreciated being spoken to like that.
He slid from the stool and walked around in a circle. His eyes passed over the tobacco stained walls, the paper strewn floor and dusty TV sets. “Well? Do you believe them, Suzie? Or do you think one or two just may have a reason to lie to you?”
She nervously met Julia’s eyes. “I don’t- -”
He cut her off. “The one thing I’ve learned about addiction in my fourteen years as a police officer is that addicts seek out other addicts. It makes them feel better, it alleviates the guilt and they can feel justified in their actions. Derek was a compulsive gambler—just the same as many of the other men who come in here are. Now to my mind one of them must have said something, admitted using the same loan shark maybe, even offered to lend Derek money themselves. What do you think?”
Julia dropped her shoulders. What good would it do to be defensive? She was the one who’d been contemplating his forearms, butt and other significant parts of his anatomy, instead of questioning how
Daniel Conway had managed to rise to the heady heights of Detective Inspector. Her heart beat hard in her chest.
He was the same now as when she’d be at the station looking at mug shots. She was quickly learning that his cocoa-colored eyes could be terrifying under interrogation—or as soothing as a soft caress. And the truth was as she watched him in action, Julia wasn’t sure whether she felt excited or scared.
Suzie leapt to her feet. “OK, OK! Stop looking at me like that.”
“Well?” Daniel leaned a little closer.
She squeezed her eyes tightly shut. “All I know is that the loan shark he was dealing with is based in Kendlewood. I haven’t got a name but they’re set up as a legitimate debt business.” She took a few steps away from them, turned her back. “I know it’s not much, but it’s all I’ve got.”
“And why would you think that information unimportant?” demanded Daniel.
“I...I...” she hung her head.
“Are you hiding something from me, Suzie?” he asked. “Because if I come to the conclusion you are, I can easily arrest you and take you down to the station for further questioning.”
Snapping out of her momentary immobility, Julia jumped from the stool and rushed to her friend’s side. “Suzie would never willingly hold information from the police. Tell him Suze.”
But when Julia turned to her friend around, tears were sliding silently through Suzie’s make-up. “All my guys are in trouble of some sort, Inspector. It makes me feel guilty that I sit in here day after day taking their money. Money they should be giving their families, not to this place.”
“That’s not your problem,” Daniel said, matter-of-factly. “Now, look, I know you care about these men, but- -”
“Isn’t it better that you now know about the loan shark?” Julia frowned at him. “I’m sorry, but it’s more than you knew ten minutes ago. Can’t you ease up a little?”
He turned to face her and Julia resisted the urge to take a step back.
“No, Miss Kershaw, I cannot ease up a little, I am investigating a murder and no one,” he paused and looked directly into her eyes. “I mean, no one is going to stand in the way of my solving it.”
Reluctant Witness Page 9