by Jill S. Behe
“You said they’d been friends. Their relationship is different now?”
“Apparently.”
“Well, that happens sometimes. People grow up and away from childhood friends. It’s not unusual.”
“No, I suppose not.” He shrugged. “Just— Can’t put my finger on it, but—” And, why is she here?
A question he should have thought about long before this.
“You’ll figure it out, Deck.” Teal glanced up the staircase, and gave his forearm a squeeze, then whispered, “Call me later?”
A grin. “Oh yeah.”
“Good.”
Smiling he went out to his truck, and headed for the hardware store.
“Morning, Slim.” He greeted the man behind the counter. “You got my order ready?”
“Howdy, Deck! Yup, got that paint all ready to go. You’re sure that’s the right color?” He scratched his head. “Thought you said you were buildin’ a dresser.”
“I am. It’s definitely not a color I’d choose for myself, but yes, that’s the color I want.”
“Okay. Just thought I’d check.” Slim Henry rang up the purchase, and took Decker’s credit card. “Hear you’re datin’ that pretty redheaded lady at the library. That true?”
Decker smiled. Ah, small towns. Gotta love ’em. “True enough, Slim. You still courtin’ Miss Penelope?”
The man’s face went crimson. “Sure enough.”
“When are you going to make an honest woman of her, Slim? You’ve been dancing around her since before I moved back here.”
“Shoot, Deck. I’ve asked her dozens of times. She keeps saying maybe next time.”
Decker chuckled. That sounded about right. Penelope Foxworthy couldn’t make up her mind about much without a long deliberation. Apparently a marriage proposal took longer than anything else. “Never give up, Slim.”
The man grinned. “Ain’t about to. Thanks, Deck. See ya next time.”
Decker saluted him and went out to the truck. “Home again, home again. Jiggedy jig.”
But, the only thing his brain chewed on during the drive was Jacqueline’s…oddness.
She was probably attractive, though he hadn’t taken time to notice—only that she wasn’t butt-ugly. He didn’t think of her that way. Didn’t think of her at all, usually.
Her black hair was short—boy short. String bean skinny with pale skin, and eyes almost as black as her hair. Made Decker wonder if she wore colored contact lenses, but that was about the extent of his thinking about Jacqueline Fontenot.
Once at the house, he took Bella for a short walk then went right to his workshop. All thoughts of anything but finishing the project went out of his head. Sierra’s dresser would take a bit of time to paint and shellac, and it needed to be completely dry by Saturday.
Chapter 27
The next morning, Decker grabbed the list he’d made and his keys, and started for town. Normally he was in a good mood when going to visit his best friend. But today? Today, the thought of what he had to impart, put him on edge.
He stepped inside the station office.
Abigail glanced at him over the top of her monitor, and frowned. “Dang, Decker. We’ve seen more of you in the last few weeks than in the whole last year.”
He smiled. “You know I can’t stay away from you for long.”
Her eyes narrowed, but her mouth quirked at the corners. “Yeah, Tank’s getting suspicious. You better quit coming in.” Tank was her husband of twenty years. An ex-pro wrestler, who now owned The Tankard, a popular biker bar in town. Built like his name, he stood six-foot-five in his stocking feet, weighing in just shy of three hundred pounds, all of it muscle.
Decker rolled his shoulders, and chuckled. “Levi in?”
A smirk on her face, she inclined her head towards her boss’s office. “He’s in disguise today, but he’s here.”
Not sure if she was being serious, he played along. “Oh? Who’s he pretending to be?”
“Not a who, a what.”
“A—?”
“Grizzly bear, with an extra bad snarl.”
“Ah.” A situation Decker was well-acquainted with. “I really need to see him.”
She shook her head. “Poor sap. I’ll call Dolman’s Crematorium and tell them to standby.”
Or maybe not. “That bad, huh?”
“Worse. I’ve been on this desk for twenty-six years, about twelve, or so, of them with him at the helm. I’ve never seen him this bad. Had me go over to the drug store and buy him a whole case of Rolaids.”
At least that part was familiar. “Damn.”
“If you’ve got body armor, I’d put it on before I went in there.”
He gave her a salute. “Wish me luck.”
“I’ll light a candle for you.” She watched him walk down the hallway. Shook her head, again, and began to sing—badly off key: “What kind of fool am I?”
Chuckling again, Decker knocked twice and opened the door. “Levi, we need to talk.”
“I’m kinda busy right now, Decker. It can wait.”
“No. I don’t think it can.”
Levi reached for the bottle of antacid tablets, but Decker snatched it.
“Hey, man, those little white tablets are the only things keeping my gut leveled out.”
“You sound like an addict. Abby said you bought a case of these?”
Levi ran his hands through chestnut-colored hair. “As I said—”
“Yeah, you did. When was the last time you ate a decent meal?”
“I can’t eat. It’s heartburn city just smelling food.”
“Too bad. Come on. I’ll buy you lunch.”
“Deck.”
“Levi.”
The man stared at his friend, comrade, brother-in-arms. “Everything brings fire.”
“Have oatmeal.”
“Ulk. Only my Great Grammy Ann could make edible oatmeal, and she’s been dead for forty-six years.”
“Come on, LT. Once your belly has something else to gnaw on, it won’t be so painful. We’ve been through this before. This time, you’re in luck. You don’t have to deal with MREs.”
“Oh, god. Just saying the name makes me want to puke.”
“Come on, ol’ buddy, ol’ pal.”
Resigned, Levi stood and grabbed his hat. “If this makes it worse, I’m coming after you.”
Decker grinned. “Forearmed is forewarned. Isn’t that how the saying goes?”
“You’re an idiot.”
They strode down the short hall.
“Abigail, I’m going to lunch.”
“Ten-four, Chief.”
Levi sighed. “Nothing seems to phase her.”
“Levi, you have no idea. She’s like a mother hen, and you’re her favorite rebel chick.” He slapped his friend on the back. “Besides, she’s probably glad for the peace and quiet with you out of the building.”
“God, give me strength. Just what I need. A smart ass.” The two men continued out onto the sidewalk, and up the street. “Are you going to tell me what prompted this visit?”
“Not out in public.”
“Good. That’d probably give me indigestion, too.”
“Abby sure had you pegged, old man.”
Levi frowned at the dig. “Yeah? ’Bout what?”
“Grizzly bear. Still snarly, too.”
There was a growl that had Decker laughing.
“You take your cases too seriously.” He grabbed Levi’s arm when the man’s lip curled, stopping them both. “Yes, it’s necessary to be serious about a case. I get that. But you? You tend to go overboard, and hold everything in. Your gut is foolproof when it comes to discerning trouble. No question. It’s also what makes you miserable when you’re frustrated with a case.”
“Yeah, and it’s telling me that whatever you have to share, is going to make it worse.”
“I hope the hell not.”
“Me, too, old man.”
Decker opened the door to the diner. “Just had to
get me back with that comment, didn’t you?”
“You are older than me.”
“By two weeks.”
Levi had his first laugh in twelve days.
Back in the office, Levi opened a drawer and grabbed a legal pad, clicked his pen, then nodded to Decker. “Okay, hotshot, let’s have it.” The meal had not improved his mood, though the furnace in his belly was less fierce.
“My main question on the case has been who or what is the common thread.”
“Teal?”
Decker shook his head. “Actually, I think I’m the ultimate goal.”
“You?”
“Levi.”
“Sorry. I’m trying to follow.”
Decker slid the list he’d made up the night before across the desk. “I’ve listed each of the victims. And, yeah, I know what it looks like, and yes, Liz is first, and there’s a reason for that, but not one I want to go into at this point.”
“But you said—”
“Did I not just say I didn’t want to go into it at this point?”
Levi took a breath. “My heartburn is coming back.”
“Well, suck it up, Buttercup.”
The chief of police squinted at him. “Now look, Decker—”
“Do you want to hear this, or not?”
Glaring, Levi waved at him. “Lay it out.”
A nod, but Decker was just as irritated. “As I mentioned, I listed the victims, and beside it is the last or only contact I had with them—and I did have contact with each one. Next to that is their date of death.”
Levi looked at the page, and then back at his friend. “Decker—”
He nodded, running a hand over his face, and frowned at the realization that he hadn’t shaved that morning.
“Teal put this together before you did?”
“Yes, and no. It’d been scrambling around in my brain for a while, but I was too worried about what it meant to put it together. Teal…strongly suggested I put it on paper.”
The springs in his chair protested as Levi leaned back. “What else?”
“Else?”
“Dammit, man.” The floodgate broke on his anger. “You’ve been pussy-footing around telling me what’s really going on since it all started. You can’t tell me I’m wrong about that, or I’ll call you a liar. I figured if I brought you on board, you’d come clean. You haven’t.” He leaned forward. “So, now is the time, Decker Brogan. Tell me what you know, what you suspect, what your brain is telling you.”
Decker leaned forward too. “What do you mean, come clean?”
“You always know way more about a case than anybody else. You’re like a glory hound, trying to make sure you’re the one to solve the case before anyone else.”
“Glory hound? I’m not—”
“Some might even get the notion that you can solve it so fast because you’re the culprit.”
“I’m the— What?”
“Seems like it to me.”
Shocked to the core, Decker sat back in his chair, arms folded, mutiny running through his brain. Still, this was his best friend. He’d give the friend, the cop, the rundown—or as much of it as he suspected—if it killed him. “I can’t tell you any more of it because I don’t know any more of it. What you have in your hand is about the extent of my knowledge, my suspicion. Teal should be here. She could help fill in the blanks some.”
Levi stared, eyes narrowed, face red. “You’re going to bring in your girlfriend to hold your hand while you tell me what you know?”
What the hell? Decker stood, abrupt and quick. “I’ll see you later, Chief Kincaid.” Pulling the badge from his pocket, he laid it on top the sheet of paper on the desk, and walked out the door.
“Decker Brogan, get your damn ass back in here.” He heard the front door close. “Dammit, man.”
Abigail appeared in the doorway, arms folded, leaned up against the doorframe. “Way to make friends and influence people, boss.”
He gave her a look that would have intimidated the best of men. “Shut up and go away.”
She didn’t move. “How far would you like me to go?”
Shit. Levi pinched the bridge of his nose. “Back to your desk.”
She straightened. “For what it’s worth: You didn’t have to insult both of them. Actually, either of them.”
“Make your point, then get out of here.”
“Sometimes you’re an idiot. That man knows you inside out, same as you do him. Do you really think he would have mentioned bringing Teal in here just to hold his hand?”
“No. No, he—” His private line rang.
Abigail held up her hands. “Wasn’t me.” And went back to her desk, amused but worried.
“Kincaid.”
“Huh. You do that, too.”
“Do what? Who is this?”
“It’s Teal. You answer with just your last name, too. Is that a military thing?”
“What? Teal? How do you have my private number?”
There was a pause. “You wrote it on the back of the card you gave me when I saw you last. If you didn’t want me to use it—”
“I’m sorry.” He’d heard the irritation, the hurt. “I’m sorry, I forgot. What can I do for you?”
“Has Decker talked to you yet?”
He closed his eyes. Damn damn damn. “Sort of.”
“Okay. Well, I have tomorrow off. Would it be convenient for us to come in then, to talk to you together?”
“It would be, but I don’t think Deck’s going to want to speak to me for a few days.”
Another pause. “Oh?”
“I kind of, unintentionally, insulted him…and you.”
On a huff, she said, “Men can be such idiots.” And hung up.
“Seems to be a common opinion.” Levi stared at the receiver until it began to beep, then placed it carefully in the cradle. “Yes, we can, indeed, be idiots.” He blew out a breath, steepled his fingers, and stared at the list Decker had left.
Chapter 28
Decker drove home, angry. Wounded. He wanted to smash, punch, rip something apart. Yeah, he was having a fit like a twelve year old not getting his way. Kind of made him feel like an idiot, but what the hell was wrong with Levi?
Decker had been through many moods with his friend, and his own attitude had needed adjustments from time to time. They’d even punched each other out numerous times. Usually there was a reason for the beatings and mood swings, especially when things, small to begin with, escalated exponentially.
Not today. Today’s…whatever it was, had come from something stuck in Levi’s craw. Decker knew he shouldn’t take it personally, but dammit, it felt personal.
His cell rang a few times, but he ignored it. Whoever it was could leave a message. He’d call them back when he was feeling more civilized.
Unless it was Levi, he could stew a bit longer.
Inside the house, Decker paced the kitchen, stalked into the living room, and finally decided to tackle going through Liz’s spare closet.
His very intelligent pet stayed out of his way, too.
Sometime later, he heard Bella barking downstairs, but chose to disregard the alert.
“What’s going on, Decker?”
Startled out of his concentration, ingrained training took over. With one smooth motion, he pulled the firearm he always carried, and pointed it in the direction of the voice. Only then did he turn to look at who owned it. And curse a blue stream.
Teal, arms folded, leaning casually against the door frame, sucked in a breath and straightened quickly, eyes wide. Then annoyance had those eyes flashing. “Seriously?”
Decker growled, and lowered his arm. “Damn, woman. I almost shot you.”
“Could have.” Her heart was returning to its normal rhythm, but a hand stayed on her chest. “Didn’t.”
“You can’t be sneaking up on an armed man like that. It’s dangerous.”
Her eyes narrowed. Well now. That was just about enough of that. The temper that matched he
r hair lit up and over-flowed. “First of all I wasn’t sneaking. I rang the bell. Bella was barking. Since the door wasn’t locked—shame shame—I came in, and slammed the door shut. I wasn’t quiet climbing the stairs, either. Secondly, I didn’t know you were armed, now did I? Guess I wasn’t paying attention. I should have known. It never leaves your side. But, damn, Decker! I didn’t expect you to pull it on me. You have a serious hearing problem.”
Grimacing, he gave the only excuse he could think of at the spur-of-the-moment. “I’m burning off a mad.”
Hands went to hips. “Oh, well, that makes it all okay then. A pathetic excuse, to my way of thinking. That said. I’ll just take myself back to town, and you can finish burning yourself out all by your lonesome.”
She started down the hall.
Damn. “Teal, wait.”
She stopped. “Why? You pulled a gun on me.” She turned, pointed. “You’re still on alert. Call me when you calm down.”
Double damn. “Wait, please?”
He put the safety on and re-holstered.
Teal’s temper simmered. “I’ll be downstairs.”
Decker rubbed his face. “Triple damn, and blast it all.” And followed her down.
She stood in the living room facing the gun cabinet, hands in her jacket pockets, trying for all she was worth to hang onto the temper and be mad at this man she was falling for.
“Teal, I am so sorry.”
She spoke without turning. If she looked at him, she’d cave. “You blew off Levi. You blew off my phone calls. You blew off—”
“Hold it. Hold it. I blew off Levi? Hell no, I did not.”
She already knew that, and his reaction was what she’d expected. “You walked out without telling him anything.”
“Correct. But, if I’d stayed, we’d no longer be friends because I’d’ve either said irretrievably unforgivable things or punched his face in.”