Twistered

by J. L. Wilson

  "Agent Tinsley told me there was a key on Wade's key chain to a safety deposit box." She crossed her legs and smoothed her skirt. "He said they would be inspecting the contents today."

  "When did he tell you that?" I tried to mimic her pose but my chair didn't cooperate. I settled for crossing my arms on the desk and staring at her.

  "Last night. I ran into him at the 218. We had dinner together."

  The 218 Cafe was one of Broomfield's four restaurants. It was located and named for the highway that circled town. "Really? I didn't think law enforcement personnel were allowed to fraternize with the locals."

  Mina raised one supercilious eyebrow. "Tell that to Drew. It seems to me he wants to fraternize with you."

  I flushed so quickly I'm surprised steam didn't erupt from my ears. "What's that mean?"

  "Oh, for heaven's sake, Dorothy. Drew has been in love with you since forever." Mina examined one pale pink fingernail. "Tinsley asked a lot of questions about you and Drew. He wanted to know about your history with Drew, your marriage to Wade." She regarded me with wide, innocent eyes. "I suppose he found it helpful to talk to a local person."

  Visions of the Wickman endowment started to evaporate as my indignation grew. "I'm sure you were happy to help him."

  "I only did my civic duty. That's not why I stopped, though. Tinsley mentioned the safe deposit box so I dropped by Farmer's National and First Trust this morning."

  My, my. Mina certainly was playing detective. "And what did you find out when you happened to drop by our two local financial institutions?"

  Mina frowned at my sarcastic tone. "Jenny Parker works at First. You remember Jenny? She was first-runner-up at Senior Prom. She and I have stayed friends all these years. She mentioned that Tinsley was in there this morning with a search warrant."

  "Really?" I tried to keep my tone disinterested. "I wonder how he knew to check that particular bank."

  "Jenny said he must have tracked it through the box manufacturer." Mina picked at a tiny piece of lint on her skirt. "Apparently the keys have a code or something etched on them. Jenny said they took the whole thing--box and all--away." Mina's dark green eyes were unwavering as she stared at me. "No one knows what was in it. Of course, Drew might know."

  I wondered what they found. I stole a look at the Emerald City clock on my desk. It was almost two. Surely if they found something, I'd know by now, wouldn't I? Someone would have contacted me, wouldn't they?

  I suddenly realized Mina was still staring at me. "What?"

  "Have you talked to Drew today?"

  "Why would I talk to Drew today?"

  She blew out an exasperated sigh. "Don't be naïve, Dorothy. If you and Drew are involved, he might tell you what was in that box."

  I flushed again, this time with anger. "Now wait a minute, Mina. Drew would never compromise his job or his principles or his..." I struggled to think of the correct term. "His ethics. If I murdered Wade, Drew would come after me tooth and nail."

  "That's good to know."

  I leaned over the desk and peered at the door, which was where the words came from.

  Jack Tinsley poked his head around the door's edge.

  Chapter 10

  "Are you eavesdropping?" I accused.

  "Not at all. The door was open." Tinsley pushed it gently, scraping the heavy metal doorstop along the warped floor. His gaze went to Mina. "Hello again, Miss Wickman."

  "Hello, Agent...Tinsley." Mina hesitated long enough for me to wonder if she wanted to say 'Jack'.

  He didn't react to the innuendo but came into the office, filling the small space with his bulk. Today he wore a powder blue Oxford cloth shirt, dark jeans, and a navy blue windbreaker. He was a symphony of blues, contrasting with his tanned skin, dark hair and baby blue eyes. Those eyes...

  Once again I was struck by how cool and composed he was. I suppose it was part of his FBI persona, but I had never met a person who revealed so little about his state of mind. "I need to talk to Miss Gaylord." Tinsley's eyes flickered past me to my computer screen where the Baltimore Sun newspaper was still displayed. His eyes returned to me and I saw a faint accusation there.

  I met his gaze squarely even though I longed to lunge for the computer monitor and shut it off. "I forgot you were going to stop by. Mina came over to see if I knew what you found in Wade's safe deposit box."

  Mina shot me a hate-filled glare then straightened in her chair, her posture showing her bosom to its best advantage. "I thought perhaps Drew shared that information with Dorothy." She smiled briefly and coldly at me. "Everyone knows how close they are."

  "Now wait a damn minute." I started to rise but my chair didn't cooperate, tipping back and almost taking me with it. I grabbed the desk for balance but didn't need to worry. Tinsley took two strides and was at my side, an arm around my shoulders to steady me. I looked up at him, startled by the feeling of his hard body pressed against mine. I tried to move away, but somehow became pressed against his thigh.

  My face got so hot I was afraid the fire alarm would go off. He released me, his eyes boring into mine. I turned away, bringing my eyes into line with Mina's speculative gaze. I could almost read the thoughts in her devious little brain. What's Dorothy up to? Is she trying to seduce him? I staggered back, ending with the chair pressed against the back of my knees. "Drew would never share confidential information with me." I crossed my arms and glared at Tinsley. My gaze faltered, though, when I saw his eyes shift to my computer.

  Mina stood. "Of course he wouldn't." Her tone said, Of course he would. "I hope you'll let me know if anything in that box pertains to my business partnership with Wade."

  "You'll have to talk to the police about that." I shuffled a few papers on my desk, peeking at Mina as I did so. She eyed Tinsley the way a cat eyes a mouse, wondering about its next move. Tinsley was watching her in exactly the same fashion. Who was the predator and who was the prey in that little twosome?

  "If there's anything that belongs to you, I'm sure Chief Strawn will see that you get it," he said neutrally.

  Mina hesitated, shifting her dark green leather handbag from one shoulder to the other. "I also need to talk to you about the dog show, Dorothy. Carl Roberts said I couldn't enter Winky."

  Tinsley's gaze shifted from Mina to me, his eyebrows drawn together in puzzlement. "Winky is purebred," I explained. "He's a Bichon Frise." I almost stumbled over the breed name since Leo and I always said bitchin' freeze when we laughed about Mina's choice for a pet. So apt for her, Leo said drolly. She's a freezing bitch. I successfully managed to throttle my laugh at the memory. "It's a dog," I added when Tinsley seemed confused. "The dog show is only for mutts."

  "I don't know why Winky would be excluded," Mina snapped. "It's not his fault he has exceptional breeding. I paid a lot of money for him. I think I should be able to enter him in a local dog show." She said the last three words as though they left a bad taste in her mouth.

  I couldn't think of a satisfactory answer to this. To my surprise, Tinsley offered one. "Maybe it's not fair to the other dogs." He met Mina's hostile gaze with a small smile, making tiny dimples dance around the corners of his mouth.

  Mina's rigid shoulders and combative stance relaxed. "I suppose you're right. It wouldn't be a real contest."

  "After all, it's the Anything But Pure dog show," I pointed out. "We highlight animals who are up for adoption. The purpose is to raise money to help the Humane Society and to place animals in good homes." I inched my way around the desk, careful to stay away from Tinsley, who was still near my chair. "Many of the dogs in the show are brought by their foster owners and are ready for adoption."

  "Carl didn't have to be so rude about it," Mina said, taking a step nearer the door. "You should talk to him, Dorothy." She smiled at Tinsley. "If he explained it the way you did, there wouldn't be any misunderstanding."

  I rolled my eyes at her obvious flattery. Tinsley seemed immune, though. He nodded politely, watching as I escorted Mina to my door. "I'll talk
to Carl," I said, knowing damn well I wouldn't.

  Mina paused in the doorway. "You'll let me know if there's anything that Wade left that might..." She hesitated, her face lowered and turned away from the FBI agent in the room. I caught a glimpse of a haunted, frightened expression in her eyes. "You'll tell me if they find anything hurtful, won't you, Dorothy?" she murmured.

  "Uh, sure, if I can," I stammered. "Although I don't know if I'll be told what's in there."

  "Oh, you will." She settled her Gucci bag as she squared her shoulders. "You're a sly one. You will." She swept from my office without a backward glance.

  "Whatever," I muttered. I turned back to my office where Tinsley stood next to my computer, staring at the screen.

  "Did you find anything of interest?"

  I nudged the doorstop with my foot so my door was almost closed. "I was curious."

  He regarded me, his face hard and cold. Then it changed and I could tell that a memory was making the harsh lines soften. "Amy's son died when I got a tip about a drug payoff. I set up a sting operation and he was caught in the crossfire." Tinsley returned his stare to the computer screen. "It was my bullet that killed him. She never forgave me. Amy raised him after her husband died. Mark's death--" Tinsley closed his eyes briefly and when he opened them again, I thought I saw moisture glistening in those baby blue depths. "She never forgave me."

  I crossed the room to stand next to him. "It must have been terrible, to know you killed someone so close to the woman you loved." I touched his arm tentatively. "It wasn't your fault, though."

  "She didn't see it that way." He stared at my hand. "I lost my position at the Bureau, the woman I loved, and I almost ruined my career. All because I tried to help a stupid kid out of a mess."

  "You lost your position? I don't understand. You're still an agent."

  "I was in line for promotion. Now I'm here." His gaze traversed my shabby office. "In Kansas. I was told it might do me good to work in the field for a while." He smiled mirthlessly. "The field. Like a farm field, maybe?"

  I felt a flare of anger at his cavalier dismissal of the Midwest. He must have seen it in my eyes. "I'm sorry." He moved away from me, his body tense. "I still remember Mark, how he looked when he died. Maybe I'm not cut out to make the tough decisions."

  "I don't know. I think it only shows what a good heart you have."

  He laughed bitterly. "Heart. Right."

  I guiltily remembered what Drew told me about Tinsley's heart condition and almost said something. I stopped the words from slipping out. "Perhaps you'll get the people who caused the problems this time." I turned toward my desk but tangled with him, once again getting pressed against his body. "Sorry. This office is so small." I dropped into my chair and tipped back but caught myself before caroming into his legs.

  Tinsley turned so his back was to the computer, effectively blocking my exit in that direction. "I wanted to talk to you about the contents of your ex-husband's deposit box. Did you know he had a will there, leaving everything he had to you?" He crossed his arms and stared at me.

  I'm not sure if it was my imagination, but I thought I felt warmth flowing from his denim-clad body, inches away. I forced myself to stare upward and not at his zipper, also only inches away from my face. "Why would he do that? Why didn't he leave everything to Mina? She's the one with the life insurance policy on him."

  Tinsley's thigh tensed. "How did you know that?"

  "I--When I talked to--I--"

  "Dorothy?"

  I turned toward my doorway. Polly was peeking around the edge of the door. Her eyes widened when she saw Tinsley so close to me. "I'm sorry. I'll come back."

  "That's okay," I blurted. "Come in, that's fine."

  Tinsley looked over his shoulder. "We're busy. Please come back later."

  "Wait a minute. You don't have any right to order people around."

  "I do. I'm an officer of the law." He stared down Polly. "Later."

  "Sure." She ducked away and closed the door with a screech of protest. It shut briefly before starting its slow swing open.

  "I don't appreciate you talking to my employees like that." I started to stand but Tinsley put a hand on my shoulder, gently pushing me back into my seat. "Now wait a minute." I craned my neck to peer up at him.

  It was like a sappy scene from a B movie.

  Our eyes met.

  He leaned toward me.

  I stared into his blue-eyed gaze.

  I lifted my face.

  He kissed me.

  I was so surprised I didn't move for a second. He put a hand on the back of my neck and pulled me to him, drawing me from my chair and into his arms. My mind was totally blank. I used to think that was a euphemism, but it was true. I couldn't form a coherent thought. My body and brain were abuzz with sensation. His firm lips, his hard body, his warmth, the need that flowed through his arms and into me...lust, desire, affection, astonishment, all were jumbled as I clutched him.

  We broke apart a breathless moment later. "Why did you do that?" I gasped.

  I saw confusion in his eyes. "I'm not sure. I've been thinking about it since I first saw you."

  "That's crazy." I wiggled and he immediately released me. I lost my balance and went backward but he caught me again, keeping me on my feet by clamping his hands on my arms and holding me upright.

  "It's not crazy, it's true."

  "But you're an FBI agent." I wanted to say, you're cold-hearted and emotionless, but the assessing expression I saw in his eyes made the words clog in my throat. "Agent Tinsley, I don't think it's appropriate--"

  "Jack," he whispered, his face nearing mine again. "My name is Jack."

  "Dorothy?" A soft tapping came at my door. "Dorothy, Chief Strawn is here. He needs to talk to you."

  I tried to twist but Tinsley--Jack--held me tight. At that moment Drew pushed open the door, Polly peering over his shoulder. Drew was in his full dark blue uniform today, complete with gun belt and badge. The smile on his lips faded when he saw Tinsley and me in a clinch.

  "Thank you for catching me," I babbled, my face aflame. "I'm always tipping back in that chair." I looked past Drew's stormy face to Polly. "I really need to get that fixed. Remind me to call Sean and have him deal with that."

  She raised her eyebrows. "Right." Lucky her, she ducked back out of sight.

  Jack loosened his grip but held on to my arm until I could grope behind me for my chair. I straightened the offending office furniture and plopped down. "What's up, Drew?" I hope I sounded casual, but I suspect I sounded flustered. I longed to touch my lips to make sure they were still whole. That kiss threatened to burn them off my face.

  "I see Agent Tinsley gave you the news." Drew's face was flat and unemotional, which told me a lot about his pissed-off quotient, which was obviously very, very high.

  "What news? About Wade's will?" I opened a file folder, stared at but didn't see the paper inside, closed it and shoved it back onto the stack on the corner of my desk. The piled-up folders there began a precarious slide toward the floor. Jack stopped them as he moved slightly so he stood near me, his left hip almost brushing my shoulder where I sat in my traitorous office chair. I swiveled, putting distance between us.

  It didn't fool Drew. He came into the room and stopped, his hands resting on the back of the wooden guest chair across the desk from me. His gaze flickered between Jack and I. "We found a will in Wade's deposit box naming you his beneficiary. We also found other papers pertaining to the sale of your house and the houses in your subdivision." He hesitated. "There was also money. A lot of money."

  "Money? Wade?" I shook my head, trying to shake sense into it. "Why would he have a bunch of money in there? What kind of papers?"

  Drew's lips tightened. "I don't know if we can reveal that."

  I leaned forward. "Then why mention it?" I tried to keep my anger out of my voice, but I failed miserably. I resented his sharp tone and accusing expression, especially because it aggravated the guilt I already felt.
/>   "Did you know about the papers?" he demanded.

  "Of course not. I didn't even know Wade still had a safe deposit box in town."

  "As soon as the forensics team catalogs the contents, we'll get you copies," Jack said softly. "You're entitled to view the will."

  "Maybe," Drew said immediately. "It will depend on the focus of the investigation." His hands tightened on the chair back, opening and closing to clutch the wood. "Are you sure you didn't know about the papers?"

  "It's not the sort of thing I'd forget," I snapped. "And I have no reason to lie about knowing."

  "Of course not. No reason at all." Drew released the chair and turned to the door. "If it's possible, I'll see you get a copy of the will." He seemed tired all of a sudden.

  "Drew. I didn't know. Really." I stared intently at him. He must have sensed my urgency because he paused and regarded me over the radio gizmo perched on his left shoulder. "It's all probably nothing." I stared straight into his eyes, willing him to understand the extra meaning in my words.

  His eyes narrowed as he nodded. "Sure." Then he was gone.

  I leaned back in my chair but remembered its tippy nature in time. I peered upward. "I think you should go."

  Jack stared at the door. "Are you in love with him?"

  I kept my voice low and even. "That's none of your business."

  He swung his gaze to mine. I saw a succession of emotions flicker across his face before he smiled, the first genuine smile I'd seen. His eyes crinkled at the corner, those dimples dancing at the edges of his mouth. His entire face took on a mischievous, youthful expression. "We'll see about that," he murmured. He touched my shoulder quickly and walked around the desk, glancing once at my computer monitor.

  When he reached the door, he hesitated. "I'll call you later. We need to talk about the contents of that deposit box."

  I started to protest my innocence again but he was gone.

  I flopped back in the chair, catching the edge of the desk to contain my dizzy spin. I wish I could corral my thoughts and emotions as easily.

  o0o