What he said made sense. “You can be my partner.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“But I’m in charge.”
This time the grin he let loose was warm and wide. “I never thought anything to the contrary.”
14 Fourteen
We talked things through, which made both of us feel better. When we were finished, he asked a question that I wasn’t expecting.
“If you had to place a wager, who would want Ludington dead more than anybody?”
“I don’t know. I think anybody who has ever met him wants him dead.”
“Yes, but somebody actually tried to go through with it. You’ve wished him dead how many times? I’ve wished him dead. I guarantee Jake has wished him dead. Who would hate him enough to actually carry it out?”
I tilted my head, considering. “I don’t know,” I said after a beat. “I just ... don’t know. Wishing someone dead and ensuring it happens are very different things. I mean, if wishes were corpses, we would be landscaping around an entire graveyard.”
He chuckled and rested his chin on my shoulder. “True. The thing is, it seems to me that he would’ve had to threaten someone’s livelihood ... or marriage ... or happiness to force what happened.”
He had a point. “In normal circumstances, the cops consider the spouse first,” I noted. “That’s not the case this time. They looked to me first.”
“Because of the video. You had an altercation with him and it ended up on television. It was the talk of the eleven o’clock news on all channels. It was fresh in everybody’s mind. Of course they jumped to it being you.
“The thing they don’t realize — and I maintain this is because they don’t know you well enough to judge you — is that you’re way too wily to pick a fight with him that’s witnessed by thirty people and then try to kill him,” he continued. “You’re too smart for that, which anybody who knows you realizes.
“Jake never for a second believed you were guilty. He was put in a tough position, but he did what he had to do because he believed you would be vindicated. If he was backed into a corner and your freedom was on the line, he would do whatever it took to keep you safe.”
I wasn’t sure I agreed. “Jake is a law-and-order guy. He may be loyal to me, but he believes in the system. He would never break from that.”
“You’re wrong.” Eliot was vehement. “He loves you. It’s in a different way than I do — and it took me a long time to accept it — but he wouldn’t risk you for anything. He did everything he could to keep the case in his department to protect you.”
“It didn’t work.”
“No, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t try his best. I was angry with him when he showed up at our house. I didn’t see what he was really trying to do. He wanted us to cooperate to ensure the case wasn’t taken from him.”
I studied his rugged profile for hints of what he was thinking. “Do you think we shouldn’t have lawyered up?”
“We had no choice. He knew that. He understood. He wasn’t angry as much as frustrated.”
“So ... what do we do?”
“We have dinner and then go through those photos you took. We can load them into the computer and magnify them. I still want to know who your gut tells you did it.”
I hated being put on the spot. “I don’t know.”
“You must feel something.”
I kept coming back to Tad’s wife, but that felt lazy. “Do you have any idea how many people he’s ticked off in this county? It could be anyone. Besides, we have no idea what that private investigator dug up. There are things people would kill for to protect their families and Tad is the sort of person who wouldn’t care what he did to others as long as he got his own way.”
Eliot stroked his chin and sighed. “Okay. We need some food to fuel us and then we need to dig in. We can stop and pick up snacks on the way home.”
On impulse, I ran my finger down his cheek, causing him to turn his eyes in my direction.
“What was that for?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. You make me act like an idiot sometimes. I can’t explain it.”
He grinned. “I feel the same way about you.” He gave me a quick kiss and pulled me to my feet. “Come on. Have you decided where you want to go?”
I nodded without hesitation. “The chop house on Groesbeck. They have prime rib and crab legs. You’re going all out for me tonight.”
Mario was alone in the storefront when we emerged. The look he shot Eliot was full of worry, and I had no doubt the blonde had talked him out of both of purses.
“Did you at least get her number?” I asked.
He nodded and risked a smile as Eliot glowered at him. “We’re having dinner tonight. I think I’m going to get sex.”
“That’s good,” Eliot replied calmly. “You should get something out of this deal, because you’re going to pay for that purse you gave away.”
Mario scowled. “I don’t understand why purses cost that much. If I was a chick, I would just go to Target and call it a day.”
“Don’t look at me,” I admonished. “I only own two purses and I never carry them.”
“That’s because you think like a dude. Seriously, all you’re missing is a penis and a love of real sports. That thing you’ve got for tennis players is not a dude thing. It’s a chick thing.”
Eliot snorted and slung his arm around my shoulders. “He’s kind of right. You do think like a dude.”
“What does that say about you?” I challenged.
“That I’m happy with my dude.” He extended a warning finger in Mario’s direction. “I’ll be looking through the inventory tomorrow morning. You’d better not have given anything else away for dates. You can close up in an hour. Make sure you lock both doors.”
Mario was sheepish. “It was an impulse decision. How many times do I have to tell you that it’s not always my fault when my brain malfunctions?”
“Just until I believe it,” Eliot replied. “For now, you’re on probation until you pay me for the purse. Don’t make me regret bringing you in here.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Mario offered up a dismissive wave. “Just get out of here. I’m sick of you two.”
“Right back at you.”
MY STOMACH WAS GROWLING BY THE TIME we reached the restaurant. Eliot slid me a sidelong look as we walked through the door and stopped to wait in front of the empty hostess stand.
“Didn’t you eat lunch?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t have time. I was busy breaking and entering ... and that was after watching a woman squeeze a squawking infant out of a tiny little passage. I’m not joking about being traumatized, by the way. You’re still going to pay.”
“I can’t wait.” He slid his arms around my waist from behind and buried his face in my hair. “I think you’re going to go easy on me as payback for me going easy on you.”
“That shows what you know. I’ve already been online looking for the most horrific birthing videos available. I don’t even have to order them on DVD. They’re available streaming.”
“You’re a cruel woman.”
“I am. I ... .” My attention drifted to the door behind us and my mouth dropped open when two familiar faces slid inside. Jake and his girlfriend Lauren. Ugh. What were the odds?
“Oh, hey!” Lauren greeted me with a bright smile and broke away from Jake. “I was just thinking about you earlier today. This is a lucky coincidence.”
Or a huge dose of karma because I broke into the house of a man who was fighting for his life. “Yes. I was just thinking how lucky this feels,” I drawled.
Jake’s expression reflected bewildered annoyance. “What are you guys doing here? You never come here. That’s why we’re eating here.”
Lauren slid him a sidelong look. “You said you wanted prime rib. You didn’t mention wanting to avoid Avery and Eliot.”
“I think that was supposed to be implied,” I offered, pinning Jake with a hard glare. �
�We were here first. Eliot is buying me prime rib and crab legs. You’ll have to leave.”
“I’m not leaving,” Jake shot back. “I love the prime rib here ... and I’m the sheriff. I think they’d prefer my business to yours, especially given everything that’s going on.”
The statement hurt more than it should have. “Fine.” I threw up my hands and stalked toward the door. “Let’s go, Eliot. I’ve lost my appetite anyway.”
He snagged the back of my shirt and hauled me back, his eyes never leaving Jake’s face. “She hasn’t eaten all day and she had her heart set on prime rib and crab legs. I’m not taking that away from her. What does it matter that we’re at the same restaurant?”
“You know why it matters.” Jake was morose as he stared at his shoes, all the fight escaping with a haggard breath. “We can’t be seen together.”
Lauren’s gaze was curious as it bounced between faces. “I don’t understand what’s going on,” she said finally. “Why can’t we all just eat together like we normally do?”
“Because I’m a suspect in a shooting and Jake can’t be seen with a criminal,” I replied. “He thinks I’m guilty.” I tacked on the last part just to mess with him because he looked so tense I was afraid he might pop a vein in his forehead.
“That’s not true.” Jake grimaced. “You know I don’t think you’re guilty.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Lauren pressed.
“The problem is that I can’t be seen as giving Avery preferential treatment,” Jake gritted out. “Everyone knows I favor her. If I try that now ... .”
“I thought you lost the case.” Ever pragmatic, Lauren got right to the heart of matters. “You said the state police swooped in and took the case away from you. Why does it matter if we’re together if they’re conducting the investigation?”
Jake opened his mouth to answer and then snapped it shut. He looked as though he were mentally putting the pieces together. “You know, you’re right. There’s absolutely no reason we can’t have dinner together.”
Uh-oh. I could think of one reason. I wanted to talk to Eliot about some of the blackmail files I’d uncovered, but there was no way I could admit to breaking into Tad’s house in front of Jake. He was willing to put up with a lot from me, but he couldn’t overcome that. “I don’t want to create problems for you,” I hedged.
Jake’s smile was rueful. “You’ve already done that. It doesn’t matter anyway. Lauren is right. The state police are in charge now. There’s nothing that I can do to help or hurt you.”
I spared a glance for Eliot. “What do you think?”
He shrugged. “I think I’m starving and it’s your decision.”
I heaved out a sigh. I hated being put on the spot. “Okay. A group dinner it is. You have to feed me information about the state police investigation, though. That’s my line in the sand.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “You’re awfully upbeat for a person being framed for attempted murder.”
“Yes, well ... I’ve had a lot of caffeine and sugar today.”
TWENTY MINUTES LATER WE’D BEEN SEATED and placed our orders. Conversation had come to a standstill, however, and we were mired in uncomfortable silence.
“Jake told me what happened with the state trooper,” Lauren started. She’d obviously decided to play peacekeeper for this meal. “I think it sucks that someone is trying to frame you.”
“How do you know somebody is trying to frame me?” I asked as I grabbed a breadstick. “For all you know, I really could’ve tried to kill Tad. It’s not as if we have a good relationship. Heck, we don’t even have a semi-tolerable relationship.”
“No, but you’re not a killer.” She sounded sure of herself. “If you wanted to go after Tad Ludington you would do it in such a way that you irritated him to the point he made an ass of himself ... and you would do it in front of cameras. That’s what you usually do. It’s no fun for you if he’s dead. Then who would you torture?”
“There’s always Duncan,” I muttered darkly. “But you’re right about wanting to torture him. That’s half the fun of our relationship. If he dies I’ll lose out in a big way, because there are only so many people I can count on to publicly melt down on cue.”
She smirked and shook her head when I offered her a breadstick. “I’m trying to watch my carb intake. Jake has a special dinner in two weeks and my dress is very unforgiving.”
I shoved the breadstick I was going to give her into my mouth, causing Eliot to chuckle.
“Avery watches her carbs, too,” he offered. “She watches them go into her mouth.”
“I’ve decided that snark must burn calories,” Lauren supplied. “That’s the only way I can explain how thin she is given the way she eats.”
“That’s as good an explanation as anything.”
I eyed Jake, who sat directly across the table from me, as I methodically chewed. He’d been quiet since the hostess had seated us, and I could tell he was uncomfortable. “You might as well tell me,” I suggested after swallowing. “You know you want to share about the investigation.”
“Avery.” Eliot’s voice was low and full of warning. “Don’t push him. He’s doing the best that he can.”
I ignored the admonishment. “What did Jacobs say to you about the gun? Why haven’t I been arrested yet?”
Lauren furrowed her brow. “I still don’t know the specifics about the gun. I was hoping to get the full scoop over dinner.”
I arched an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. “You haven’t told her about that part? I guess that means you’re trying to keep it under wraps.” I focused on Lauren, choosing my words carefully. “Last night the cops impounded my car. They found a gun in the back, one that’s not mine. I’ll lay pretty good odds that it’s the gun that was used to shoot Tad.”
Lauren’s mouth dropped open. “No way. How did that happen?”
I held out my hands and shrugged. “I’m guessing that someone is trying to make sure that I go down for the attempt on Tad’s life. It’s probably a way to clear the real shooter of suspicion. It could be an enemy of mine or an enemy of his.”
“I’m leaning toward it being a frame job of opportunity,” Eliot volunteered. “Avery took down Ludington on television. She was the talk of the town. Someone was already planning on killing him. Avery made a convenient scapegoat and perhaps moved up the timetable.”
“Unfortunately for me, the state police investigator handling the case already thinks I’m guilty,” I lamented.
“No, he doesn’t,” Jake sneered, talking more to himself than the rest of the table. “He knows you didn’t do it, but he refuses to see reason. We got an anonymous call about the gun in your car, for crying out loud.
“Who would know about a gun in your car?” he continued. “Well, other than the person who put it there, of course. We tracked the number to a disposable burner phone purchased yesterday morning. We got the call about your car in the afternoon. Isn’t that a ridiculous coincidence? I think so, but Trooper Jacobs is another story.”
He was mostly ranting to himself now, but loud enough for all of us to hear. I was grateful for it. “I sat him down and explained about your reputation because he was obsessed with it,” he said. “I told him that most of it was exaggerated. Sure, you like to take Ludington down a peg or two, but you feel that way about half the politicians in the county and none of them have been shot. He just won’t listen.”
Jake’s expression flashed hot with annoyance. “He won’t look anywhere but at you. I pointed out that Ludington is going through a messy divorce and is worth more dead than alive to his wife. I told him that the wife is well aware of Avery’s tempestuous relationship with Ludington. Will he listen to me? No.”
I pressed my lips together and risked a glance at Eliot, who looked amused more than concerned. When I turned my eyes to the surrounding tables I was grateful to find nobody staring at us. Apparently the other diners hadn’t yet picked up on Jake’s rant.
“Only an idiot
would think you’re stupid enough to leave a potential murder weapon in the back of your car,” he said. “Look who you’re dating. If you really did want to kill someone, Eliot would help you cover it up and it wouldn’t be anywhere near as messy as this.”
“Thank you,” Eliot said dryly, earning a small smile from Lauren.
“He just won’t listen to me,” Jake groused. “Other than Eliot, I know you best. In some ways, I know you better. You’re not capable of murder unless it’s to save your own life. That’s not who you are.”
“Let’s not go crazy,” Eliot argued. “I definitely know her better.”
Jake raised an eyebrow. “Really? Is that what you want to focus on?”
Eliot smirked. “It got you to stop ranting, didn’t it? That’s a win in my book.”
Ugh. Men. People say I lack rational thought at times, but I think it’s them. Still, Jake was obviously upset. I knew the second I met him that Jacobs was focused on me to the exclusion of every other potential suspect. Having it confirmed was like a punch in the gut, though.
15 Fifteen
We didn’t head home after dinner. Eliot told me his new plan. He’d read my distress at Jake’s rant and decided to take matters into his own hands. Instead of a quiet night of reading at home, we took refuge in Eliot’s old apartment — which now served as an office of sorts above his pawnshop — where we watched television and flipped through the screenshots I’d taken. Once the sun fell, we left again and headed for Ingalls’ office.
“I can’t believe we’re really doing this,” I enthused as we held hands while walking the street. Eliot insisted that we look like any other couple out for a simple stroll through downtown Mount Clemens ... even though the city was something of a wasteland after six in the evening.
“What?” He kept his eyes on the sidewalks as we moved onto Clinton Street.
“Breaking the law together for a change.”
He snorted. “I told you I would’ve gone with you to Ludington’s house, but you had to do it in the middle of the day, which ranks right up there with the worst decisions you’ve ever made.”
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