haven’t said much to me.”
“What about Quinn Colton? Has she said anything at all about her sister?”
He hadn’t been a smooth operator all these years to give away answers with his facial expression. West thumbed through the notebook. “She’s worried sick about her sister and the baby. She also thinks it’s possible that Demi could be the Groom Killer. If Quinn was in touch with her sister, she would coax her into surrendering to authorities.”
I hope.
Had Quinn helped Demi hide in the abandoned building, giving her food and water, and then they’d blown up the building to hide evidence? Too far-fetched, but why the hell was his fiancée’s compact in the rubble? He had no answers, only questions.
West shoved his notebook back into his pocket and glanced at his watch. He had enough time to grab lunch, and a few necessities, before arriving for the afternoon shift. The chief had granted him a half day after he’d worked the crime scene a full fourteen hours yesterday.
“Got to go. Call me as soon as you get a hit on that evidence.” West slid out of the booth.
Mike nodded. “And you check in every other day now instead of once a week. I don’t like this development, West. Or being left in the dark. You know what I do when I’m in the dark.”
“No worries. Will do.”
As he headed out of the diner, he knew the intent behind his boss’s words. Mike wouldn’t be satisfied with the meager information he’d given her. If she felt he was holding out, she would yank him off the case and replace his sorry ass. Or worse, go undercover herself to team up with him. In working close with him, she’d be certain to find out about his relationship with Quinn.
He could only hope he had answers to give her soon, before that happened.
* * *
Vegan meals were easy for Quinn to make. The hard part was the delivery, and the finicky client—Tia Linwicki.
Tia, who owned her own real estate agency on the edge of downtown, was very fussy about her meals. She had sent Quinn a specific list of foods to prepare. If the food was too hot, she complained. If it was too cold, she complained.
But she paid cash each day and didn’t mind the surcharge Quinn put on there for the special delivery fee.
Or, as Quinn privately put it, “The Bitch Fee.”
This morning she’d made Tia a special vegan garlic pasta with roasted tomatoes. The smells had been so enticing, they even made Quinn’s mouth water.
Then she slid the pasta into a special heated dish, covered it with the insulated food carrier and left her store.
Tia worked a good distance from her, but it was such a nice day, Quinn decided to walk. The insulated container would keep the pasta at the proper temperature and cool it slightly by the time she reached Tia’s office. If she drove, her client would complain the food was too hot to eat right away.
Humming, she walked past the stores, her practiced eye noting the lack of customers out on such a pretty, sunny day. Normally downtown was bustling with tourists. Not now.
Her business wasn’t the only one suffering.
The heels of her flat-soled shoes clicked on the pavement as she walked. At the corner drugstore, she saw West coming out, a paper bag in hand. Her heart beat faster.
Quinn nodded at him. “Afternoon, Agent Brand.”
“Miss Colton, a pleasure to see you,” he murmured, tapping his index finger to his lips. His eyes sparkled as he held up the bag.
Oh yeah, she knew why he had been in there. Condoms.
She continued walking, unable to keep the silly smile from her face. The finger-to-the-lips gesture was their secret code for he planned to spend the night with her. Oh yeah, great sex on the horizon always chased away gloomy thoughts.
Her smile fled. Condoms for tonight, but they’d been reckless recently. She might even be pregnant now. If so, West’s choice about kids would be removed. Well, that was a worry for later.
The early-pregnancy test kit she’d bought still sat in the bathroom. Soon as she returned home, she’d screw up the nerve to take it.
Later, she’d also worry about all the questions West had peppered her with over Demi. She was happy he’d finally opened up about his family, and sensed it was a deeply sore subject, but she wanted him to share with her about his childhood. Surely there were good memories, as he’d indicated last night. Quinn couldn’t imagine losing her entire family all at once. West had only told her it was an accident. Probably a car wreck.
Quinn wished she had shared a closer bond with Demi. Maybe her sister would have turned to her for help instead of running off. Pregnant, alone and probably scared.
Her thoughts drifted back to the cabin at Pine Paradise Tia had given her the key to. It would make a perfect place for her and West to honeymoon before Tia sold the property. Or share a day or two alone, away from the prying eyes of her neighbors. This business of him sneaking in and out of her apartment was taxing.
Shifting the covered dish in her hands, she saw Tia’s office. Tia had a small storefront at the edge of downtown, next to Lulu’s Boutique, a small shop offering imported Italian clothing and accessories. The closed sign hung on the boutique. Lulu usually closed shop at noon and drove home to feed and walk her two dogs.
No such lunch break for Tia. Tia never stopped hustling. Like the Larson twins, Tia liked money. Once or twice she’d seen the twins in Tia’s office. Not surprising. Tia had a harsh personality, as pushy as the Larson brothers.
Perhaps they talked shop, or looking for bigger and better deals. Yesterday she’d overheard Tia on the phone talking about Pine Paradise. Tia was not a happy person during that convo.
She peered through the front window of Tia’s office. The vertical blinds were drawn almost all the way across. Odd. Tia loved to leave them open, wave to pedestrians. Look important, doing deals, making money.
Making money for her clients.
Quinn shaded her eyes. The office was dark inside, but she could barely make out Tia’s desk. The woman wasn’t there. But a man dressed in a suit stood by the big mahogany desk Tia had bragged cost her a small fortune. The overhead fluorescent lights picked up the shining gleam of his black hair, worn long, down to his collar.
He turned, showing his profile, his expression slightly cruel, cold. A shiver raced down Quinn’s spine. She looked at the unruly cowlick sticking up from his hair. A cigar stump dangled from his mouth.
He didn’t look friendly, or welcoming. More like the type who threatened. Then he ran out the back door, fleeing as if the hounds of hell were chasing him.
Quinn hesitated. Wasn’t she being judgmental? The lighting inside could have made him look mean. Maybe Tia wasn’t working as hard as she claimed and she had a new love. Perhaps he didn’t want anyone knowing they indulged in a session of afternoon delight.
Tia, you could have picked a better lover. This guy looks like he gets off on playing it rough. Gooseflesh sprang out on her arms.
I’ve seen him before. But where? She frowned. Maybe at Tia’s office?
None of her business. Only delivering the meal was.
And getting paid.
Quinn set down the food carrier to fumble with the doorknob. She opened the door and grimaced as the stench of cigar smoke wafted outside. As she went to pick up the casserole, she saw a flash of white as an enormous KA-POW slammed the air. A giant hand punched her with a hammering fist, hurling her through the air back into the street. And then the world went dark and she felt no more.