her lip, Caroline folded her hands around her coffee cup. Had his conversation with Linda convinced Cole that Caroline Johnson was not the woman he was looking for, despite the black beanie?
If not, she had a lot more than Cole’s devastating charm to fear.
* * *
SINCE LINDA HAD a bridge game with friends that evening that entailed her to concoct some complicated dessert to outdo the other ladies, Caroline had convinced her to leave early and let her close up.
Only a handful of customers had come into the store, and no more suspicious characters. Cole Pierson was the only suspicious character she’d actually met. She doubted more were on the way. She could either leave Timberline and abandon any hope of ever discovering why she’d been headed here originally, or stick it out and convince Cole she really was Linda Gunderson’s cousin, who had no connection to Johnny Diamond, his drugs or his money.
She traced the edge of the piece of paper in her pocket on which she’d written the name and number of a therapist in Port Angeles. She’d asked Linda for a recommendation with the excuse that she wanted to work through her issues associated with the domestic violence. Linda was more than happy to oblige.
A therapist would have that confidentiality thing. The therapist probably couldn’t keep a confession of murder confidential, but Caroline didn’t believe she’d murdered Johnny Diamond. Maybe she’d killed him in self-defense, but she had no intention of admitting that to... She took the slip of paper out of her pocket and read aloud, “Dr. Jules Shipman.”
Caroline locked the front door and flipped Open to Closed. Then she dipped her hand in her other pocket and called Dr. Shipman on the prepaid phone she’d purchased a few days ago.
She left a message after the beep, giving as little information as possible. Time enough to get into all the gory details of her life once she was lying on Dr. Shipman’s couch.
She transferred the money from the register to the safe and dropped the accounting slip on top of the bills. She flicked off the lights and reached for her beanie and umbrella.
She smoothed her fingers across the soft material of the knit cap. She’d been foolish to keep this hat. How had Cole known the woman with Diamond had a hat like this? Had Johnny told him? Had someone seen her at the Stardust?
She pulled it on her head and shoved out the back door. She could stop playing this cat-and-mouse game and ask him. As she yanked the door shut, she shivered.
What then? Would he kill her? Interrogate her? Arrest her? She didn’t know which of those options would be the worst.
As she marched along the alleyway running behind the Main Street shops, a noise caught her attention. She glanced over her shoulder at a man unfurling an umbrella.
He looked up and she could make out the pale oval of his face, but not much more. As he turned, the wind caught the edge of his trench coat and Caroline gasped.
Was he the man from the store who’d bought the Libby Love frog? Had he been watching her? Waiting for her?
She splashed through a puddle as she turned the corner and made a beeline for the more populated Main Street. Nobody was walking on the rain-soaked sidewalks, but people were going in and out of the restaurants and hopping into their cars.
She headed for the lights and warmth of Sutter’s. She’d pick up some dinner to take back to her duplex, and mull over what she planned to say to Dr. Shipman.
She ducked into Sutter’s and pointed to the bar as the hostess approached her. “I’m getting it to go.”
She walked up to the bar and her stomach sank as a tall, good-looking man flashed a grin at her.
“We gotta stop meeting like this.”
She tipped her chin at his almost empty plate. “Meat loaf again?”
“What can I say?” He spread his hands. “I’m a sucker for a home-cooked meal, even when it’s not at home.”
She waved down Bud. “Can I get a grilled chicken sandwich to go, with a side of sweet potato fries?”
“Coming right up.” He jerked his thumb at Cole. “Did this guy give you your hat and umbrella?”
“He did.”
“I was going to hold them behind the bar for you, but he said he’d be seeing you today.”
“Did you think I was trying to steal them?” Cole crumpled his napkin and dropped it in his plate. “I don’t think the hat would’ve fit.”
“Just keeping you honest, man.” Bud winked at Caroline and she gave him a weak smile.
Everyone seemed to think Cole Pierson was the greatest guy ever. What would they think if they knew what she knew? That he was a lying SOB and possible drug dealer...or undercover cop.
A burst of rain pelted the window next to the bar and Cole whistled. “I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
“It’s bad out there.” She dug for some cash in her purse, so she could pay and be on her way as soon as Bud came up with her order.
“Linda told me you didn’t have a car here yet and you walk all over town.”
“It’s not bad.”
“Except on a night like this. Can I give you a lift to your place? Even though it’s not far, you’ll get drenched walking that half mile.”
Her jaw tightened. “Linda told you where I live?”
“She mentioned it was lucky the other side of the duplex she and her sister own was empty when you came to town.” He leaned in close, his lips brushing the wet strands of her hair. “I’m not trying to move in on you or anything. I know you’ve had a rough time of it.”
She blinked against the tears pricking her eyes. Was he referring to the brawl she’d apparently had with Johnny Diamond in the hotel room, or her manufactured past with the abusive ex? Cole’s soothing tone almost made her want to confess everything to him. Almost.
She squared her shoulders. “Linda gossips too much. I dumped a jerk—nothing I can’t handle.”
“Thatta girl.” A wide grin claimed his face. “Don’t let the bastards bring you down.”
“Here’s your change, Cole.” Bud swept up Cole’s plate. “Your food will be up in a minute, Caroline.”
Cole pocketed his cash. “So, how about it? I’m parked right out front.”
She wanted to tell him to take a hike, keep his questions to himself and mind his own business. But that would make him even more suspicious, and maybe Linda had convinced him that she was really her cousin in need of a fresh start.
“I’d love a ride, thanks. If it’s not too inconvenient.”
“No problem at all.”
Bud returned with a bag hanging from his fingers, and then twisted his head around to look at the TV mounted above the bar. He called to the other bartender. “Denny, turn up the volume. It’s a story on the Johnny Diamond murder.”
A chill raced down Caroline’s spine, but she kept motionless.
Cole tipped his head back to take in the TV monitor. “I heard about that—found the guy with drugs and a car with a dead body in the trunk.”
Her dinner still dangled from Bud’s fingertips and she wanted to scream at him.
Cole asked, “Was he a local boy?”
“Diamond? No, but he ran with a local motorcycle gang, the Lords of Chaos.”
The sounds around Caroline receded and she felt like she was spinning through a vacuum. Larry. LC, the tattoo on Johnny Diamond’s neck, stood for Lords of Chaos. Timberline had been Johnny Diamond’s destination,