Sin With Cuffs (18 page)

“Are you feeling what I’m feeling?” he asked.

“If you’re feeling like cherry gelatin, then yes.”

 “Cherry gelatin? Is that a good thing?” he asked.

“All jiggly and sweet.” She looked up at him. “I know. It’s corny.”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. You can be corny with me.” He lifted himself up on elbow and kissed her forehead. “Will I look like a jerk if I rush away before the jiggly feeling fades?”

“You have to work.” She would have liked to lay there with him for a few more hours. She enjoyed the safety and security, but life called.

He nodded. “I’ve got to check out some leads on the case.”

She sat up. “Leads? Does that mean you have some clues to follow?”

“No.” He turned away, scrubbing his head with the heels of his hands.

“That’s a lie. What are you not wanting to tell me?” she asked.

“What makes you think I’m hiding something?” he asked.

“I know you too well. You never were good at hiding your emotions.”

He sighed. “Let’s get dressed and then we’ll talk. Okay?”

His somber expression made her stomach twist. “When a man asks you to put on your clothes to talk, I’d say that’s definitely a sign that he’s going to drop a bomb.”

“It’s not a bomb.” He used the tips of his fingers to sweep her hair off her forehead. He pushed himself off the floor then offered her his hand. “Let me help you up.”

Reaching for her clothes, she pulled them on. He had gone to the bedroom and when he came back, he was dressed in his uniform.

“Do I need to sit for this talk?” She became more uptight as each minute passed, wondering what he would say to her.

“Only if you need to rest those limp legs.” He winked. “I’ll pour us another cup of coffee.” Coffee poured, and one cup in Holly’s hand, he sat next to her.

 “Okay, I can’t take another second. Spill the beans,” she pleaded.

“You’re very impatient.” He smirked.

“What’s new?” she asked.

“We found the knife  used to kill Danielle.”

“The knife?” she asked in eagerness. “That’s a good thing, right?” She couldn’t understand why he didn’t seem content.

“We got a set of prints last night from the weapon.”

She noticed how he ran his finger around the rim of his mug. “And?” she urged.

“They were your prints.”

“What?” The word fell out of her mouth. “My prints?”

“Remember when we got caught tipping the cows over at the McCallym Farm? Old Chief took our prints and said he’d keep them on file just in case? It was a scare tactic, and he probably forgot to delete them, but for whatever reason, our prints were still in the system. When I ran the set from the knife for local matches, yours came up.”

“That’s because the murderer wore gloves. I didn’t touch the knife.”

He sighed as he moved across the kitchen and grabbed something off the counter. He held up a large plastic bag and wiggled it. “I believe it’s from your kitchen.”

Holly got up and took the bag from him. Her throat constricted. “Yes, it is. But I don’t care how long my prints stay in the system, or that this is a knife from my kitchen, I have nothing to hide. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Okay, Holly.”

“I’m innocent. She was dead when I got there. You didn’t see the man, but he was there. He was.” Her words came out in a panic.

“I’m not accusing you. I believe you. I do.” He held up a hand as if to quiet her.

“But you have to investigate me?”

He hesitated. “I’ll investigate
anyone
that is related to the case.”

“I’ve done nothing wrong.” Could things get any worse?

He came to her, placed both hands on her shoulders and turned her around to face him. “You’re not a suspect, Holly. I’m only telling you up front what I know. I believe someone snuck into your house and stole the knife, with the intent to make you look suspicious. Why? Don’t know. Who? Have no clue. But, I plan to find out. I’m going to speak to Danielle’s co-workers when I leave here. The way the staff eavesdrops down there it’s hard to believe that no one heard anything.”

“I’m going with you.”

“Oh, no.” He shook his head.

“Oh, yes I am.” She straightened her chin. “I have as much at stake here as you.”

“It’s not safe.”

“She called me, Liam. He, whoever
he
is, did all of this for a reason. She knew something and we need to figure out what.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I understand what you’re saying, but I can’t allow you to get deeper involved than you already are.” He turned his interest to adjusting his gun belt.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Whoever took the knife from my grandma’s kitchen, my kitchen, did it to deliberately set me up. I’ll either accompany you or I’ll go alone.” He looked up. She had his undivided attention. “I mean it and you know it.”

“Are you pushing me into a corner?”

“No, I’m only showing you my way of thinking.”

With a long sigh and tightening of his jaw, he said, “There are rules. You don’t abide by them one time, I’ll take you home. If you don’t stay there, I’ll throw in you in a cell and I guarantee you’ll remain out of the way. And you know I mean what I say.”

“I understand and I agree.”

* * * *

Liam pulled the SUV into the parking spot and turned off the engine. He looked at Holly who’d been unusually quiet since they’d left his house. He understood her wanting to solve this case. After all, she seemed to be a target for some sick son-of-a-bitch. He should have held his ground and kept her out of the middle of the investigation. Too late though. She was smack dab in the eye of the tornado and his concern tripled. Murders didn’t happen in Raven. Petty misdemeanors like graffiti and rocks through windows happened, but teens were usually the culprit, and the situation remedied itself after a long talk with the parents.

He wondered why the insane bastard that killed Danielle hadn’t hurt Holly when he’d had the chance? It seemed as if the murderer wanted to spare her. Or, possibly wanting to toy with her. If that were the case, the killer was sicker than Liam could imagine and when the sicko finished proving his point, Holly’s life would be in definite danger.

As long as Liam carried a gun and breathed air into his lungs, he’d protect her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Holly swiped at her lips and then her nose. “Do I have something on me?”

He shook his head. “I’m just hoping you do as I ask and take a back seat when we go in there.” He pointed toward Betsy’s Diner. “Remember, this is an investigation into a murder case, the murder of a young girl. Not to exile your name.”

“I can handle myself and I won’t cause any problems. I know this is important, not just in my name, but for Danielle’s too.”

They got out of the car and Liam looked around the empty parking lot. No one was eating out or hanging on the streets like usual. An eerie hush had blanketed the town since word got out that one of their own was murdered. The small town rumor mill ran with turbo velocity already. The quicker they came up with more clues than a kitchen butcher knife, and Holly’s fingerprints, the better. If townspeople got wind of that tidbit of info, he wasn’t sure they’d be so happy with Holly. For now, she needed to stay.

 Fact was, he needed her to stay.

They walked in and Jenny, the day server, stood at the counter filling sugar containers. She looked up when they approached her. The thick layer of pink blush didn’t hide she was paler than usual.

“Hi, Jenny.” Liam offered her a smile. Jenny was working her way through college and she seemed like a good kid. “How are you?”

Jenny spilled sugar all over the counter. “Damn.” She dropped the funnel and grabbed a towel.

“You okay?” he asked her. The girl was nervous.

“I heard about Danielle. I’m guessing that’s why you’re here because we were close.”

“I’m sure it’s a shock. I’m sorry about your loss. I know you probably aren’t up to talking but I’ve got some questions I need to ask you. Do you have a minute?” Liam was as gentle in tone as he could manage.

 Shooting a glance over her shoulder, as if she looked for someone, she turned back and said, “Okay.” She narrowed her gaze on Holly. “Who’s that?”

“I don’t think you’ve met Holly Young. She was Doris’s granddaughter.”

The girl nodded and tucked a strand of jet-black hair behind her ear. “I liked your grandma. She was good to me.” She smiled and it lessened the impact of her stark makeup. “I’m taking beauty school and I did her hair.”

“Thank you. I’m sure she appreciated it,” Holly said.

“So, can we talk Jenny?” Liam asked.

“Sure, but only a few minutes.” Jenny came out from behind the counter and motioned toward the booth in the corner. She slid into one seat and Liam and Holly shared the other. “I don’t know what I can share with you. I don’t know anything.”

Liam knew very little personal details about the girl besides she was going through an awkward stage with her hair and make-up. She’d worked for the restaurant for the last two years and he’d never known her to cause any trouble. “I’m sure you don’t have much to tell, but it’s my job to ask a few questions.” She nodded and squeezed her apron tighter, twisting the material until her knuckles were white. She was definitely edgy. “Did you see Danielle last night, before she left?”

Jenny shrugged. “I wasn’t here. My shift was over at six.”

“Did you two share a shift yesterday?” he asked.

She dropped the material of the apron and placed her hands on the table. “Yes.”

“Did she say she had plans? Maybe she was meeting someone?”

“No,” she answered without hesitation.

This wasn’t getting anywhere. He usually knew within the first few minutes of an interview if he could get information. This wasn’t one of them. “Okay.”

“Sorry I can’t help.” She chewed on her bottom lip.

“Before I leave, can you tell me if you recognize this?” Liam pulled the evidence bag from his shirt pocket and laid it on the table.

Jenny stared down at the plastic before picking it up and rolling the object around inside the bag. “Is this Danielle’s bracelet?”

“Yes, it is. She was wearing it when we found her,” Liam answered. A hoarse moan escaped Jenny as she dropped the plastic onto the table. “I researched the bracelet and found that it’s retro vintage solid sterling and the puffy heart has a key that can unlock the charm so that it slides. Interesting thing is, this particular bracelet came as a pair. One bracelet has the heart, the other has the key…worn by partners.” Jenny’s eyes widened. “Now, since you were close with Danielle, I’m curious who has the other half of this bracelet?” Liam felt Holly stiffen. He’d almost forgotten that she was sitting next to him. Almost.

Jenny’s throat bobbed. “I don’t know who has it. She kept her relationship a secret, even from me.”

Liam believed her. He grabbed the bag and put it back into his pocket.

“Jenny? What are you doing taking a break?” The booming voice came from Jimbo Barnes, the cook and manager.

Jenny jumped out of the seat and to her feet. Liam looked at Jimbo. “I asked Jenny to speak to me a moment,” Liam said.