Sin With Cuffs (19 page)

“What the hell for?” Jimbo tossed a dirty rag over his shoulder and used the back of his arm to drag across his nose. “We have customers.”

Liam glanced around the restaurant. There were two customers sitting at the bar. Liam wasn’t getting anywhere with Jenny anyway. He offered the young girl a smile. “We’re done. You can go.” She was gone before his words were out.

Jimbo approached the table. From balding head to scruffy, scarred face to stained white tee, the man was a rough neck. Liam wouldn’t say he didn’t like Jimbo, the man just rubbed Liam the wrong way with his tough attitude and above-the-law character. Although Jimbo liked to push buttons at times, he’d walked the straight and narrow path since he’d gotten arrested a few years ago for drug trafficking and was released from prison on good behavior. The man said he’d found Jesus and was living what he called a “spiritual” existence.

 “I’m sure you’ve heard about Danielle’s death. I need to ask you a few questions also. You want to have a seat and we’ll get this over with?” Liam asked.

“Can you come back? I’m preparing for lunch time,” Jimbo said.

“It can’t wait. I won’t keep you long. Just a few easily answered questions, that’s all,” Liam said smoothly. He’d always wondered why the owner of the restaurant kept Jimbo on payroll. Liam heard Jimbo worked hard, but it was a positive thing that the brawny man worked in the back and didn’t meet and greet customers.

“Five minutes,” Jimbo spouted then sat down, elongating his long legs and relaxing his back. He seemed to fill up the entire side of the booth with his large frame. He narrowed his gaze on Holly’s face, then took a visual enjoyment walk to her chest. Liam heard Holly’s sharp intake of breath.

“Who’s the lady, Ryan?” Jimbo licked his bottom lip.

“The lady is Holly Young,” she answered before Liam could.

“It’s a pleasure, Holly.”

Liam wanted to laugh. Jimbo was a man who believed he oozed seduction, but instead it was more like a train wreck.

“You like pie?” he asked.

Holly shifted in the seat. “Depends on what kind.”

“I make a mean drizzled chocolate pecan. I’ll have Jenny get you a slice. It’s on me,” Jimbo smiled, showing off a missing front tooth.

“No, that’s okay. I couldn’t eat another bite after the breakfast I had,” she said a bit too quickly.

“Well, I invite you back.
Any
time.” He wiggled his bushy brows.

“Thank you. I’ll take you up on that,” Holly said, but Liam knew she held back from saying what she really thought. He was grateful she kept her calm.

Liam cleared his throat. Finally gaining Jimbo’s attention, Liam continued, “What time did you close last night?”

“Same time as always. Ten sharp,” he answered.

“And you allowed Danielle to leave early? Doesn’t she always close?”

“I didn’t give her permission to leave. She said she had something important to do and took off. The little hussy was going to get her ass fired this morning if she hadn’t gone and gotten herself kilt first.”

Holly jerked. Liam placed a hand on her knee and squeezed. “Do you remember her saying anything about who she was meeting?”

“Not a word.” He used his pinky nail as a toothpick then made a loud sucking sound.

“Well, keep in mind, I may have to come back and speak to you further,” Liam said as he started to move out of the seat.

Holly’s voice stilled him.
Oh shit!
“Are you married, Mr. Jimbo?” she asked.

A sly smile slid over Jimbo’s lips. “I’m flying solo, babe. Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.” Liam noticed Holly’s grin and realized she was on to something. “You like younger women, don’t you?”

A flash of something crossed the other man’s chubby cheeks. The expression vanished before Liam could mark it as anything more than surprise by the bluntness of Holly’s question. “I think the young ladies like me.” He winked.

Holly slid further in the seat until she leaned against the table. “Most young women only like older men when he offers something she can’t get herself.” Her voice was stiff.

Jimbo shrugged which Liam guessed had popped a few of the stitches in the too-tight T-shirt. “Yeah, they like what Jimbo has to offer.”

The man’s laughter grated Liam’s nerves. He wasn’t sure where this headed. He waited, although he’d cut Holly off when necessary.

“It’s not for sex, Mr. Jimbo.” Holly said.

“And how do you know that, Miss?” Jimbo’s irritation grew. His jaw clicked and his lips thinned.

“Do you think it’s for sex? Really? It’s for something else. Drugs maybe?” She wasn’t sugar coating anything. The girl had a backbone, Liam would give her that.

Jimbo scrubbed his jaw with the back of his hand and nervously laughed. “I don’t do drugs, Miss. I’m an ex-con. And I live my life dedicated to the Lord.”

“Hm, okay. I guess I’m wrong. Easy mistake I reckon.” She started to move, but then stopped. “But something is bothering me. What did you toss into the trashcan before you came over to speak to Chief Ryan?”

The man shifted uncomfortably. “Listen here, Missy, I don’t know what game you’re trying to pull, but I don’t like this one bit.”

“What did he throw away, Holly?” Liam asked. This was getting interesting. “Is there something I need to know, Jimbo?” Liam held the other man with a stare.

“Of course not. This has nothing to do with the death of that girl.” Jimbo sputtered and stood up. “I’ve got work to do.”

Liam pulled the bag back out of his pocket and waved it at Jimbo. “I’m going to assume you know nothing about this either?”

Jimbo slightly bent forward and half-glanced at the bracelet. “Have no freaking clue what that is.”

“We’ll let you get back to work, no worries.” Liam stood up. “Come on, Holly. Let’s let the man go.”

Holly slid out of the seat, her eyes narrowed. Liam knew she wanted to say something, but she didn’t. She walked out of the diner and he followed her to the SUV. They were inside the car when she said, “He threw something in the trash. Why didn’t you look?”

Liam started the engine, checked the rearview mirror then jetted out of the parking space and back onto the Main Street. “The place has security cameras. Betty had them installed a few years back when some of the cash came up missing from the register. None of the workers are aware they’re being watched. I helped Betty find the security crew that installed them. I can go back and look on the footage and see what he’s hiding.”

“Wouldn’t it have been easier just to look for yourself?” she asked.

“He’d just say it wasn’t his and then it’d be your word against his. By the way, you were supposed to remain quiet. This is an investigation.” Liam pointed out with a sigh.

“He’s hiding something,” she said.

“Do you think it has anything to do with Danielle’s death?” Liam asked. He thought Holly had great instincts.

“Not really.” She shook her head, sending a cascade of blonde waves down her shoulders. “He’s a creeper, but not a killer.”

Liam turned down another side street. “If he tossed something in the trash, I’ll catch him. If it’s anything illegal, he’ll find himself on the inside of a cell again, I guarantee you.” He drove into a pull off. He shut off the engine and turned to face her. “Why were you asking him about younger women? That has nothing to do with you seeing him toss something into the trash.”

“Something isn’t right about Jenny’s behavior. She was nervous, and stoned. Couldn’t you tell?” Holly asked.

“Yes, I could tell, but I can’t arrest her for being high.”

“I’m not suggesting that she should be arrested. I’m only saying I think there’s more to her relationship with Jimbo than co-worker.”

Liam rolled his hand around the steering wheel, trying to piece together any missing details. “You’re right. She did seem antsy.”

“The staff sure puts off panicky vibes.”

“I agree, I think Jimbo is hiding something. I’ll find out,” Liam said.

“Why didn’t you tell me about the bracelet?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Because I knew you wouldn’t know who has the other half with the key.” He glanced across the seat at her. “You can’t expect me to tell you everything about the case. The more you know, the more insane it’ll drive you.”

“I’m not sure how much battier I can get at this point,” she said with a frown. “Where are we going?”

“I’m dropping you off at the house and I’m going to the office. No complaints.” He shot her a look of warning.

“What makes you think I planned to?”

“You weren’t?” he knew better.

 “Okay, I wanted to come too, but I understand,” she said.

“By the way, I know you’re brave and have a lot at risk in this, but don’t make enemies with a man like Jimbo. The truth is, we don’t know what he’s capable of.”

“He doesn’t scare me,” she said.

He pulled in front of her house and slid the gear into park. “I know he doesn’t scare you, and that’s the problem. He’s an ex-con and if cornered who knows what he’s willing to do. You could have told me what you saw and allowed me to do my job.”

Her eyes slanted. “You’re groomed to abide the law. I get that. But if you’re just upset because I did your job—”

“You don’t know me better than that? I don’t have an oversized ego that needs inflating. I think it’s great that you’re observant, but I don’t like thinking you’re unsafe. This is a small town, Holly. In the short time you’ve been here you’ve become a target of crime.”

“Be careful or I’ll think you care a teeny-tiny bit about me.”

Was she serious? “If I didn’t care I’d be handling this case a whole helluva lot differently.”

“So, you’re doing something that you wouldn’t do for others? You don’t sleep with every witness?” One thin brow lifted.

Yeah, he knew she teased him. Yet her banter was like a pleasure he couldn’t resist. She’d always been capable of drawing him in like cat nip to a kitten. If he took her over his knee and spanked her, he wondered if she’d still be smiling.
Probably so
. “Yeah, exactly.” He shook his head. “Whatever you may think of me, I’m not a womanizer.”

“I never thought you were. I realize the cuffs only fit around certain wrists.” She drove the meaning home by sliding a finger along his leather belt and stopped at the cuff holder, tapping the metal with her fingernail. “I feel special.”

He started to blurt out that she
was
special, but he caught himself with apprehension. He needed to stay clear of her seductive web. Once he was caught, he’d be lost.
Damn, he already was.
How could he have fallen so easily? He was different man, wasn’t he? Mature and accomplished. Careful and assured. She made him feel like a boy in a candy store.

Hell, she’d changed as well. He wasn’t sure where they’d go from here.

“I’ll call you later. In the meantime, stay safe,” he said. “I’ll have an officer patrol the area.”

“Yes, Lem.” Sliding out of the passenger side, she walked up the sidewalk. She didn’t
just
walk; it was more like a supermodel’s catwalk. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the soft swaying of her slender hips. She excited him and frustrated him all at the same time.

She stopped at the front door then waved and blew him a kiss. The naughty minx. Her smile could have ignited a fire. He didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but if she left, He’d be heartbroken…again.