Page 68 of A Little Taste
Viewed in that light, I’m actually helping us by keeping this secret. It’s a good thing.
My mother would never cooperate with Aiden Stone. She might cooperate with Gran, but she might not even cooperate with me. She would certainly never forgive me for breaking her trust, for “siding with the enemy.” For betraying my dad.
I shake my head. She sure knows how to play me.
I thought if I left Eureka, I could change. I thought if I went to college and got my degree and learned to do something based on facts and evidence, I would be different. Instead, it’s the same old adage. Wherever you go, there you are.
Aiden’s words about Raif Jones are in my head,When push comes to shove, he’ll be loyal to his family. His kind always are.
Am I his kind?
So I lie down on the couch next to Edward on his blanket, gently petting his head.
“Things are so good for me right now.” My voice cracks slightly. “Can I make it through one more day without ruining everything?”
His droopy eyes slowly close, and after a long time, mine do the same. Still, I could feel the water rising around me, and I was kicking with all my might, trying not to go under.
* * *
“You ready to run, Edward?”Owen is on his knees in front of my dog, his little-boy hair a tousled mess. “Here’s what I’ve got for you!”
He pulls a pair of black athletic socks out of his hoodie pocket and holds them for Edward to give a good sniffing. Edward rises to his feet at once, activated and ready to go.
“He pulled those out of the laundry.” Aiden laughs. “They’re from lacrosse practice.”
“That should work.” I smile, holding Edward’s leash at the starting line of the Doggy Dash.
After managing a few hours of sleep, I finally gave up and got out of bed at six this morning. I spent some extra time getting ready, touching up my hair with a curling iron and applying a little makeup.
It was so strange to be in the courthouse completely alone. I left Edward at the apartment, figuring I’d walk back and grab him before Aiden came to get me. I didn’t have much guidance on what to do by myself.
Answering the phones seemed an obvious task, but other than that, I was at a loss. Walking over to Holly’s desk, I lifted her headset then put it down again. I passed Doug’s desk, frowning at the hand-written notes on his blotter.Kiawah Veterans Care, discount caskets, Sy Needleman.I didn’t recognize the name.
Returning to my desk, I woke my computer and typed inSy Needlemanto see what came up. The picture showed an older man in a white coat with a mustache and salt-and-pepper hair. He had mostly good reviews online, and he died several years ago.
“No help there,” I muttered to myself.
Searching again for the veteran’s clinic only turned up another dead end. It closed before Dr. Needleman died. Leaning back, I chewed on my pen wondering what Doug or Aiden would do next.
I confess, it made me feel a lot better about the deal I made with my mom. If she actually names our suspect tomorrow as she says she will, it’ll save us a lot of time. I hope Aiden will see it that way, too. It’ll be a means to an end, which you have to do sometimes on cases.
It actually eased the pressure in my chest.
The rest of the morning, I puttered around, read a few online articles about crime scene photography and capturing evidence. Finally, it was time to go and take Edward for a walk and get back to meet Aiden and Owen.
Now I’m drinking in the sight of my sexy companion for the day. I don’t think we’re calling this a date, and I know it’s too soon for him to be my boyfriend. Aiden framed it as us making a show of support for the town, getting in the mix and letting them know we’re here for them.
Still, I changed into the blue dress I wore to El Rio with a white cardigan tied around my waist in case it gets chilly. Aiden is hot as ever in a chambray shirt with the sleeves rolled to show off his muscular forearms. The shirt is unbuttoned over a simple white tee, and he’s wearing faded jeans with brown cowboy boots. His dark hair is styled in a messy way, and his beard is trimmed. Exhaling a sigh, I really want to kiss him again. He’s such a good kisser, and I was too tense last night to enjoy it.
“It’s bigger than I expected,” Aiden observes quietly near my ear, and I peruse the lineup of doggy racers.
It’s a group of about ten townsfolk with dogs ranging from dachshunds to hunting dogs to plain old Heinz 57 mutts.
Terra Belle is two dogs down from us with her rat terrier Sparky. Terra has been cordial if a little impatient with the progress we’ve made on her case. She wants “the pickle murderer” punished, and she’s happy to remind us all the time. Sparky is wearing a white, pickle-patterned handkerchief around his neck, and he’s hopping all around. I don’t want to tell Owen, he’s a shoe-in to win. Rat terriers are fast little dogs.
Sarah Magee walks over to speak to Owen. Her little Yorkie has a pink rhinestone collar, and she’s so tiny, I’m worried she’s going to get trampled.
Raif Jones saunters past us on his way to the other end. He’s leading a decent-sized hunting dog, and he gives me a little nod. I smile cautiously, glancing up at Aiden.