Page 88 of A Little Taste
“I’ll hide in a really hard place.” He lifts his arm and rubs it under Edward’s nose. “Ready to find me, boy?”
“Go ahead, and yell when you’re ready.”
Owen takes off running towards the tree line at the back of the park.
“Don’t go too far,” I call after him, and he does a little wave over his head.
We wait a few minutes until Owen yells he’s ready, then Britt releases the dog. “Go get him!”
Edward lunges forward, sniffing all over the ground in the direction my son ran. We watch as it takes less than two minutes for Edward to find him. He stands at the base of a live oak tree, lifting his head andRooo-ing loudly until Owen finally drops to the ground laughing. He rolls around in the grass as Edward sniffs him all over.
“Those two.” I exhale on a breath.
Britt blinks up at me, and her brow furrows. Her lips part, and she seems about to say something, then it seems she changes her mind. “I have a new theory about the case if you’d like to hear it.”
I straighten. “Okay.”
“I was actually taking Edward for a walk when I discovered Mom’s break-in.” My brow lowers, and she pushes past that part quickly. “When we went inside, Edward started carrying on like he recognized the scent the same way he did when we found the body in the corn maze. Only, if you remember, in the corn maze, he wasn’t howling at Gary’s body. He was howling at the trail behind it.”
She has my attention now, and even if I’m frustrated with her, I can’t deny her instincts are good. “What are you saying?”
“Gary wasn’t wearing his prosthetic when he died, and we haven’t been able to find it in his cabin. He also doesn’t have a three-wheeler, or it’s missing as well.” I nod, and she continues. “What if it was Stan the whole time? What if he used Gary’s prosthetic to frame him, or to divert the attention to him?”
It’s an interesting idea. “But why would he do that?”
She shakes her head, looking down. “Maybe so we’d be searching for Gary instead of him?”
“You think Stan was planning something bigger?”
“I don’t know, but my mom is trying to find him. This time I’m telling you everything. I told her not to leave town, but she never listens to me.”
Noted. “Have you found any evidence of Stan Roswell being with Gary?”
Again, she shakes her head, and her brow furrows. “We only have the photo album in Gary’s cabin and Mom’s story. You know, where she believes Stan is behind everything.”
“Yeah, I know.” Gwen has been a thorn in our side for years, but I wonder how long I’d pursue it if I thought someone had killed my dad.
Silence falls between us, and she looks out at Owen, chewing her lip. Her brow is furrowed, and I want to slide the lock of hair out of her eyes. I hate what’s happening between us, but my stubborn heart restrains my hand.
Owen and Edward come running towards us again, and I’ve stood here with her, maintaining my distance as long as I can. Her brains mixed with that cute little ass and the wrinkle in her nose is what got me last time.
This time I’m keeping our relationship purely professional.
“You can do better.” The stern note returns to my voice. “Come back when you’ve got something I can use.”
She visibly wilts, and I tell myself it’s the same thing I’d tell any of my officers. Except for Doug, because I’m not sure he could. It doesn’t matter.
I motion to Owen, and he gives Edward another hug before running to Britt and hugging her waist. “Maybe y’all can come over for dinner again one night!”
“Maybe.” Her voice is quiet, and I turn away, stalking to my truck.
I put Owen inside and close the door. My door is still shut when I look back to see her leading the bike to where I’m standing.
“I should probably return your mother’s bike.” Her voice is quiet, and a surge of protectiveness rises in my chest.
“I still haven’t checked the brakes on your truck.”
She blinks up at me. “You’re still going to do that?”