Yesterday's Scandal (The Wild McBrides 3)

“Only if you’re interested in dust and cobwebs.”

Wade shrugged. “I’m easily entertained.”

Half an hour later, they’d explored the entire house—every nook and cranny. The only questions Wade asked during the tour involved the renovation, itself. He seemed genuinely interested in the project, but Mac was discovering it wasn’t always easy to tell what observations were being made behind the chief’s expression.

They finished back outside at the ladder. “Thanks,” Wade said. “That was very interesting.”

“I hope it answered your questions.”

“Most of them.”

“If you have any others, you know where to find me. I’ll be moving into a furnished apartment on West Elm tomorrow afternoon. If I’m not here, I’ll most likely be there

.”

“I’ll remember that. Er—I guess I really shouldn’t leave without asking one more question. What, exactly, did you do last night?”

“I had a business dinner with Sharon Henderson, my decorator,” Mac answered evenly, stressing the professional relationship for Sharon’s sake. “I was back in my motel room at just after nine o’clock. I watched a Star Trek rerun on cable, caught the late news, then read for an hour or so before going to sleep. Want to know what I dreamed?”

Wade laughed. “Hey, I’m a cop, not a psychiatrist.”

“Just checking.”

The chief left, saying only that he would be seeing Mac around. One hand squeezing the back of his neck, Mac watched him leave.

Damned if he could figure that guy out. He had the distinct feeling that Wade didn’t seriously consider him a suspect in the break-ins, but was generally leery about him, anyway. He would have to be careful not to do anything to further pique the chief’s suspicions, especially when it came to the McBrides. He had a feeling Davenport was extremely protective of his wife, and wouldn’t allow anyone to bother her. No matter what the family connection turned out to be.

CHAPTER SEVEN

SHARON WAS STILL in her shop ten minutes after closing time on Monday. Tressie had already gone home and Sharon would have followed suit had she not been waiting for her brother. He’d spent the afternoon at a movie with friends who were supposed to have dropped him off twenty minutes ago.

She was beginning to worry. Against her better judgment, she’d given him permission to ride with a sixteen-year-old friend with a driver’s license and a car, a decision she’d been second-guessing all day. She’d probably been swayed by Jerry’s accusations that she was being overprotective of her brother, that she needed to start treating him like a young man rather than a child. And Brad had been on his best behavior for the past few days, which naturally made her more inclined to indulge him occasionally.

She hoped she hadn’t made a mistake.

When the telephone rang, she snatched it up. “Intriguing Interiors.”

“I thought I might find you still there.”

It hadn’t been necessary for Jerry to identify himself, of course. She recognized his voice immediately. “Yes, still here,” she said. “I was just about to lock up.”

“How was your day?”

“Busy. And yours?”

“The same. You heard about the break-in at Discount Motors, I guess.”

“Yes, Emily mentioned it at church yesterday.”

“I carry their insurance, and I’ve spent all morning with Bob Hickey, trying to get a list of everything that was stolen or damaged. Bob’s a nice guy, but not the most organized business owner. He…”

Distracted by the sound of the door opening, Sharon looked up paying only marginal attention to what Jerry was saying. She’d expected to see her brother enter the shop. She was surprised when Mac Cordero strolled in, instead. It was even more difficult after that to pay attention to Jerry’s play-by-play recitation of his workday. She smiled at Mac and motioned to indicate that she would be right with him.

Jerry was still talking. “And then Martha Godwin called. Boy, was she wound up today. She’s decided that she…”

Realizing that Jerry wouldn’t be taking a breath anytime soon, Sharon covered the mouthpiece with her hand and spoke softly to Mac, who leaned against the counter nearby. “Hi.”

“Want me to wait somewhere else while you finish that?”