Sweet as Honey (Aster Valley 2)

I pulled out of the Chop Shop and turned toward the center of town, driving only a couple of blocks until I got to the burnt-out shell that had once held Truman’s shop and his aunt’s before that. One of the sheets of plywood over the front door had spray paint on it that read, “We luv U Mr. Sweet!” I took a picture of it with my phone and texted it to him. Leave it to a town like Aster Valley to have teen vandals who used love instead of slurs. Hopefully, that would remind Truman that not everyone in town had it out for him.

I parked Tiller and Mikey’s SUV around back and found Dirk and Gail sitting in their state vehicle finishing a takeout lunch. Mikey had shoved a sandwich in my hand before I’d left, but I selfishly hoped he had a big dinner planned so I could gorge myself on some of my old favorites when I got back to Rockley Lodge. And if I was really fortunate, I could convince Truman to stay overnight with me there again.

But the look on Dirk Bromley’s face when he noticed me made me wonder if I was possibly spending the night somewhere else tonight. Somewhere like a jail cell. I hopped out of the SUV and kept my movements easy and obvious.

The two fire inspectors eased out of the vehicle without taking their eyes off me. I had a sudden desire to turn and flee at top speed, but I forced myself to remember I hadn’t actually committed a crime.

“There’s a cafe just down the street if you’d like to grab a cup of coffee,” I suggested.

They agreed to walk back down to the coffee shop with me and even greeted the woman behind the counter with familiarity. I blinked when I recognized Truman’s friend Chaya.

“I didn’t realize you worked here,” I said.

She grinned. “I didn’t either, until about ten hours ago. Yasmin needed some help because of a family emergency, and since I usually pick up part-time hours with Truman, I’m free at the moment. What can I get you?”

The three of us ordered and took a seat at a small table off to the side of the pickup counter. Gail pulled out a notebook, while Dirk craned his neck to get another look at Chaya. She was tall and beautiful with a mane of dark, curly hair. The woman would attract attention even without saying a word, but she had such an effervescent personality, her personal greetings and periodic laughter lit up the room around her.

Someone had a crush.

“What can I help you with?” I asked to get this conversation going. I didn’t want to spend more time in town than I needed to. There was too much work to be done helping Truman organize the cleanup, not to mention the work at the lodge I’d specifically come to town to do for Tiller and Mikey.

Dirk hopped up to grab our drinks when Chaya set them on the counter and returned to our table after she left him to greet the next customer.

I took a sip and almost groaned in pleasure. God, I’d needed that. It had already been a hell of a day.

“Where were you at midnight the night of the fire?”

It took concentration to stay relaxed, but I did my best. “I believe I’ve already told you this. I returned from Truman’s farm to Rockley Lodge where I’m staying with friends.”

Gail nodded and scribbled in her notebook.

Dirk tried asking it a different way. “Describe the route you took from one place to the other.”

I described the simple drive from Truman’s down through town and up the other side of the valley to the lodge.

“So you drove past the Honeyed Lemon,” Dirk suggested.

I nodded. “As I have previously mentioned, yes.”

“And why were you seen in front of the Honeyed Lemon that night?”

“Didn’t I just answer that?” I asked, unsure of what he was asking. “I was on my way back to the lodge.”

Dirk clarified the question. “On foot. Why were you on foot at the shop?”

He asked it so casually, I almost second-guessed myself. “I… wasn’t? After I got the call from Truman about the fire, I couldn’t get within a block of the place. I pulled to the side of the road in front of the newspaper office, I think.”

Gail didn’t raise her eyes from her notes. “He means before the fire.”

I knew what they were asking, but I still gave it serious thought in order to be precise. “I didn’t go anywhere near the Honeyed Lemon on foot that day,” I said carefully. “In fact, the only time I’ve ever even entered the premises at all was when I first met you after the fire.”

Dirk’s eyes widened in surprise. “You expect me to believe that you’ve never been to your boyfriend’s own place of business?”