The Little Grave (Detective Amanda Steele)

“Logan Hunter.”

She already didn’t like the direction of this conversation. “What about him?”

“He sounds like a nice guy. And the way he tells it, you two hit it off on Sunday night and spent a lovely evening together. Not sure why it took so long to nail down your alibi. Were you embarrassed to tell me you have a love life?”

Love life? She could choke on that.

“You don’t have to be, you know,” he went on. “I wouldn’t expect a woman your age to be sitting at home all alone.”

Wow, he actually went there…

He had stopped talking and was looking at her expectantly. She had to think quickly. “I just didn’t want you to make more of it than it is. It’s really nothing.”

“Not the way he tells it. Guess you guys are going out again. He told me he plans on taking you out for a nice dinner.”

“Did he now?” She smirked. Logan Hunter must have been sure to plant that in there to remind her of her promise.

“Uh-huh.” Malone’s face fell more serious. “There’s something else I’d like to talk with you about though. Let’s just slip into my office for a minute.”

She glanced at the clock on the wall and discovered it was after one now. Time was getting away from her, and with every second those girls were suffering. “I really need to get to work.”

“One minute.” His earlier comment had been more directive than an invitation.

Behind his closed door, he sat at his desk, and she in his visitor chair.

“You never did tell me what happened to you,” he said.

“What—”

He flicked a finger toward her face.

“It’s nothing.” There was no way she’d be coming forward about Rick Jensen’s visit. She just needed to get back to work.

He dipped his head and leveled his gaze at her. “This is me you’re talking to. I know that something—”

“Trent told you.”

“No. If he had, would I be asking?”

“Maybe just to verify what you heard,” she volleyed back.

“He told me nothing, but now I’m wondering if he should have.”

“It’s nothing—don’t worry about it.”

“Okay. That’s not what I need to talk to you about anyway. I didn’t want to bring it up earlier, but I need to. Can you tell me why Courtney Barrett threatened to sue the department for harassment because, left to my imagination, it sounds like you spoke to her on your own? She obviously knew exactly who you were.”

“Not that she let on to me that she did, but I suppose everyone in this frickin’ town knows too much—or at least thinks they do.”

“Did you speak to her alone?”

“No.”

Malone made eye contact with her. “You’re telling me the truth?”

“Of course.”

“And you let Trent take the lead with the interview?”