The Closer He Gets

His brother shook his head. “The threats might stop now that you and Tess have both talked to the Stimson detectives.”

Zach gave a short laugh. “You’re kidding, right? It’s never too late for a witness to develop amnesia.”

“You sure she’s not making all this up?”

This jolt of anger he didn’t try to hide. “You saw her roar in to talk to Delancy. Did that look like someone simply seeking attention?”

Bran grimaced. “Nobody is going after you.”

“Except for the beheaded rabbit.”

“That could have been a frat-type prank. You’re the new guy. Some of the others might have wanted to see if you had a sense of humor.”

Zach stared at him in disbelief. “Did anything about that strike you as remotely funny?”

“No, but I heard some people laughing.”

“Who?”

“You think I’m going to tell you? All you need to know is it wasn’t anybody close to Andy.”

“Andy?” This time his laugh held even less humor. “Good friends now, are you?”

“You know better than that.”

“Do I?” Zach shifted his weight to pull out his wallet. He tossed a twenty on the table and slid out of the booth. “Glad we had this talk.”

When he walked out, he felt more than a little juvenile, but also too mad to go back.

He’d been right about how the evening would end, but wrong about who would do the walking.

* * *

IT WAS LATE afternoon on Saturday when Tess ended a phone call and lifted her head to see Zach walking into Fabulous Interiors. Deputy Carter. He was very obviously a cop in his olive-green uniform and badge, his weapon and all kinds of other implements hanging from his belt. He swept the store with an assessing eye that paused briefly on every customer present before his gaze settled on her.

In turn, those customers stared at him.

Hunched at the computer behind Tess, Greg was filling out an order for vast amounts of a hugely expensive textured carpet that was certified green. The house being built, he’d told her, was to be nearly five thousand square feet. There would be hardwood in the entry and dining room, but most of the acres of flooring were going to be carpeted.

Tess rose and smiled. “Deputy Carter. Is this business?”

He stopped on the other side of the counter. “Considering Fabulous Interiors is out of my jurisdiction, no. I’m here to look at tile.” He glanced ruefully down at himself. “I was afraid if I went home to change, you’d be closed by the time I got back.”

“Let me show you what we have available,” she said in her best sales voice. “I can answer any questions, too.”

He stopped to exchange a few words with Greg, whose glance at Tess was quizzical. She hadn’t said that much about Zach, had she?

As soon as she politely could, she led him toward the back of the store.

“Are you serious?” was the first thing she said.

Zach raised expressive, dark eyebrows. “Very. You were right. The bathroom has to be done first. Since I need to gut it—which means no bathroom for me to use for a few days—I want to have materials on hand so I can put it back together as quickly as possible.”

“Do you have a shower available at work you can use?”

His mouth twisted. “Yes, but I haven’t been real enthusiastic about using the locker room since the one episode. Not sure I like the idea of being alone and naked in the shower room. I think I’ve seen scenes like that in prison movies.”

Tess had to laugh, although she was transfixed by the idea of him naked, water sluicing over his dark hair and long, muscular body.

“I may get a hotel room for a couple days,” he continued as he started moving along the rows of display tiles. “Depending on the alternatives.” He turned and pinned her with a stare. “Speaking of...”

“Of what?”

“I don’t like you being alone.”

“I was fine last night.” If sleeping in jerky, ten-minute segments could be called fine. She had taken a variety of possible weapons to bed with her, including a marble rolling pin and a butcher knife.

Not that she could, in a million years, imagine stabbing someone.