Perfect Night (Mason Creek)

“My girl has kissed me. I wonder how long before someone asks me about it?” I joked.

It was cute how she nervously glanced around. “I don’t think anyone saw.”

“Maybe not, but now I can kiss you when I want.” It was a promise I hoped she understood.

Then she was walking away, leaving me mesmerized by the sway of her hips. I waited until she was behind the closed door before driving to the station with a smile on my face.

Darcy’s text came as I’d entered through the back and heard yelling from the sheriff’s office. I went past the closed door to see Bess first.

“What the hell is going on here?” That had been clearly heard by anyone in the station.

Bess gave me a sympathetic look before saying, “Sheriff’s back and he’s looking for you.”

I sighed and headed back in that direction. I knocked on the door.

“Is that you, Aiden?” he asked through the door.

“Yes, sir.”

“Get in here,” he bellowed. I pushed the door open as he hung up his desk phone. He gestured with his hand for me close the door. Once it was, he laid into me. “Do you want to tell me why Doug Hawkins grave was dug up?”

I didn’t flinch. “To determine cause of death, sir.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “He died due to a heart attack.”

“The evidence suggests something else.”

“What evidence?” he barked.

I laid it out for him from the missing surveillance video to the videos I’d gotten from the jewelry story and auto body shop.

“That’s not enough to open an investigation,” Sheriff said with a scowl.

“Not after the fact, no. But couple that with the autopsy and we will have what we need.”

“And when the result comes back saying he died of natural causes, then what? You’ve given Emma hope where there’s none.”

“Respectfully, sir, you gave her platitudes. There was enough to rule the death as suspicious when he was found. If you’d done even a little investigation, you would know he wasn’t alone when he died. That was enough to open an investigation.”

“Who was he with?”

“That’s what I intend on figuring out. Give me the go ahead to investigate and I’ll find out.”

He studied me. I was certain he wanted to tell me to move on, but he couldn’t, not anymore. “You don’t have enough to get a judge to sign off on anything.”

“Only because the death certificate says natural causes.”

He pursed his lips. “This isn’t LA,” he ground out.

“That doesn’t mean there aren’t bad people. I know you don’t want to think anyone is town is capable of murder. That shouldn’t stop justice being served.”

“You do nothing until those autopsy results are in and stay away from Evan. He’s made a formal complaint about you.”

I gave him a curt nod. “I have my dash and body cams to show I followed procedure,” I said.

Though I had no intentions of not following up on leads where I could. Especially as I decided what to do with the new information Darcy had given me.

“Dismissed,” he said.

When I left his office, I headed to my own. I had a call I needed to make. The sooner the better.

Chapter 25

Emma

I felt lighter after leaving the salon and it wasn’t because of the trim. Faith had only cut an inch or so off. What had me smiling was her advice which was how I ended up at Queen's Unmentionables.

Olivia’s smiling face greeted me when I entered. “How can I help you on this bright morning?”

“Faith sent me by,” I said.

Her eyes twinkled with mirth. “She did, did she?”

I nodded. “I’m taking her advice.”

“Do you want something for your upcoming honeymoon?” she asked.

Could it possibly be true that she hadn’t heard? “Actually, no. The wedding is off.”

She arched her eyebrow. “Well, then. Should I guess who the lucky guy is?”

What harm did it cause in telling her? I gave it twenty-four hours before the entire town knew that Aiden and I were together.

“No judgment here,” she added.

“Aiden,” I said.

Her grin widened. “Good for you. I have the perfect thing,” she said, and then I was immersed in the world of seduction, something I didn’t know a lot about.

I left with a little black bag, proud of myself. Aiden wanted to wait. I was banking he’d change his mind when he saw me in the little number I’d picked up.

My next stop was the grocery store. I wanted to pick up a bottle of wine and hoped I would run into Alana. To my luck, she was at the register, serving customers. When it was my turn at checkout, I tossed out what I wanted to tell her.

“It’s official, I’m seeing your brother.”

She rolled her eyes. “Like I didn’t see that coming. It’s been in the making since high school.”

“We didn’t date in high school.”

“Exactly, but those long lingering gazes were hard to miss. Just don’t call me with your relationship drama. I don’t want to be in the middle of that.” She held up a hand. “And don’t tell me about sex with him either. Gross.”