Never Tell (May Moore Suspense Thriller 2)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Feeling extremely reluctant, May dialed Kerry’s number. She didn’t want her sister involved in this case at all. She didn’t want her to interfere or try to take over, or derail the investigation.

But she needed information that only the FBI databases could provide.

Listening to the phone ring, May wondered how best to approach this delicate situation.

Kerry answered sounding upbeat.

“Hello, sis! I’ve just been in town, catching up with a couple of old friends. I need a favor from you!”

From her? May thought it was going to be the other way around.

“What favor?” she asked cautiously.

“Look, I’m in town at the moment. In fact, I’m walking down Main Street. How about I meet you at Dan’s Bar in five?”

“Sure. I can be there in two,” May said, glancing down the road. She hadn’t been in Dan’s Bar for a while. And handsome Dan, the owner, had been her unrequited crush for years. Thoughts of him surged. Hopes flamed. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity to see him again, and she could move the situation forward.

“I’m going to talk to Kerry,” she told Owen. “She might be able to give us the information we need. I shouldn’t be long. Half an hour, maybe? Then I’ll come back here and let you know what I found.”

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll wait here for Sheriff Jack to get back. Perhaps Mr. Reed gave him more information when he told him about his sister’s death.”

“We’ll catch up later,” May agreed. She turned and headed out of the police department, walking quickly down the street toward the bar.

At this hour, there was already a buzz at Dan’s Bar, and she heard the music and voices before she reached the well decked out corner building. She stepped into the glamorous interior, immediately feeling her heart speed up as Dan gave her his trademark flashing smile. With his strong-jawed face, his crisp, perfectly cut hair, and his muscular arms, he always looked the part of the dashing barman.

“How’s my favorite policewoman?” he asked.

Was she really his favorite? May wondered, with a nervous twist of her insides. At that point, light suddenly dawned. She was the only policewoman in this town!

“Hi, Dan. I’m great. It’s good to see you again.” She smiled, feeling herself start to blush.

“It’s been a long time. I’ve missed seeing you here. How have you been?”

“I’m doing great,” she said. “You?”

Her cheeks were burning now. She’d felt so capable when talking to Christa. So ready to say what needed to be said. And now, in front of her good-looking crush, she was totally tongue-tied. Why couldn’t she come across as clever, witty, funny, or better still, flirtatious?

“Never better. What can I get you?”

“A coffee, please,” May said, aware she might still have a few hours of work ahead.

“How’s your sister?” he asked as he moved to the coffee machine. “I heard she’s in town?”

May felt her heart sink.

She had to face the harsh reality that she was involved in a crush triangle!

She was crushing on Dan, Dan was crushing on Kerry, and Kerry couldn’t care less about either of them, because she had a new handsome, wealthy fiancé.

“Kerry’s in town. She came to tell my folks she got engaged,” she said to Dan.

She saw the disappointment etch itself into his face.

“Engaged?” he said.

For a moment, May wondered if perhaps now that he knew this about Kerry, he’d pay her more attention. Perhaps now she’d get somewhere with him.

But then she realized how that made her feel. It made her feel small and inadequate, as if she was only ever expecting second best, and somebody else’s cast-offs.

May felt something inside herself, something she hadn’t even known was there, start to strengthen.

Did she really want to be trapped in an unspoken crush with a guy who was clearly infatuated with her sister, and wasn’t ever more than polite and friendly to her?

That was a hard thought to have to accept. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.

“Yes. Engaged,” May said firmly. “She’s very happy about it.”

At that moment, Kerry breezed in.

“Hi, sis! Sorry, I don’t have long. I have to get back to the folks’ place by six to take a conference call. Work never waits. There are still cases to be followed up on. Still important developments I need to keep track of.”

She ran a hand through her blond hair. The diamond flashed.

May saw Dan’s gaze on her, at once infatuated and devastated.

“I’d love a beer, please, Dan,” she said.