Emit doesn’t look all that concerned for his stepson. He seems more worried that his wife will be angry with him for allowing Tanner to get caught up in this mess. As if it’s Emit’s fault. He opts to go home to his wife while we head to the station.
Mitchell calls Marcia on the way and orders us some muffins and coffee to go. The way those two are getting along lately makes me wonder what’s going on between them. Are they secretly dating behind my back? I’d think I’d sense that from one of them. Dad pulls up to Marcia’s Nook next to my office, and I jump out before Mitchell can, yelling, “Be right back,” as I slam the door of the BMW behind me. I rush inside Marcia’s Nook, which is filled with people. Apparently, there’s an author book signing today, and the kids and parents came out in droves to get autographed books.
I walk up to the counter, where the line is much longer than I have time to wait for. Why didn’t Marcia tell Mitchell she was this busy when he called to order food? Marcia eyes me and motions to a teenage boy behind the counter with her. He must be a new employee. Most days, Marcia works alone since the store doesn’t get that busy. It’s sad how few people go to physical bookstores anymore. But weekends can get hectic, so she usually has help.
“Piper,” Marcia says, grabbing a box from behind the counter. As she approaches, I see there is a drink carrier with three large coffees and a large white pastry bag. “I packed extra. I have a feeling none of you has eaten anything today. How you all survive is beyond me.” She looks up and down my too-thin frame. My lack of curves doesn’t come from not eating, though. My figure is due to a fast metabolism and genetics.
“Thanks, Marcia. You’re a lifesaver.” I feel like I’m constantly telling her that, but it bears repeating. “Could you possibly put it on my tab? We have to get down to the station, and that line is really long.”
“Of course. No worries. Besides, I think all the tips Detective Brennan has left me covers all this and then some.”
“I’m going to pay you for all of this. Those tips are yours, and they are well earned.” I take the box from her and nod in the direction of the counter. “Looks like your new hire is struggling with the register. You better go. Thank you again.”
“Anytime, hon.” She smiles and rushes off to help her employee.
I weave through little kids running around and their parents chasing after them, making my way to the door. I let out a sigh when the door opens and freedom is in my sights.
“I take it you don’t like kids,” Mitchell says, and I realize he’s the one who opened the door.
“They’re fine. I just don’t plan on having any of my own.”
“I hear you,” he says, taking the box from my hands. He waves over my head, presumably at Marcia, before letting the door close behind me.
“What’s going on with you two?” I ask as we walk back to Dad’s car.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you seeing her?”
He gives me a look that’s nothing short of “You’ve got to be kidding.” “When would I have time to go out on a date? I spend all my time with you.” He bumps his arm into mine.
I’m not sure why the prospect of Mitchell dating Marcia would bother me this much. After all, I did offer to set them up weeks ago. But now...it’s weird. She’s my only real friend, and Mitchell is my... Damn it. He’s my partner. I guess I have to stop fighting that and just admit it.
“Green is a good color on you,” Mitchell says, stopping to look at me before opening the car door.
I look down at my white shirt. “I’m not wearing green.”
He smirks. “One day, you’ll admit you’re attracted to me and can’t bear the thought of me with another woman.”
“Oh, green. I get it now. I am feeling rather queasy. Hopefully, whatever Marcia packed in here for us will settle my stomach before we have to interrogate Glen Burns.” I push him aside and get in the front passenger seat.
Mitchell laughs as he gets in the car. “Well played, Piper.”
“Do I even want to know?” Dad asks, giving us both exasperated looks.
“No,” Mitchell and I say in unison.
By the time we reach the station, we’ve each inhaled a muffin—or two in Mitchell’s case—and downed our coffee. We’re directed to the interrogation room where Glen is waiting for us.
Glen Burns is slumped in the chair on the opposite side of the table, but he sits up straight when he sees us. “Did you arrest him? He took my wife. I know he did. That sick pervert. He has my Maggie.”
Mitchell leans close to my ear and whispers, “Is he being sincere or putting on a show for us?”
Oddly enough, I’m sensing a little of both. “Let’s find out,” I say before walking over to take the seat opposite Glen. “Mr. Burns, what makes you so sure Mr. Montgomery is responsible for Maggie’s disappearance? You told us you weren’t even aware of his interactions with your wife, so how can you jump to the conclusion that he’s guilty in some way?”
He looks past me to Dad and Mitchell. “I’m not talking to some quack who says she’s psychic. If you want to get anything out of me, she leaves first.” He crosses his arms and leans back in his chair, looking like a stubborn five-year-old who didn’t get his way.
“I’d watch—”
I hold up my hand to stop Mitchell. Once I’m satisfied he’ll listen, I lean forward, placing my arms on the table between Glen and me. “Mr. Burns, are you aware your wife doesn’t eat apples?”
Glen laughs. “That’s the best you’ve got? Do you really think you’ll convince me you’re ‘psychic’”—he makes air quotes—“by telling me Maggie doesn’t like apples? I’m not an idiot.” He resumes his former position with his arms crossed.
“I actually learned that fact from Maggie’s boss. I did, however, see your wife being hit on by Tanner Montgomery, who didn’t seem threatened at all by you. I also saw someone put an apple in her lunch bag. Now tell me, why would someone do that when Maggie doesn’t even like apples?”
He leans forward and narrows his eyes at me. “Why don’t you tell me, Ms. Psychic? You had the so-called vision. Who did you see?”
Ignoring his mockery, I ask, “Do you own black gloves?”
“I don’t wear gloves unless they’re weightlifting gloves.” He scoffs and looks up at the ceiling as if completely bored with my questioning.
It definitely wasn’t weightlifting gloves in my vision. I want more than anything to grab his hand and read him. Then I’d find out what I need to know and I wouldn’t have to listen to him anymore. Win, win. But I can’t do it against his will. He’s the type to press charges, and he’s already made his feelings about me and my abilities crystal-clear.
“Do you know of anyone at Saves-A-Lot who might have been arguing with Maggie? A coworker perhaps?”
“She doesn’t really talk about work much. Look, I said I wasn’t talking to you. I’ve entertained your little game for long enough, but I’m done now.”
I stand up, but then I remember something. “Mr. Burns, when we showed up at your house, you weren’t wearing a wedding ring.”
“Yeah, because I was working out. I never wear it when I work out. It could get damaged by the weight bars.” He rolls his eyes like I’m a complete moron, but there’s something else there. He’s avoiding my gaze because he’s hiding something.
“When do you wear it?” Not now because his personal belongings were taken when they arrested him. But if he never wears it, there could be a reason.
“Like I said, I’m done talking to you.” He waves his hand in my direction. “Get out of here. Go!”
I move closer to him, and Mitchell falls in step with me, obviously not trusting Glen to remain calm when I’m pressing him like this. “You don’t wear it at work, do you? You only wear it at home or when you’re out with Maggie.” I’m guessing, but his body language is telling me I’m right. I take a few deep breaths, willing my senses to pick up on something. Then I take a big leap. “How long have you been having an affair?”
Mitchell inhales sharply at my side.
“How dare you?” Glen stands up and turns away from me, and my senses are ringing. I’m dead-on about the affair.
“You weren’t wearing your ring when you attacked Tanner Montgomery, were you?” I ask, stepping toward him again.
“Now I know you’re guessing. My ring was taken along with my other things.” He turns to me with a smile on his face, thinking he’s got me, but he played right into my plan.
I return his smile. “Detective Brennan, would you be so kind as to retrieve Mr. Burns’s ring for me? I’d like to personally show him what I can do.”
“It would be my pleasure,” Mitchell says.
“What are you going to do?” Glen’s gaze volleys between me and Mitchell. “Wait. What’s going on?”
I hear the click of the door as it closes behind Mitchell, and I sit down in the chair, pretending to inspect my nails, which are chipped and in dire need of some TLC.
“Someone tell me what’s going on!” Glen shouts.
“I was thinking of checking out that new Mexican place on Main Street for dinner. You up for that, Dad?” I ask, completely ignoring Glen’s outburst.
“Your mother’s been asking to go there. I could call her right now,” Dad plays along, removing his phone from inside his jacket.
Glen is losing it more by the second. His hands are gripping the sides of his blond hair.
When Mitchell returns with Glen’s wedding ring, Glen lunges for him, which is the worst thing he could possibly do. Mitchell has him pinned on the ground in seconds.
“Here, let me hold that for you,” I say, reaching for the wedding ring with my left hand. Mitchell hands it over. “Mr. Burns, you might feel differently about my abilities in a moment.” He stares up at me as I transfer the ring to my right hand.
Glen rolls over and checks the time on his phone. “Maggie will be home soon. You need to leave.” He turns back to the naked blonde in his bed.
She pouts. “So soon? I feel like I just got here.”
“Yeah, well now it’s time to go. You know the deal. Maggie can’t know about this.”
The woman gets out of the bed and starts redressing. “I don’t get you at all. If you love your wife so much, what are you doing with me?”
Glen props his head on his hand, supporting the weight with his bent elbow. “Maggie’s good for me, but she’s also a little too proper to meet all my needs. You on the other hand...” His smile says what his sentence left off.
I switch the ring to my left hand, not wanting to see any more. I hate having visions that involve intimate moments between people. They always tell me much more than I need or, more accurately, want to know. “So you love your wife, but the blonde woman you’re sleeping with fulfills your freaky desires in the bedroom. The bedroom you share with your wife, I might add.” I hand the ring to Dad, not wanting to touch anything that belongs to Glen Burns. “I’m done here.” I start for the door but turn back to see Mitchell has Glen on his feet again. I glare at Glen. “Were you worried Maggie was having an affair with Tanner? Did you think she was doing all the things with him that she wouldn’t do with you? Because I don’t think you really believe Tanner took her.”
Glen doesn’t need to confirm my suspicions. My senses are tingling with affirmation.
“Well, you can rest easy. Your wife isn’t the lowlife you are. She was upholding her end of your marriage vows. She turned Tanner down. You, on the other hand, are disgusting, Mr. Burns. And you should know that when I find your wife, I plan to share this information with her.”
“No!” Glen yells. “Stop! You don’t know anything!”
I let the door close behind me. Just like I allowed the door to close on the possibility of ever being in a relationship a long time ago.