CHAPTER NINE
Ending the call, Sarah thought it wise to follow Botts around the house until Cliff or Marcus arrived. Besides, it would give her uninterrupted time to ask the inspector a few questions about his relationship with Riley and where he went when he left Jane’s Place. Before she crossed the Southwind threshold, Sarah bent and scooped Fluffy up in her arms lest the excited puppy have an accident or find Botts a person of interest for biting.
“Botts?”
“I’m in the kitchen.”
Sarah joined him there. He was holding a spiral notebook opened to a page on which she could see he’d drawn a diagram of the kitchen. Although she could see some words on the page, they were too small for her to read. “Thank you again for coming today. It means a lot to us.”
When he merely nodded but kept moving along with his inspection, she decided she better slow him down until one of her partners arrived. “I’m still having trouble dealing with last night. I can’t believe Riley is dead. You knew her pretty well, didn’t you?”
He stopped examining the venting system long enough to dart a gaze at Sarah. “Yes, we were friends. But you already knew that. What is it you’re after?”
Sarah shifted Fluffy from under her arm to in front of her. “Silly grapevine—my mother gave me the impression you two were dating. I’m sorry if I came across as sounding like I was prying. I simply wanted to offer my sympathy and give you a chance to talk, if you wanted. As much as Riley’s death has upset me, I thought, because you knew her so much better, you might need an ear, too.”
Botts put his notebook on the counter and walked toward her. Although he seemed less intense than earlier, when he reached his hand out, Sarah tried not to flinch. She felt silly a moment later when she realized his intent was to pet Fluffy.
“I guess I got the wrong impression last night. Maybe you don’t remember? Riley joined us right after your run-in with Marcus. When you said something about wanting to take a ride to clear your head, she offered to come with you. You told her to stay and enjoy her night and then quickly left.”
“So?”
“Riley followed you outside. Her attitude and the fact she left her big night to hurry out the door behind you made it seem like more than a friendship.”
Botts continued petting Fluffy. “Sarah, Riley and I were friends. She was a sweet kid, but our connection was limited to a few dinners and lots of rides on the back of my motorcycle.”
“Well, based on that, I wonder why she was so agitated and insistent on following you outside?”
“The police asked me the same question, and I didn’t have any better answer than I’m giving you.”
“What did you tell them?”
“The truth. I never saw her after I walked out of Jane’s Place. I went straight to where I keep my motorcycle, got on it, and left the parking lot.”
“Did you see anyone else while you were getting your bike?”
“I didn’t notice anyone, but I really wasn’t looking. I was mad at Marcus for calling me out in front of the crowd in Jane’s Place and at everyone from the mayor to the city council for not hiring another inspector.”
Hearing someone coming in the door, Sarah made a noise with her mouth that she hoped sounded supportive and understanding to Botts as opposed to being relieved her replacement had arrived.