CHAPTER 10

I soaked in Johnny’s question. Part of me knew he was right. “We both could be anyway. I felt terrible, not saying anything to Deputy Biffle. I want to help them find who murdered Enrique, but I promised Ann I wouldn’t mention the map for now. Some part of me understands her wanting to keep that secret.”

“Okay then. We’ll stick with that story for now.” Johnny stood. “We’ll call him in. Don’t answer any questions until I give you the go ahead.”

I nodded. Johnny went to the door, looked out into the hall, and gestured to someone I couldn’t see.

Deputy Biffle walked in a few minutes later, looking grim and different without his hat and sunglasses. He leaned against the wall and started asking questions.

Twenty minutes later, I’d gone through the basics of the morning and Ann confronting Enrique last night at the Sea Glass. I hated talking about that part, because it made Ann look bad. But it would come out at some point, and maybe it already had if Deputy Biffle had already questioned Ann.

“Ann mentioned that her house had been broken into. What do you know about that?” Deputy Biffle asked.

I glanced at Johnny, and he nodded to go ahead. “She told me her house had been broken into and that nothing was taken.”

“That’s it? It seems like that must have been a very upsetting experience for her.”

For most people, it would be, but Ann definitely wasn’t most people. “You’d have to ask Ann about that.” I almost forgot to tell him that I’d possibly been drugged, so I explained what had happened.

“I’m sorry that happened to you.” He studied me for a few moments. “It must have made you angry,” Deputy Biffle said.

I knew telling him about this would make things look worse for me, but not telling him and having him find out later wouldn’t have gone well, either. I opened my mouth to answer, to defend myself, but Johnny shook his head.

“I think we’re done here,” Johnny said.

“Not quite,” Deputy Biffle said to Johnny.

I looked between them, trying to pick up on cues and thinking of one of my dad’s rock songs that had a lyric about staying or going. I wasn’t sure at this point which I should do. Johnny finally gave a little go ahead nod, although I think Deputy Biffle would have gone ahead, nod or not.

“Who else was in the bar last night?” Deputy Biffle asked.

Johnny gave me a nod. I closed my eyes for a moment, picturing the scene. “Joaquín, Vivi, Ann, Dex, and a couple of tourists who were lingering.”

“Do you know their names?” Biffle asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t. If they’d been in before, they weren’t memorable. It’s been so busy with spring break that I might not have noticed them.” Not being memorable was good. That meant they hadn’t been drunk or obnoxious or loud. My favorite kind of customers, just like when I’d been a librarian. “And like I said, Jean Claude LaPierre and Lisa Kelley were there. They’re both in town for the barback competition and came in with Enrique.”

“Is there anything else?” Biffle stared at me with those brown eyes.

It felt like he was looking into my soul and could tell I was holding back. I wanted to look down, to get away from his intensity. I’m guessing smarter people than me had cracked under that look. Don’t think about the map, I told myself. He doesn’t know. I lifted and dropped my shoulder. “That’s it.” For now, I added silently.

Johnny stood, so I did too. I guess I wasn’t going to be arrested. At least not right now. We walked out into the hall. Ann stood there, looking as calm as if she’d just walked out of a lovely tea instead of an interrogation.

“No words until we’re out of here, ladies,” Johnny said, ushering us down the hall.

I was almost surprised when we stepped outside to find it was still daylight. It was like that weird sensation when you go to a movie during the day and expect it to be dark out when you leave. The sun felt good after sitting in the cold. Dex leaned against Ann’s truck, here to pick us up was my guess.

“I’ll fix this,” Ann said to me. “Don’t you worry.”

“I don’t expect people to fix things for me. I can fix my own problems.” I paused. “And help you with yours.”

“Ladies,” Johnny said, looking back and forth between us as if he expected us to brawl.

What kind of clients usually hired him?

“Meet me in my office tomorrow morning at nine sharp, and we will go over some strategies,” he said. He handed me a business card.

I nodded as Johnny walked off. I guess he was used to people doing what he told them to.

“I’m sorry,” Ann said. “I can’t believe I got you into this mess.”

“It’s okay. You had no idea.” At least I hoped she didn’t. I’d had a lot of time to think while I waited for Johnny to show up. Could Ann have killed Enrique and taken me out with her this morning as cover? I didn’t want to believe that of her. I chose not to. “We’ll figure this out. Why don’t you stop by tonight? I’ll be home by ten-thirty. I think we should talk before I see Johnny in the morning.” And I had questions. Not ones I wanted to ask out in the parking lot of the sheriff’s department.

Ann agreed with me, and we headed over to Dex. As we did, a car wheeled into the parking lot. Rip’s car. He threw it into park and leaped out. He wore shorts and a T-shirt. There were smudges of smoke on his face. When he got to me, he pulled me into his arms. He reeked of smoke and sweat, but I’d never smelled anything so wonderful in my life.

“I got here as soon as I could.” He held me away from him and looked me over, as if I might have some outward injury. Then he pulled me back to him, and I snuggled against him, wrapping my arms around his waist and enjoying the heat of his body.

“I’m okay. We haven’t been charged.” I left the yet unspoken, but Rip hugged me even tighter. “Excuse me. I need to breathe.”

Rip laughed. “I’m sorry. You have a lawyer?”

“Yes. A man Vivi knows. Johnny McCellan.”

“Okay. He’s good at what he does.”

“So I’ve heard.” I worried that I needed better than good right now.

“I can drive you home.”

“Thanks.”

When we got in the car, we laced hands as Rip drove. My stomach rumbled. Loudly. But Rip was used to it and somehow didn’t seem to mind.

“Can I take you out to lunch?” he asked.

“I need to clean up and go to work.”

“After the morning you’ve had?”

It didn’t come out judgmentally, just curious. “I need a distraction.”

He glanced at me. The corners of his mouth quirked up. “I’d be happy to distract you.”

Oh, so tempting. “Thanks, but I don’t want to leave Joaquín and Vivi in a lurch. Spring break has been so busy, we’ve barely had any time off.”

“Trust me, I’ve noticed.”

“It’s not like you sit around without anything to do.” I paused. “Are we going to fight?” We rarely did and usually only about something unimportant like where we were going to eat or who made better Brussels sprouts.

“No. We aren’t going to fight. I just worry sometimes, because you never seem to let up.”

I nodded. It had been wildly busy last summer and over spring break. The between times were more leisurely, and he’d liked it. Me, too. “We’ve been talking about hiring some part-time help.”

“Should I apply?” Rip grinned at me.

“Oh, yes. I’d love to boss you around.”

We pulled up to my house.

“You can boss me around anytime.” Rip leaned over and kissed me. Suddenly, going to work didn’t sound like such a great idea.