Page 14 of Snow River

“Not trash talk when it’s the honest truth.”Cromwell made a show out of shaking out a handkerchief and spreading it over the barstool.Then he set his—quite hefty—ass on it.

Lila shared a glance with Bear, and even though he wore his usual impassive expression, she knew he was just as irritated as she was.What a dick.She wiped down those bar stools every night.The point was clear.Everything in Firelight Ridge and especially The Fang was beneath him.

“Speaking of the honest truth,” he said when he was fully seated, “I’m going to need some details from you, young lady.”

“I’m over thirty.”Hardly a young lady, at least not the kind that justified that patronizing tone of voice.

“Did I ask for your age?One question at a time.”

She bit her lip.Rarely had she ever wanted to punch someone in the face the way she did this guy.“What would you like to know?”

“Let’s start with the crime scene.You were parked at the overlook just above where the body was found.”

“Yes.I pulled over for a brief stop.When I tried to leave, I realized that I was out of gas.Which was strange because—” She broke off as she caught Bear’s glare.His message was clear.Don’t say extra things.Keep it simple.“Anyway, that’s when Bear showed up.No, wait, I fell asleep and napped for a while.Then Bear woke me up.”

“What was strange?”

Ugh, Officer Cromwell apparently didn’t miss much.

“Well, just that the gas tank indicator didn’t work.It was stuck and I hadn’t noticed.”

“Seems like you didn’t notice much.Bear said you didn’t mention seeing the body.”

“I didn’t see it.”

“It does seem odd that you were there with a perfect view of it, but you didn’t, and then just moments later, Bear spotted it.What’s your explanation for that?”

Explanation?She had none.It was what it was.She’d been focused on Bear, and her car, and her powdered donuts.She opened her mouth to tell him that, but Bear cut her off.“She doesn’t have to explain shit, Cromwell.She’s just telling you what she saw.”

“Oh ho, am I supposed to accept lessons from you on how to conduct an investigation?Should I take a hit or two first?”

Cromwell’s sneering tone made Lila recoil.What was he talking about?A glance at Bear told her he was clenching his jaw so hard he might get a cramp.

“I was probably just distracted.”Lila felt as if she was throwing her body between two gladiators.“I was leaving and I felt sad about that.I was focused inward instead of outward.”

Cromwell swung back her direction.“But you didn’t leave.You came back.Bear brought you money, and you came back.Did you make some kind of deal?”

“Deal?No.He brought me my wages and tips for the previous week.That’s our only deal.I work and he pays me.”

“In cash?”

Oh shit.True, she was getting paid under the table.Was that the kind of thing that a police officer was obligated to report?Who would get in bigger trouble if he did, her or Bear?

“It doesn’t matter how she gets paid, because everything gets reported to the IRS how it should.”Bear was starting to sound annoyed.Cromwell kept his focus on Lila.

“So you didn’t accept cash from Bear in exchange for saying you didn’t see him dumping that body?”

“What?”

The word came bursting out from both Lila and Bear at the same time.

“Why the hell would I dump a body and then report it?”Bear’s voice thundered through the empty bar.“Are you out of your mind?”

Behind his red beard, a sneaky smile played across Cromwell’s face.“It’s a theory.”

“A dumbass theory, but if you’re serious about it, this interview ends now.”

“I’m not interviewing you,” said Cromwell.“I’m interviewing her.”He jerked his thumb at Lila.

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