Page 20 of Half Baked

Lance groaned. “Maddie. It’s an official police investigation.”

“Actually, it’s not. It’s a closed case, remember?” I asked haughtily. “And even when it was an official investigation, it was dropped like a hot potato. Forgive me if the label of official police investigation doesn’t fill me with warm fuzzies.”

He looked stricken for a moment, then his eyes softened. “I understand where you’re coming from, and I know Noah has his head up his ass, but I’d hoped you’d at least trustme.”

I leaned my head back, then looked back at him. “I do, Lance, but you’ve admitted it’s not your first priority. You’ve got active cases you need to work on. Besides, I’d planned to go back and talk to Bergan again anyway. Why not take me with you?”

“Maddie.”

I set my mug on the table. “Fine. Do it your way.”

His gaze narrowed. “Why do I feel like you caved too easily?”

Because he was right—I had no intention of letting this go. I knew Lance wasn’t lying to me. He’d follow the lead I’d given him, but he and Noah were working on a case that required their attention. I couldn’t expect them to dedicate time to my mother’s murder investigation. What harm would there be in me asking questions?

But I wasn’t going to admit to any of that. Instead, I gave him a demure smile. “You’re the professional. I need to leave it to you and Noah.”

Lance started to protest, but his phone rang. He pulled it out of his jeans pocket and looked at the screen. “I have to take this, and it could be a while. How about we talk about this tomorrow after you get off work?”

“Sure,” I said, knowing he wouldn’t sway me.

He stood and grabbed his coat, looking like he wanted to say more, but his phone continued ringing. “I’ll meet you at Déjà Brew after you get off.”

I didn’t answer, not that I needed to. He answered his phone as he headed toward the front door, his coat still in his hand. I followed him and watched while he walked to his car with a serious expression on his face.

My mind was working fast, chewing over the problem. Aunt Deidre’s memory was slipping by the day, which meant Detective Bergan might not be able to tell me anything the next time I talked to him. I had to talk to him ASAP. Plus, with all the uncertainty in my life right now, I needed something productive to focus on.

I’d do this on my own if I had to.

ChapterSix

Noah

“Mom,” I said, still dumbfounded. “What are you doing here?”

Anger filled her eyes. “You get shot, and you can’t even bother to tell me? I had to find out from someone in your department. And when I tried to call you, you sent a text. Atext, Noah.”

I cringed. “It’s nothing. Barely a scratch. In fact, I left the ER and went back to work.”

She propped her hands on her hips. “Youwhat?”

“I told you. It was nothing.”

She pushed out a couple of breaths, then tears filled her eyes. “You scared me half to death, Noah.”

My defensiveness melted. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t know if I’ll survive it if something happens to you like what happened last year.” She swallowed and said in a tight voice, “Or worse.”

I pulled her into a one-armed hug. “I’m sorry. Mom. Really. I guess I thought you’d know it wasn’t very serious since I didn’t call you back. It was stupid and thoughtless.”

“How is it you’re walking around? Let me see where you got shot.”

“It was my upper arm, and I’m fine,” I said, even though my whole left arm was still throbbing. “Come inside.” I gestured toward the front door. “You haven’t seen my house yet. I’ll show you around.”

She looked like she was about to protest, but then she turned to face the front of my house and frowned. “It looks smaller than the photos you sent.”

I laughed. “It hasn’t shrunk. Do you have a bag in the trunk?”

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