Page 15 of Long Gone

“I wasn’t aware that we were friends,” I said, stopping a few feet in front of him.

He smirked, his eyes lighting up. “Acquaintances doesn’t feel right, and we definitely aren’t co-workers or partners.”

I shifted the bag to my hip. “Why do we need a label?”

He looked pleased. “True.”

“We both know you didn’t stick around to say hello. Are you here to bust my ass for buying alcohol?”

“You’re a grown-ass woman. You’re allowed to buy whatever you want.”

I gave him a look of disbelief. “Yet you make snide comments about my drinking at the tavern and…before.”

His face became expressionless. “We were working a case before, and your drinking was interfering with that.”

“Is that why you’re here? Because of the case?”

“Maybe I waited to see how you’re doing.”

“Doubtful.”

He drew in a deep breath and stood straighter, then started toward his car.

Could that actually be why he’d waited? “Why didn’t you ask me at the tavern?”

He stopped. “I was under the impression you didn’t want anyone to realize we actually know each other.”

He had a point. I hadn’t.

“You’re not here because of…”

He lifted his brow. “Because of how things were ultimately resolved? No. I figured if you had a problem, you would have let me know by now or a sheriff’s deputy would have shown up at my door. Since neither has happened, I figured we were square.”

I took a step closer, my voice taut with anger. “You know I was a police detective. How do you think I could be okay with what you did?”

He held my gaze with steely eyes. “Actions speak louder than words, Detective.” Then he turned on his heels and strode to his car again. I stood there like an idiot watching him drive away, wondering once again what the hell I was doing. I should grab my phone and call the sheriff right now and tell him what Malcolm had done. I could say I hadn’t come forward sooner because I’d felt threatened by him. But that would be a flat-out lie, and I refused to tell it. So I told myself I wasn’t reporting him because I didn’t want to sink back into legal trouble.

But that was a flat-out lie too. I just didn’t call myself on that one.

Chapter 5

The Lone County Sheriff’s brick and glass main building looked relatively new. After my encounter with Malcolm, I’d had a long drink from my water bottle, but I was still on edge when I pulled into the parking lot, so I took several more sips before exiting the car. I popped a couple of breath mints as I walked to the entrance. When I entered the foyer, I reached for my badge to show the receptionist, but I no longer had a badge. The realization hit me with a sharp pang.

I’d based my entire identity on being a cop, and being a P.I. felt like playing dress-up. Like I was pretending to be the real deal but never would be again. It was a hard pill to swallow.

Clearing the lump out of my throat, I walked up to the counter and told the receptionist I was there for a three o’clock appointment with Detective Matthew Jones. She told me he was expecting me and would find me in the waiting room.

There were plenty of empty seats, but I remained standing. I was glancing around at the décor when I heard Louise exclaim in surprise, “Harper?”

She was coming through a back door, wearing her brown deputy uniform. Her long dark hair was pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, worry in her eyes.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine. I’m here on business, but I didn’t let you know I’d be here because I thought you’d be out on patrol.”

“I just finished up some reports.” She scanned the waiting room, her gaze skipping over a middle-aged man on the other side of the room. “What business are you here about?”

“Kind of a long story, which I’ll tell you about tonight, but I’m meeting with Detective Jones.”

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