Page 106 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Cote pushed back in his chair. “We’d better head back. I’ll get it set up, but it’ll probably take a couple of weeks to schedule it.”

As she grabbed her box of desserts, she thought of one more question. “I assume you checked on Brent, Deborah, and Dean’s whereabouts last night.”

Cote led the way out of the coffee shop and back to the sidewalk. “The mayor is at a retreat in Maine. We called the hotel, and they confirmed he checked in a couple of days ago. His car’s in the parking lot as well—undamaged. He’s not our guy.”

“And Garrett’s aunt and uncle?”

“They say they were at dinner, but if they were, they paid in cash. The servers who were on last night aren’t on today, so it’s taking some time to confirm their alibi.” He glanced her way, an unreadable—but concerning—expression on his face. “I can tell you that Deborah’s car wasn’t at the house when I went toquestion them. They tell me it’s in the shop for engine work. I’m waiting to hear back from the mechanic about that.”

“But you think it could have been them?”

“At this point, they’re my only suspects.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Garrett had been waiting thirty minutes by the time Aspen met him in the lobby of the police station. She was already wearing her coat and gloves, and her cheeks were pink. She carried a vaguely familiar pale blue box.

Her lips stretched into a smile, but there was no heart behind it.

He stood. “You all right?”

She nodded but continued through the room and out the door. He grabbed it before it closed and then held it open for a woman going in. By the time he caught up with Aspen, she was standing by his pickup.

He opened her door, and she climbed inside, keeping the box level.

He had so many questions about what she’d learned, but she seemed…off, somehow. So after he climbed in, he went with, “What’s in the box?”

“Dessert for tonight.”

“Oh.” Then it hit him. “It’s from Josie’s.”

She nodded.

He maneuvered into traffic. “Did you learn anything?”

She said nothing, so he risked a glance her way to find she was nodding.

“Something disturbing, I guess.”

“The chief asked me not to talk about what he told me. Sorry.”

“Oh.” He wished she’d make an exception for him. It wasn’t as if he’d tell anybody. But Aspen didn’t seem to think an exception was in order. “Are you okay?”

“I’m processing.”

Garrett stopped at one of the few stoplights in town and faced her. “Can I do anything?”

“I think I should just go back to Grace’s. I’m not sure I’m up for company tonight.”

“Are you sick?”

“No. Just…out of sorts.”

“You need to eat, and I happen to know Dean fixed a delicious meal, one of my favorites. We don’t have to stay long.”

The light turned green, and he continued driving toward his aunt and uncle’s house. He wanted Aspen to meet the two most important people in his life. More than that, he didn’t want to miss out on an evening with her. Once they got there, she’d perk up.

But how presumptuous to think he knew what was best for her. “We can cancel, if you’d rather.”

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